The bill, S.B. No. 1650, amends the Government Code by adding a new Subchapter D that grants the Texas Attorney General the authority to prosecute specific criminal offenses against public order. This includes offenses under Section 42.02 and Section 42.03 of the Penal Code, provided they occur on state-owned or maintained property. The bill outlines the process for law enforcement agencies to report these offenses to both local prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General, ensuring that the Attorney General is informed of potential prosecutions.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Attorney General can take jurisdiction over these offenses if a local prosecuting attorney has not initiated proceedings within six months of the report being submitted. 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 continue to be governed by the existing law.

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