Monitoring the SessionHB 372
Died in committee
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
relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal offense for persons acting under duress.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Out goes “reasonable firmness.” In comes the defendant’s situation.
The bill changes the test for the duress defense in the Penal Code. It replaces the standard of a 'person of reasonable firmness' with a 'reasonable person in the situation of the defendant.' Defendants who claim they were forced into an offense by threats would have their own circumstances weighed when a jury decides whether they could have resisted, for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 327 (Did not pass) 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 327 (Did not pass). 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 Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB372 · 2024-11-12
relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal offense for persons acting under duress.
Out goes “reasonable firmness.” In comes the defendant’s situation.
The bill changes the test for the duress defense in the Penal Code. It replaces the standard of a 'person of reasonable firmness' with a 'reasonable person in the situation of the defendant.' Defendants who claim they were forced into an offense by threats would have their own circumstances weighed when a jury decides whether they could have resisted, for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
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 18, 2024 to Oct 21, 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.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
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. Senfronia Thompson, same lead author · Did not pass · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 11, 2023: Received from the House
Relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal offense for persons acting under duress.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Criminal Procedure--Defense Counsel
Criminal Procedure--General
The text as introduced · 185 words
89R682 MCF-F By: Thompson H.B. No. 372 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal offense for persons acting under duress. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 8.05(c), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) Compulsion within the meaning of this section exists only if the force or threat of force would render a reasonable person in the situation of the defendant [ reasonable firmness ] incapable of resisting the pressure. 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.