The bill, S.B. No. 189, amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include protections against criminal offenses committed due to bias or prejudice based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, it modifies Article 42.014(a) to require judges to make an affirmative finding if a defendant is determined to have intentionally selected a victim or their property based on such biases, alongside existing categories like race, color, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, and gender. The bill also repeals Article 42.014(c), which is not specified in the summary.

The changes introduced by this bill will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Offenses occurring before this date will be governed by the previous law, ensuring that any elements of an offense that took place prior to the enactment will still follow the old legal framework.