Bill > HB1017

This bill creates a new criminal offense for improper entry from a foreign nation in the Texas Penal Code. Specifically, a non-U.S. citizen commits an offense if they enter or attempt to enter Texas from a foreign nation outside of designated immigration checkpoints, evade examination by immigration officers, or enter the state through false or misleading representations or by intentionally concealing material facts. The bill establishes escalating criminal penalties based on prior convictions: a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, a second offense becomes a state jail felony, a third offense rises to a second-degree felony, and a fourth offense involving certain serious prior convictions becomes a first-degree felony. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, provided it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature, with a backup effective date of September 1, 2025, if the supermajority vote is not achieved. The bill aims to create additional legal consequences for unauthorized border entry in Texas.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1017