HB 3877
Bonnen ‘Criminal Pursuit’ Bill Stacks A Felony On Existing Offenses
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Already a crime
The bill itself says the same conduct may also be an offense under another section and allows prosecution under both. Based on general knowledge of Texas law, possessing a criminal instrument with intent to commit an offense and attempted robbery or theft are already offenses, so much of this conduct is already covered.
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
Caption
relating to creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Gang member, two or more items, follows someone from a bank to rob them. Third-degree felony.
The bill creates a new third-degree felony offense called "criminal pursuit" in the Penal Code. It reaches a person who follows someone away from a business or bank intending to rob them or steal from them, who is a member of a criminal street gang, and who carries two or more items that could be used to commit an offense. Prosecutors could charge this new offense on top of or instead of any other offense the same conduct already covers, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 5, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3877 · 2025-03-05
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit.
WHAT IT DOES
Gang member, two or more items, follows someone from a bank to rob them. Third-degree felony.
The bill creates a new third-degree felony offense called "criminal pursuit" in the Penal Code. It reaches a person who follows someone away from a business or bank intending to rob them or steal from them, who is a member of a criminal street gang, and who carries two or more items that could be used to commit an offense. Prosecutors could charge this new offense on top of or instead of any other offense the same conduct already covers, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 50%
The bill itself says the same conduct may also be an offense under another section and allows prosecution under both. Based on general knowledge of Texas law, possessing a criminal instrument with intent to commit an offense and attempted robbery or theft are already offenses, so much of this conduct is already covered.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
- Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Dr. Greg Bonnen.
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 1, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 5, 2025
04/01/2025 H Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
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 · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 1125 by Middleton (similar)
Subjects
Crimes--Against Persons--General
Crimes--Against Property
Criminal Procedure--General
Criminal Procedure--Sentencing & Punishment
GANGS
Text
The text as introduced · 225 words
89R10235 MEW-F By: Bonnen H.B. No. 3877 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 15.021 to read as follows: Sec. 15.021. CRIMINAL PURSUIT. (a) In this section, "criminal instrument" means anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of effecting the commission of an offense. (b) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to commit an offense under Chapter 29, an offense under Section 30.04 involving theft, or an offense under Section 31.03, the person: (1) knowingly travels from a commercial business or financial institution, as defined by Section 201.101, Finance Code, on the same path or route as another person without substantially deviating from that path or route; (2) is a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01; and (3) is in possession of two or more criminal instruments. (c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree. (d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.