H.B. No. 5215 proposes an amendment to Section 201.605 of the Occupations Code, which addresses the criminal penalties for practicing chiropractic without a license. The bill reclassifies the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the third degree, thereby increasing the severity of the penalty for individuals found guilty of this violation. Additionally, the bill removes the previous provision that allowed for a lesser penalty unless the defendant had prior convictions for the same offense.

The changes introduced by this bill will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Offenses occurring before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law, ensuring that individuals are not retroactively penalized under the new, harsher penalties.

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