Bill > SB295

This bill modifies the Texas Penal Code by updating the punishment for arson offenses, specifically elevating the severity of the crime when the target involves a government building. Currently, arson is considered a second-degree felony, but the proposed changes would make it a first-degree felony if the arson is committed against a government building, in addition to the existing first-degree felony classifications for arson causing bodily injury or targeting habitations and places of assembly or worship. The bill clarifies that these legal changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, meaning that any offenses committed before that date will be prosecuted under the previous legal standards. A first-degree felony typically carries more severe criminal penalties, such as longer prison sentences and higher fines, reflecting the increased seriousness of intentionally setting fire to a government building.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB295