Senate Bill No. 2601 aims to establish a program to compensate landowners and lessees for property damage caused by certain criminal activities, specifically those related to border crimes. The bill amends the definition of "border crime" to include offenses under specific sections of the Penal Code and emphasizes that such crimes involve transnational criminal activity. It also expands the scope of compensation to include damages caused by trespassers engaged in border crimes and law enforcement responses to these incidents. Notably, the bill specifies that compensation for agricultural land damage may cover debris, pollutants, or contaminants left on the property, and it allows for compensation to restore the soil to its agricultural use.

Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for lessees to provide a notarized statement from the landowner to receive compensation for damages caused by trespassers. It also includes a provision in the Insurance Code that prohibits insurers from considering claims related to events documented under the new compensation program when setting rates. This provision will apply to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Insurance Code 2251.052 (Insurance Code 2251)