89R18048 MZM-F
 
  By: Lopez of Bexar H.B. No. 5238
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the criminal offense of disrupting a meeting or
  procession.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 42.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if, with intent to prevent
  or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, whether in
  person or virtual, the person [he] obstructs or interferes with the
  meeting, procession, or gathering by:
               (1)  physical action;
               (2)  [or] verbal utterance; or
               (3)  electronic disturbance, including hacking, of any
  virtual component of the meeting, procession, or gathering.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.  
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.