Bill Text: TX HB2772 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of certain offenses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-13 - Filed [HB2772 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB2772-Introduced.html
| 89R12703 MCF-F | ||
| By: Thompson | H.B. No. 2772 | |
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| relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of | ||
| certain offenses. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 8, Penal Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Section 8.09 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 8.09. VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING, COMPELLING PROSTITUTION, | ||
| OR FAMILY VIOLENCE. (a) It is an affirmative defense to | ||
| prosecution that the actor engaged in the conduct charged because | ||
| the actor was coerced, acting under duress, or reasonably feared | ||
| harm as a result of being the victim of an offense: | ||
| (1) under Section 20A.02 or 43.05; or | ||
| (2) punishable under Section 22.01(b)(2). | ||
| (b) Information relevant to the identification of a | ||
| defendant's status as a victim of an offense described by | ||
| Subsection (a) may be offered to establish an affirmative defense | ||
| under this section. | ||
| 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. | ||
