BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2084

By: Landgraf

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas is known for having some of the most congested and dangerous roads in the nation. Currently in Texas, the penalty for causing serious bodily injury or death to multiple people from highway racing is a second degree felony, resulting in a minimum of two years to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. Legislation is needed to increase the fear of consequence when someone chooses to race on a highway. H.B. 2084 seeks to help bring an end to innocent and unnecessary deaths caused by street racers by increasing the penalty for causing serious bodily injury or death to two or more people as a result of highway racing to a first degree felony, garnering a minimum of five years to a maximum of 99 years imprisonment.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2084 amends the Transportation Code to enhance the penalty for racing on a highway from a Class B misdemeanor to a first degree felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that as a result of the offense, two or more individuals suffered serious bodily injury or death. This applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. The bill provides for the continuation of the law in effect before the bill's effective date for purposes of an offense, or any element thereof, that occurred before that date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.