House Bill No. 253 amends the Health and Safety Code by adding a new subsection that clarifies the legal status of testing equipment used to identify substances in Penalty Group 1-B. Specifically, the bill states that the provisions of Section 481.125 do not apply to individuals who use, possess with intent to use, deliver, possess with intent to deliver, or manufacture with intent to deliver such testing equipment. This change aims to provide legal protection for those utilizing these tools for identification purposes.

The bill stipulates that the changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Any offenses that occurred prior to this date will be governed by the existing law, ensuring that individuals are not retroactively penalized under the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 481.125 (Health and Safety Code 481)