House Bill No. 3267 amends the Texas Penal Code regarding the use of force and deadly force in defense of a person. The bill expands the circumstances under which a person is justified in using force by adding provisions that allow for the use of force in defense of any other building or vehicle where the actor is lawfully present, in addition to their own habitation, vehicle, or place of business. Specifically, it modifies Sections 9.31(a) and 9.32(b) to include these new locations, thereby broadening the scope of self-defense protections.

The bill stipulates that the presumption of reasonableness for the use of force or deadly force remains intact if the actor did not provoke the aggressor and was not engaged in criminal activity, aside from minor traffic violations. The changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, ensuring that any offenses occurring prior to this date will be governed by the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 9.31, Penal Code 9.32 (Penal Code 9)