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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB2073

Regular Session

Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain violations of certain court orders or conditions of bond in cases involving family violence, child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or abuse, indecent assault, stalking, or trafficking.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB2073: Government Affairs Overview

HB2073 reclassifies violations of protective orders and bond conditions involving family violence, sexual assault, or stalking from misdemeanors to State Jail Felonies (or Second Degree Felonies for repeat offenses) when a deadly weapon is possessed. This statutory change forces immediate updates to corporate background check adjudication matrices and workplace violence escalation protocols, as conduct previously categorized as a misdemeanor now triggers felony-level hiring exclusions and liability thresholds.

Rep. Lacey Hull·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20

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HB2073
Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain violations of certain court orders or conditions of bond in cases involving family violence, c...
Low Urgency
Unanimous Passage
House Vote134 - 0
YEA
100% in favor134 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
District and County AttorneysLocal Law Enforcement AgenciesTexas Criminal Courts
Primary Author: Rep. Lacey Hull
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Passed with supermajority; immediate effect).
  • Compliance Deadline: June 20, 2025 (HR adjudication grids must be updated by this date to correctly categorize new convictions).
  • Agency Rulemaking: None. This is a Penal Code amendment enforced by the judiciary and law enforcement, not a regulatory agency.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. HR Directive: Instruct background screening vendors to flag Penal Code 25.07(g) convictions involving weapons as Felonies, effective for records generated after June 20, 2025.
  • 2. Security Briefing: Issue a bulletin to security staff: "Possession of a weapon by an individual under a protective order is now a Felony. Do not intervene alone; contact Law Enforcement immediately."
  • 3. Policy Review: Audit Workplace Violence Prevention policies to ensure they address employees subject to protective orders, specifically requiring self-reporting of such orders to HR.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Security Vendor MSAs: Amend Master Service Agreements with private security firms. Require certification that no assigned personnel have active bond conditions or protective orders under Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure. A guard violating such an order while armed on your site now commits a felony, creating immense vicarious liability.
  • Executive Employment Agreements: Review "Termination for Cause" definitions. Ensure "commission of a felony" clauses are triggered immediately upon arrest or conviction under this new statute, superseding any "moral turpitude" ambiguity.

Hiring/Training

  • Background Check Adjudication: Update hiring matrices immediately. A conviction under Penal Code 25.07(g) with a weapon finding is now a State Jail Felony. If your current policy permits Class A Misdemeanors but excludes Felonies, this specific offense has crossed the exclusion threshold.
  • Security Protocols: Train security personnel and reception staff. If an employee known to be under a protective order is seen with a weapon (or suspected of having one), this is no longer a policy violation—it is an active felony in progress. Protocols must shift from "internal discipline" to "immediate 911 escalation."

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Incident Logging: Adjust security incident report forms to explicitly capture "Presence of Weapon" during domestic disputes or protective order violations on company property. This data point is now the determinant factor for felony prosecution.

Fees & Costs

  • No Direct Fees: There are no filing fees associated with this legislation.
  • Indirect Costs: Potential increase in legal counsel fees for reviewing "negligent retention" risks if an employee with such a record is retained.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The "Parking Lot Law" Conflict:

Texas Labor Code 52.061 generally permits employees to store firearms in locked private vehicles. HB2073 enhances penalties for violating a protective order while *possessing* a deadly weapon.

  • The Risk: If an employee violates a protective order (e.g., sends a threatening text or makes prohibited contact) while sitting in their car in your parking lot with a legally stored firearm, they may have committed a State Jail Felony under this new law.
  • The Guidance: Do not attempt to adjudicate "possession" internally. If a protective order violation occurs on premises and a weapon is known to be in the employee's vehicle, treat the situation as a felony-level threat and involve law enforcement.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Jan 24, 2025
Passed House
May 10, 2025
Passed Senate
May 26, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCrimesCrimes--miscellaneousBondsCrimes--against PersonsCrimes--against Persons--generalCrimes--against Persons--sexualFamilyFamily--family ViolenceCriminal ProcedureCriminal Procedure--bail & Pretrial ReleaseCriminal Procedure--sentencing & PunishmentChild AbuseSexual Assault
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House Authors

Rep. Lacey HullRepublican · Primary Author
Coauthors (1)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Joan HuffmanRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2073

Q

What does Texas HB2073 do?

HB2073 reclassifies violations of protective orders and bond conditions involving family violence, sexual assault, or stalking from misdemeanors to State Jail Felonies (or Second Degree Felonies for repeat offenses) when a deadly weapon is possessed. This statutory change forces immediate updates to corporate background check adjudication matrices and workplace violence escalation protocols, as conduct previously categorized as a misdemeanor now triggers felony-level hiring exclusions and liability thresholds.

Q

Who authored HB2073?

HB2073 was authored by Texas Representative Lacey Hull during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB2073 signed into law?

HB2073 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB2073?

HB2073 is enforced by District and County Attorneys, Local Law Enforcement Agencies and Texas Criminal Courts.

Q

How significant are the changes in HB2073?

The regulatory priority for HB2073 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB2073?

The cost impact of HB2073 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB2073 address?

HB2073 addresses topics including crimes, crimes--miscellaneous, bonds, crimes--against persons and crimes--against persons--general.

Q

What are the key dates for HB2073?

Key dates for HB2073: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Q

What are the penalties under HB2073?

HB2073 establishes the following penalties: criminal penalty of State Jail Felony (punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000) for Violating a court order or bond condition regarding family violence, sexual assault, or stalking while possessing a deadly weapon (enhancement from Class A Misdemeanor).; criminal penalty of Second Degree Felony (punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000) for Repeated violations (two or more times) of applicable court orders or bond conditions if at least one violation involved the possession of a deadly weapon (enhancement from Third Degree Felony).. Consult with legal counsel for specific applicability to your situation.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026