H.B. No. 5215 amends Section 201.605 of the Occupations Code to increase the criminal penalty for practicing chiropractic without a license. The bill reclassifies the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the third degree, thereby imposing a more severe penalty for individuals found guilty of this violation. Additionally, the previous provision that allowed for a lesser penalty if the defendant had not been previously convicted under the same section has been removed.

The changes introduced by this bill will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Offenses that occurred prior to this date will still be governed by the law in effect at that time, ensuring that individuals are not retroactively penalized under the new, harsher standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 201.605 (Occupations Code 201)