The bill, H.B. No. 268, aims to increase the criminal penalties for making false reports and to establish restitution for emergency response costs incurred due to such reports. It amends Article 42.037(w) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow courts to order defendants convicted of specific offenses under the Penal Code to pay restitution for reasonable emergency response costs. Additionally, it revises Section 42.06(b) of the Penal Code, changing the classification of offenses related to false reports. Under the new provisions, a false report can be classified as a Class A misdemeanor, a state jail felony, or a felony of the third degree, depending on the nature of the emergency reported.

The amendments include the insertion of new classifications for offenses, specifically distinguishing between false reports involving public institutions and other public services, and those involving primary or secondary schools. The bill also clarifies that the changes in law will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that any offenses committed prior to this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 42.06 (Penal Code 42)