H.B. No. 1283 amends the Penal Code regarding the punishment for the criminal offense of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The bill specifies that an offense under certain subsections is generally classified as a third-degree felony, but it introduces new classifications: it becomes a second-degree felony if the evidence involved is a human corpse, and it is reduced to a Class A misdemeanor if the evidence pertains solely to a misdemeanor offense. Additionally, the bill establishes that an offense under a specific subsection is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill also includes a defense to prosecution for certain offenses if the evidence in question was visual material destroyed under specific prohibitions. The changes in law will apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, ensuring that any offenses committed prior to this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 37.09 (Penal Code 37)