The bill, S.B. No. 793, amends Section 46.04(b) of the Texas Penal Code to prohibit individuals convicted of certain family violence misdemeanors from possessing firearms. Specifically, it targets those convicted of offenses under Section 22.01, which are punishable as Class A misdemeanors, when the offense is committed against individuals with whom the person has a specified relationship, as outlined in the Family Code. The bill removes the previous language that limited the prohibition to offenses involving a member of the person's family or household, thereby broadening the scope of the law.

The new legal language clarifies that the firearm possession prohibition applies for five years following the individual's release from confinement or community supervision after the misdemeanor conviction. The bill stipulates that the changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Offenses committed prior to this date will continue to be governed by the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 46.04 (Penal Code 46)