H.B. No. 2940 amends the Government Code to modify the award of good conduct time for certain inmates and to change parole eligibility criteria. The bill clarifies that good conduct time is a privilege, not a right, and specifies that it can be granted for demonstrating good behavior or participating in designated programs. It introduces new provisions for awarding good conduct time to inmates confined in county jails who participate in voluntary work programs, aligning their eligibility with that of inmates in industrial or other work programs. Additionally, the bill revises the criteria for accruing good conduct time based on inmate classification and participation in various programs.

The bill also alters the parole eligibility requirements for inmates serving life sentences and those convicted of specific offenses. It establishes that inmates serving life sentences must serve 40 calendar years, including good conduct time, before becoming eligible for parole, while those serving sentences under certain sections must serve 35 calendar years under similar conditions. The changes apply to all inmates confined in facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 498.003, Government Code 508.046, Government Code 508.145 (Government Code 498, Government Code 508)