Monitoring the Session

HB 5238

the offense of disrupting a meeting now covers online ones

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ray LopezDHouse 125

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the criminal offense of disrupting a meeting or procession.

Caption from analyzed text · version E.

Summary

Hacking a Zoom-style meeting counts the same as disrupting one in person.

The bill expands the existing offense of disrupting a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering so that it also covers virtual gatherings. It reaches anyone who, intending to stop or disrupt such an event, interferes with it in person or online by physical action, by speech, or by an electronic disturbance such as hacking a virtual part of the event. Starting September 1, 2025, disrupting a Zoom-style or hybrid meeting can be charged under the same offense as disrupting an in-person one.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5238 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Ray LopezDHouse 125 Rep. Giovanni CapriglioneRHouse 98

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the criminal offense of disrupting a meeting or procession.

WHAT IT DOES

Hacking a Zoom-style meeting counts the same as disrupting one in person.

The bill expands the existing offense of disrupting a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering so that it also covers virtual gatherings. It reaches anyone who, intending to stop or disrupt such an event, interferes with it in person or online by physical action, by speech, or by an electronic disturbance such as hacking a virtual part of the event. Starting September 1, 2025, disrupting a Zoom-style or hybrid meeting can be charged under the same offense as disrupting an in-person one.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 9, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1182
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1288
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Criminal Justice
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Vote taken in committee
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  31. Committee report printed and distributed
  32. Placed on intent calendar
  33. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  34. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  35. Vote recorded in Journal
  36. Three day rule suspended
  37. Record vote
  38. Read 3rd time
  39. Passed
  40. Record vote
  41. Senate passage reported
  42. Reported enrolled
  43. Co-sponsor authorized
  44. Signed in the House
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Sent to the Governor
  47. Signed by the Governor
  48. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“with intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, whether in person or virtual”…

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill extends an existing offense that already covers verbal utterances to virtual gatherings, so speech that disrupts an online meeting is now covered by the offense.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 134 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ray Lopez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$5KTexas Sands PAC$4KValero Energy Corporation PAC$3K

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 5, 2024 to May 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$5,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

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 · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 18, 2025. 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: 100987088, 101031958.

Texas Sands PAC$4,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$4,000.00

Cash
$4,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$4,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 23, 2024. 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: 100987088.

Valero Energy Corporation PAC$3,000.00

Valero Energy Corporation PAC

$3,000.00

Cash
$3,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$3,000.00

Also funds 94 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 9, 2025. 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: 100987088, 101031958.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

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 · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 18, 2025. 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: 100987088, 101031958.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$4,000.00

Cash
$4,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$4,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 23, 2024. 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: 100987088.

×

Valero Energy Corporation PAC

$3,000.00

Cash
$3,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$3,000.00

Also funds 94 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 9, 2025. 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: 100987088, 101031958.

Votes5

Senate May 16, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator J. Hinojosa, moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5238 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 16, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator J. Hinojosa, moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5238 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 16, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 2, 2025

Yea
134
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
11
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1288

HB 5238 was passed by (Record 1288): 134 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 134 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 11 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 1, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
1
Present, not voting
4
Absent
1
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1182

HB 5238 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1182): 141 Yeas, 1 Nays, 4 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 4 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses11
For
10
Against
1
On
0
Names

For

  • Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • City of San Antonio2 registrations
  • City of Sugar Land1 registration
  • City of Sugar Land, Texas1 registration
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)2 registrations
  • County Judges & Commissioners Assoc.1 registration
  • County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • Self; Johnson County and County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration

Against

  • Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
Sources

11 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.

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

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 9, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version E by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Jessica GonzálezDHouse 104 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20
Cosponsors
Donna CampbellRSenate 25

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Criminal Justice · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Criminal Procedure--Sentencing & Punishment

Electronic Information Systems

Text

The text as introduced · 213 words

89R18048 MZM-F

By: Lopez of Bexar
H.B. No. 5238

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the criminal offense of disrupting a meeting or

procession.

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

SECTION 1. Section 42.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to prevent

or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, whether in

person or virtual, the person [ he ] obstructs or interferes with the

meeting, procession, or gathering by :

(1) physical action ;

(2) [ or ] verbal utterance ; or

(3) electronic disturbance, including hacking, of any

virtual component of the meeting, procession, or gathering .

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.