The bill amends the definition of "child" in the context of the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child, changing the age from under 17 years to under 18 years. This adjustment is reflected in the revised legal language of Section 46.13(a)(1) of the Penal Code, where the term "child" is now defined as a person younger than 18 years of age, replacing the previous definition that capped the age at 17.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Offenses occurring before this date will continue to be governed by the law as it was prior to the amendment. This ensures that any legal proceedings related to offenses committed before the effective date will adhere to the former definition of "child."

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 46.13 (Penal Code 46)