H.B. No. 4996 amends Section 32.49(c) of the Penal Code to increase the criminal penalty for the offense of refusal to execute the release of a fraudulent lien or claim. Under the new provisions, this offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, but it escalates to a felony of the third degree if the owner of the property subject to the fraudulent lien or claim is a public servant known to the actor.

The bill specifies 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 be governed by the previous law, ensuring that any elements of the offense that took place prior to the effective date are treated under the former legal framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 32.49 (Penal Code 32)
House Committee Report: Penal Code 32.49 (Penal Code 32)
Engrossed: Penal Code 32.49 (Penal Code 32)
Senate Committee Report: Penal Code 32.49 (Penal Code 32)
Enrolled: Penal Code 32.49 (Penal Code 32)