HB 2695

bill raising drug delivery penalties for social media use

Companion SB 1833 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Used a social media platform to deal? Higher punishment.

The bill raises the punishment for certain drug delivery offenses when the defendant used a social media platform to help carry out the offense. It touches people prosecuted under the listed Health and Safety Code drug offenses involving delivery, such as manufacturing or delivering controlled substances. If social media use is shown at trial, the offense is punished one category higher, or for a first-degree felony, five years are added and the maximum fine is doubled, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2695 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Rafael AnchíaDHouse 103

Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67

Rep. AJ LouderbackRHouse 30

+ 2 more authors, 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties.

WHAT IT DOES

Used a social media platform to deal? Higher punishment.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025

Increasing the penalty for existing offenses may result in an increase in demands upon state and local correctional resources due to a possible increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement. The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to increased criminal penalties.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 12, 2025Filed
Mar 18, 2025Read first time
Mar 18, 2025Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
Mar 25, 2025Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
Apr 3, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Apr 3, 2025No action taken in subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Apr 15, 2025Considered by s/c in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Committee substitute considered in s/c
Apr 15, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 24, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 30, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 30, 2025Committee report distributed
May 1, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 5, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 7, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 7, 2025Read 2nd time
May 7, 2025Postponed 5/12/25 10:00 AM
May 12, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 12, 2025Postponed 5/14/25 10:00 AM
May 14, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 1833
May 14, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Rafael Anchía

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15K Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.$14K Blackridge$12K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 30, 2024 to Oct 20, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.$13,500.00

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

$13,500.00

Cash: $13,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $13,500.00

Also funds 84 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 14, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Blackridge$12,000.00

Blackridge

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 86 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 5, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 13, 2025 to Aug 11, 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: 101033306, 101061466, 101071312.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

$13,500.00

Cash: $13,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $13,500.00

Also funds 84 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 14, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Blackridge

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 86 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 5, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 13, 2025 to Aug 11, 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: 101033306, 101061466, 101071312.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses16

For: 16
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
Dallas Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot1 registration
Dallas Police Association1 registration
Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #391 registration
Houston Police Department1 registration
Office of Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare1 registration
Self2 registrations
Self; Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD1 registration
Self; Carrollton Police Department1 registration
Self; Comal County Criminal District Attorney1 registration
Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
Self; Sheriffs Association of Texas1 registration
Sheriffs Association1 registration
Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration

Sources

16 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025

05/14/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Jolanda "Jo" JonesDHouse 147

Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

Jared PattersonRHouse 106

Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Committee vote 10 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1833 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Drugs

Electronic Information Systems

Minors--Health & Safety

INTERNET

Text

The text as introduced · 276 words

89R9582 CJD-D

By: Anchía
H.B. No. 2695

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an

offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance;

increasing criminal penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 481, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 481.142 to read as follows:

Sec. 481.142. USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM FOR DELIVERY OF

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. (a) "Social media platform" has the meaning

assigned by Section 120.001, Business & Commerce Code.

(b) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under Section

481.112, 481.1121, 481.1123, 481.113, 481.114, 481.119, 481.120,

or 481.122, involving the delivery of a controlled substance that

the defendant used a social media platform in furtherance of the

offense, the punishment for the offense is increased to the

punishment prescribed by the next higher category of offense,

except that the punishment for a felony of the first degree is

increased by five years and the maximum fine for the offense is

doubled.

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 at the time 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.