S.B. No. 1379 amends the Texas Penal Code to increase the criminal penalties for forgery. The bill reclassifies certain offenses, changing the classification from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony for general forgery offenses. It also specifies that if the forged writing is related to significant legal documents such as wills, deeds, or government records, the offense will be classified as a felony of the third degree or second degree, depending on the nature of the document. Additionally, the bill introduces a new classification system based on the value of the property or service involved in the forgery, with penalties ranging from a Class B misdemeanor for values under $100 to a felony of the first degree for values of $150,000 or more.

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that increases the penalty to the next higher category if the forgery is committed against an elderly individual. The changes in law 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 be governed by the law in effect at that time.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 32.21 (Penal Code 32)
Senate Committee Report: Penal Code 32.21 (Penal Code 32)
Engrossed: Penal Code 32.21 (Penal Code 32)
House Committee Report: Penal Code 32.21 (Penal Code 32)
Enrolled: Penal Code 32.21 (Penal Code 32)