TITLE: Relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because of bias or prejudice on the basis of gender.

SUMMARY: Relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because of bias or prejudice on the basis of gender.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because of bias or prejudice on the basis of gender. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 42.014(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: (c) In this article:(1) "Gender" means the actual or perceived gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth. (2) "Sexual [ "sexual] preference" has the following meaning only: a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. 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.