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.
LowStandard timeline
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Local Law Enforcement Agencies • District and County Attorneys • Texas Criminal Courts
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.
Under current law, possession of a deadly weapon results in a penalty enhancement for several offenses due to the perpetrator's intention or will to use deadly force. While such an enhancement applies to several offenses, there is no specific enhancement for a violation of a family violence or sexual assault protective order or a violation of a condition of bond in certain cases if, in committing the offense, the actor was in possession of a deadly weapon. The bill author has informed the committee that victims advocates and law enforcement have stated that the presence of a deadly weapon when violating a protective order or condition of bond greatly increases the risk of violence used against a victim and threatens public safety and the safety of victims. C.S.H.B. 2073 seeks to provide law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to apprehend and prosecute these violent offenders and to better protect victims by enhancing penalties for a violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond in certain cases if the defendant commits the violation while possessing a deadly weapon.
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
C.S.H.B. 2073 amends the Penal Code to enhance the penalty for violating 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 from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony if the defendant violates such an order or a condition of bond by engaging in applicable conduct constituting the offense while possessing a deadly weapon. The bill enhances the penalty for a repeated violation 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 from a third degree felony to a second degree felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that at least one time the person engaged in conduct that was punishable as the enhanced offense for violating certain court orders or conditions of bond in such cases while possessing a deadly weapon.
C.S.H.B. 2073 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before the bill's effective date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 2073 differs from the introduced only by including a Texas Legislative Council draft number in the footer.
Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2073 by Hull (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.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would increase the criminal penalty for the offense of violating 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 from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony if it shown at trial that the defendant committed the violation while possessing a deadly weapon.
The bill would furthermore increase the criminal penalty for the offense of repeated violation 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 from a third degree felony to a second degree felony if it shown at trial that at least one time the person engaged in the violation while possessing a deadly weapon.
While it is assumed that any state revenue impact would not be significant, it would be dependent on the number of offenses committed and the associated court costs.
Local Government Impact
While it is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement would not be significant, it would be dependent on the number of defendants who may be prosecuted under the amended offenses.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JMc, MGol, AMr, QH
Related Legislation
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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. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Passed with supermajority; immediate effect).
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 Local Law Enforcement Agencies, District and County Attorneys and Texas Criminal Courts.
Q
How urgent is compliance with HB2073?
The compliance urgency for HB2073 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
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.
Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025
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