Bill > HB1902

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "jugging" in the Texas Penal Code, which specifically targets a predatory practice where individuals follow people after they withdraw money from financial institutions with the intent to commit theft. Under the proposed law, a person commits jugging if they knowingly follow someone from a commercial business or financial institution along the same path without substantially deviating, while possessing two or more "criminal instruments" (which likely refers to tools or weapons used to commit a crime). The severity of the offense ranges from a state jail felony to a first-degree felony, depending on additional criminal actions committed during the "jugging" incident. For example, if the person commits unlawful restraint (Section 30.04) during the offense, it becomes a third-degree felony, and if they commit robbery (Section 29.02), it becomes a first-degree felony. The bill allows for prosecution under this new statute or under other existing criminal statutes, providing law enforcement with additional legal tools to address this specific type of targeted criminal behavior. The law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1902