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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the punishment for certain theft offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(e) Except as provided by Subsections (f) and (f-1), an |
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offense under this section is: |
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(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property |
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stolen is less than $100; |
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(2) a Class B misdemeanor if: |
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(A) the value of the property stolen is $100 or |
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more but less than $300 [$750]; |
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(B) the value of the property stolen is less than |
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$100 and the defendant has previously been convicted of any grade of |
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theft; or |
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(C) the property stolen is a driver's license, |
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commercial driver's license, or personal identification |
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certificate issued by this state or another state; |
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(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property |
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stolen is $300 [$750] or more but less than $750 [$2,500]; |
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(4) a state jail felony if: |
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(A) the value of the property stolen is $750 |
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[$2,500] or more but less than $30,000, or the property is less than |
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10 head of sheep, swine, or goats or any part thereof under the |
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value of $30,000; |
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(B) regardless of value, the property is stolen |
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from the person of another or from a human corpse or grave, |
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including property that is a military grave marker; |
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(C) the property stolen is a firearm; |
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(D) the value of the property stolen is less than |
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$750 [$2,500] and the defendant has been previously convicted two |
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or more times of any grade of theft; |
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(E) the property stolen is an official ballot or |
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official carrier envelope for an election; |
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(F) the value of the property stolen is less than |
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$30,000 [$20,000] and the property stolen is: |
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(i) aluminum; |
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(ii) bronze; |
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(iii) copper; or |
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(iv) brass; or |
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(G) the cost of replacing the property stolen is |
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less than $30,000 and the property stolen is a catalytic converter; |
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(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the |
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property stolen is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or the |
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property is: |
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(A) cattle, horses, or exotic livestock or exotic |
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fowl as defined by Section 142.001, Agriculture Code, stolen during |
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a single transaction and having an aggregate value of less than |
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$150,000; |
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(B) 10 or more head of sheep, swine, or goats |
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stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of |
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less than $150,000; or |
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(C) a controlled substance, having a value of |
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less than $150,000, if stolen from: |
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(i) a commercial building in which a |
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controlled substance is generally stored, including a pharmacy, |
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clinic, hospital, nursing facility, or warehouse; or |
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(ii) a vehicle owned or operated by a |
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wholesale distributor of prescription drugs; |
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(6) a felony of the second degree if: |
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(A) the value of the property stolen is $150,000 |
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or more but less than $300,000; or |
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(B) the value of the property stolen is less than |
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$300,000 and the property stolen is an automated teller machine or |
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the contents or components of an automated teller machine; or |
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(7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the |
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property stolen is $300,000 or more. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.04(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(e) An offense under this section is: |
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(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the service |
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stolen is less than $100; |
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(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the service |
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stolen is $100 or more but less than $300 [$750]; |
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(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the service |
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stolen is $300 [$750] or more but less than $750 [$2,500]; |
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(4) a state jail felony if the value of the service |
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stolen is $750 [$2,500] or more but less than $30,000; |
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(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the |
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service stolen is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000; |
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(6) a felony of the second degree if the value of the |
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service stolen is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or |
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(7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the |
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service stolen is $300,000 or more. |
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SECTION 3. Section 31.16(c), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(c) An offense under this section is: |
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(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the total value of the |
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merchandise involved in the activity is less than $100; |
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(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the total value of the |
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merchandise involved in the activity is $100 or more but less than |
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$300 [$750]; |
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(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the total value of the |
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merchandise involved in the activity is $300 [$750] or more but less |
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than $750 [$2,500]; |
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(4) a state jail felony if the total value of the |
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merchandise involved in the activity is $750 [$2,500] or more but |
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less than $30,000; |
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(5) a felony of the third degree if the total value of |
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the merchandise involved in the activity is $30,000 or more but less |
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than $150,000; |
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(6) a felony of the second degree if the total value of |
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the merchandise involved in the activity is $150,000 or more but |
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less than $300,000; or |
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(7) a felony of the first degree if the total value of |
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the merchandise involved in the activity is $300,000 or more. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |