Monitoring the SessionHB 1602
Died in committee
THE TEXT
“committed the offense because of bias or prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The false-report offense already exists, and the new bias enhancement points to the same bias finding that, based on general knowledge of Texas law, already bumps most offenses up one punishment level under the Penal Code. The added text may mostly repeat an increase that already applies, but this overlap comes from general knowledge, not from the bill text.
Already a crimeInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or neglect.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
A prior conviction does it too. The bias bump may repeat one that already applies.
The bill changes the Family Code section that already makes it an offense to knowingly file a false child abuse or neglect report with intent to deceive. It keeps the base level as a state jail felony and raises it to a third-degree felony when the person has a prior conviction under that section, or when the false report was made because of bias or prejudice as described in the Code of Criminal Procedure. People who file false reports of child abuse or neglect motivated by bias could face a higher punishment for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 4480 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4480 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 12, 2024 and referred to the House Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB1602 · 2024-12-12
relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or neglect.
A prior conviction does it too. The bias bump may repeat one that already applies.
The bill changes the Family Code section that already makes it an offense to knowingly file a false child abuse or neglect report with intent to deceive. It keeps the base level as a state jail felony and raises it to a third-degree felony when the person has a prior conviction under that section, or when the false report was made because of bias or prejudice as described in the Code of Criminal Procedure. People who file false reports of child abuse or neglect motivated by bias could face a higher punishment for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“committed the offense because of bias or prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The false-report offense already exists, and the new bias enhancement points to the same bias finding that, based on general knowledge of Texas law, already bumps most offenses up one punishment level under the Penal Code. The added text may mostly repeat an increase that already applies, but this overlap comes from general knowledge, not from the bill text.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Rosenthal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 21, 2023: Referred to Human Services
Relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or neglect.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Dec 12, 2024
03/12/2025 H Referred to Human Services: Mar 12 2025 11:15AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Human Services · Final status: Died in committee
Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual
Family--Child Protection
Minors--Crimes Against
The text as introduced · 271 words
89R5073 MM-D By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 1602 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or neglect. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this chapter that is false. An offense under this subsection is : (1) a state jail felony ; or (2) [ unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person has previously been convicted under this section, in which case the offense is ] a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person: (A) has previously been convicted under this section; or (B) committed the offense because of bias or prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal Procedure . SECTION 2. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, as amended 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.