S.B. No. 1379 amends the Penal Code to increase the criminal penalties for forgery offenses. The bill reclassifies the severity of various forgery offenses, changing the classification from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony for general forgery offenses. Additionally, it specifies that if the forged writing is related to certain legal documents or financial instruments, the offense will be classified as a third-degree felony. The bill also introduces a tiered penalty structure 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 first-degree felony for values of $150,000 or more.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions that increase the penalty for forgery offenses committed against elderly individuals, elevating the offense to the next higher category. The changes in law will apply only 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)