HB2073

HB2073 increases penalties when someone commits specified protective-order or bond-condition violations while possessing a deadly weapon. It concerns the orders and safety-related bond conditions covered by Penal Code 25.07 in family-violence, child-abuse/neglect, sexual-assault/abuse, indecent-assault, stalking and trafficking cases—not every court order or every instance of possessing a weapon. Final law; underlying offenses.

The new state jail felony provision applies to violations described in Section 25.07(a)(1), (2), (3), (5), (6) or (7) while possessing a deadly weapon. Those provisions cover specified violence or acts furthering listed crimes, prohibited communications, going near protected places, interference with protected animals, GPS-monitor tampering and prohibited tracking or following. The underlying knowing-or-intentional violation requirements remain. “Deadly weapon” includes firearms and other items designed or used/intended for use to cause death or serious bodily injury. Final law, Section 1; Section 25.07(a); definition.

The firearm-possession-only provision, Section 25.07(a)(4), is not in that new list. Possessing a firearm in violation of a covered order may still be an offense, but HB2073 does not automatically convert that provision alone into the new weapon enhancement. Existing third-degree-felony treatment for specified repeat convictions or violations involving assault or stalking remains and takes priority over the state-jail tier. The separate preexisting state-jail provision for certain post-conviction/deferred-adjudication protective orders also remains. Final law, amended 25.07(g).

The separate repeated-violation offense involves two or more violations within 12 months or less; it is not simply a requirement for two prior convictions. HB2073 raises that offense from a third-degree to a second-degree felony when at least one instance is shown at trial to have been conduct punishable under the new weapon-related state-jail provision, Section 25.07(g)(1)(B). The precise cross-reference matters; not every repeated violation becomes second-degree. Final law, Section 2; Section 25.072.

Ordinary punishment ranges provide context: Class A misdemeanors carry up to one year in jail and/or a $4,000 fine; state jail felonies ordinarily carry 180 days to two years and a possible $10,000 fine; third-degree felonies ordinarily carry 2–10 years and second-degree felonies 2–20 years, each with a possible $10,000 fine. These are not a prediction of any defendant’s sentence. Other enhancement rules matter: Section 12.35(c), for example, requires third-degree punishment for a state jail felony when its separate deadly-weapon-use/exhibition or prior-conviction conditions are proved. Possession and use/exhibition are not interchangeable triggers. Penal Code punishment provisions.

The changes apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. If any element occurred earlier, the act’s transition clause preserves the prior law for that offense. Final law, Sections 3–4.