H.B. No. 1602 amends Section 261.107(a) of the Family Code to enhance the penalties for making false reports of child abuse or neglect. Under the new provisions, a person who knowingly makes a false report with the intent to deceive will be charged with a state jail felony. However, if it is proven during the trial that the individual has a prior conviction for a similar offense or that the false report was made due to bias or prejudice, the offense will escalate to a felony of the third degree. This change removes the previous requirement that a prior conviction must be shown for the offense to be classified as a third-degree felony.

The bill specifies that the amended law will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Any offenses occurring before this date will be governed by the law in effect at that time, ensuring that the previous legal framework remains applicable for those cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 261.107 (Family Code 261)