The bill, S.B. No. 1800, proposes the creation of a new criminal offense related to the abandonment of residents in assisted living facilities during declared states of disaster. It introduces Section 247.073 to the Health and Safety Code, defining "abandon" as leaving a resident without providing necessary care under circumstances where a reasonable person would not do so. The bill establishes that operators of assisted living facilities in disaster areas who abandon residents, or authorize employees to do so, will be committing an offense.

The offense is classified as a state jail felony, with escalated penalties based on the severity of harm caused to the resident. If the resident suffers bodily injury, the offense is elevated to a third-degree felony; if serious bodily injury occurs, it becomes a second-degree felony; and if the resident dies as a result, it is classified as a first-degree felony. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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