The George Foreman Justice Act proposes to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18 years, redefining a "child" as someone who is at least 10 years old but under 18, and including individuals aged 18 to 20 who engaged in delinquent conduct before turning 18. This change means that individuals under 18 cannot be prosecuted for offenses committed before reaching that age, except for specific serious offenses. The bill also modifies various procedural aspects related to juvenile offenders, including the transfer of individuals certified to stand trial as adults and the issuance of notices for court obligations. The amendments aim to recognize the developmental differences between minors and adults, promoting a more rehabilitative approach for younger individuals in the justice system.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Family Code and Human Resources Code to adjust age limits for juvenile supervision and related legal processes, raising the age for several provisions from 18 to 19 or 20 years. Key changes include the transfer of community supervision to a district court on an individual's 20th birthday and the ability to apply for expungement of certain convictions only after reaching 18 years of age. The bill also establishes an advisory committee to monitor the implementation of these changes, which will begin its work on September 1, 2025, while the new legal provisions will apply to conduct occurring on or after September 1, 2027. Overall, the bill aims to extend protections and services to older youth within the juvenile justice system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 51.02, Penal Code 8.07, Penal Code 15.031, Penal Code 21.02, Penal Code 33.021, Penal Code 71.028, Transportation Code 545.424, Transportation Code 729.001, Transportation Code 729.002, Education Code 37.085, Transportation Code 521.453, Family Code 51.041, Family Code 51.0412, Family Code 51.12, Family Code 54.02, Family Code 54.0326, Family Code 54.04, Family Code 54.0405, Family Code 54.041, Family Code 54.05, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.11, Family Code 55.15, Family Code 55.18, Family Code 55.19, Family Code 55.43, Family Code 55.44, Family Code 56.03, Family Code 58.0052, Family Code 58.253, Family Code 58.255, Family Code 58.256, Family Code 58.264, Family Code 59.005, Family Code 59.006, Family Code 59.007, Family Code 59.008, Family Code 59.009, Family Code 61.051, Health and Safety Code 614.019, Human Resources Code 63.001, Human Resources Code 152.0015, Human Resources Code 51.12, Human Resources Code 243.001, Human Resources Code 243.051, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 244.015, Human Resources Code 245.053, Human Resources Code 245.151, Commerce Code 109.001, Family Code 65.251, Government Code 79.001, Transportation Code 521.201 (Penal Code 21, Human Resources Code 243, Education Code 37, Government Code 79, Family Code 56, Family Code 51, Penal Code 15, Family Code 55, Family Code 59, Family Code 54, Transportation Code 729, Family Code 65, Penal Code 8, Health and Safety Code 614, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 61, Transportation Code 521, Penal Code 71, Human Resources Code 51, Family Code 58, Penal Code 33, Commerce Code 109, Transportation Code 545, Human Resources Code 244, Human Resources Code 245, Human Resources Code 63)
House Committee Report: Family Code 51.02, Penal Code 8.07, Penal Code 15.031, Penal Code 21.02, Penal Code 33.021, Penal Code 71.028, Transportation Code 545.424, Transportation Code 729.001, Transportation Code 729.002, Education Code 37.085, Transportation Code 521.453, Family Code 51.041, Family Code 51.0412, Family Code 51.12, Family Code 54.02, Family Code 54.0326, Family Code 54.04, Family Code 54.0405, Family Code 54.041, Family Code 54.05, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.11, Family Code 55.15, Family Code 55.18, Family Code 55.19, Family Code 55.43, Family Code 55.44, Family Code 56.03, Family Code 58.0052, Family Code 58.253, Family Code 58.255, Family Code 58.256, Family Code 58.264, Family Code 59.005, Family Code 59.006, Family Code 59.007, Family Code 59.008, Family Code 59.009, Family Code 61.051, Health and Safety Code 614.019, Human Resources Code 63.001, Human Resources Code 152.0015, Human Resources Code 51.12, Human Resources Code 243.001, Human Resources Code 243.051, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 244.015, Human Resources Code 245.053, Human Resources Code 245.151, Commerce Code 109.001, Family Code 65.251, Government Code 79.001, Transportation Code 521.201 (Penal Code 21, Human Resources Code 243, Education Code 37, Government Code 79, Family Code 56, Family Code 51, Penal Code 15, Family Code 55, Family Code 59, Family Code 54, Transportation Code 729, Family Code 65, Penal Code 8, Health and Safety Code 614, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 61, Transportation Code 521, Penal Code 71, Human Resources Code 51, Family Code 58, Penal Code 33, Commerce Code 109, Transportation Code 545, Human Resources Code 244, Human Resources Code 245, Human Resources Code 63)
Engrossed: Family Code 51.02, Penal Code 8.07, Penal Code 15.031, Penal Code 21.02, Penal Code 33.021, Penal Code 71.028, Transportation Code 545.424, Transportation Code 729.001, Transportation Code 729.002, Education Code 37.085, Transportation Code 521.453, Family Code 51.041, Family Code 51.0412, Family Code 51.12, Family Code 54.02, Family Code 54.0326, Family Code 54.04, Family Code 54.0405, Family Code 54.041, Family Code 54.05, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.11, Family Code 55.15, Family Code 55.18, Family Code 55.19, Family Code 55.43, Family Code 55.44, Family Code 56.03, Family Code 58.0052, Family Code 58.253, Family Code 58.255, Family Code 58.256, Family Code 58.264, Family Code 59.005, Family Code 59.006, Family Code 59.007, Family Code 59.008, Family Code 59.009, Family Code 61.051, Health and Safety Code 614.019, Human Resources Code 63.001, Human Resources Code 152.0015, Human Resources Code 51.12, Human Resources Code 243.001, Human Resources Code 243.051, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 244.015, Human Resources Code 245.053, Human Resources Code 245.151, Commerce Code 109.001, Family Code 65.251, Government Code 79.001, Transportation Code 521.201 (Penal Code 21, Human Resources Code 243, Education Code 37, Government Code 79, Family Code 56, Family Code 51, Penal Code 15, Family Code 55, Family Code 59, Family Code 54, Transportation Code 729, Family Code 65, Penal Code 8, Health and Safety Code 614, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 61, Transportation Code 521, Penal Code 71, Human Resources Code 51, Family Code 58, Penal Code 33, Commerce Code 109, Transportation Code 545, Human Resources Code 244, Human Resources Code 245, Human Resources Code 63)