Bill > HB2458

This bill amends the Texas Penal Code to provide a new defense to prosecution for aggravated assault involving the exhibition of a deadly weapon. Specifically, the bill creates a legal defense that allows an individual to avoid prosecution if they threatened to cause death or serious bodily injury by showing a deadly weapon under two conditions: first, that the threat would be legally justified under Chapter 9 of the Penal Code (which typically covers self-defense and defense of others), and second, that the person reasonably believed that displaying the weapon was immediately necessary to defend themselves against another's unlawful use or attempted use of force or deadly force. The bill clarifies that this new provision applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and that any offenses committed before that date will be governed by the previous legal standard. By adding this subsection, the bill provides additional legal protection for individuals who use a deadly weapon as a defensive deterrent in potentially threatening situations.