Bill > SB2917

This bill modifies Texas state law regarding penalties for littering offenses, specifically enhancing fines and consequences for repeat offenders. Under the new provisions, a first-time littering offense remains a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,000, but subsequent offenses escalate in severity: a second offense involving five pounds or more of litter becomes a Class B misdemeanor with a fine up to $5,000, and a third offense involving five pounds or more of litter becomes a Class A misdemeanor with a fine up to $10,000. For offenders with more than two previous convictions, the fine increases by an additional $10,000, with a maximum fine of $50,000. The bill also mandates that convicted litterbugs perform community service and reimburse the county or municipality for cleanup costs. These changes apply only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, with previous offenses still governed by the existing law at the time they were committed. The goal appears to be deterring repeated littering by implementing increasingly severe financial and community service penalties.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2917