H.B. No. 5238 amends Section 42.05(a) of the Penal Code to expand the definition of the criminal offense of disrupting a meeting, procession, or gathering. The bill specifies that a person commits an offense if they intend to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, whether in person or virtual, and obstructs or interferes with it through physical action, verbal utterance, or electronic disturbance, including hacking of any virtual component. This broadens the scope of actions that can be considered disruptive, particularly in the context of virtual gatherings.

The changes made by this Act will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Any offenses occurring before this date will be governed by the previous law, ensuring that individuals are not retroactively penalized under the new provisions. The bill received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate, indicating a strong legislative consensus on the need to address disruptions in both physical and virtual settings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 42.05 (Penal Code 42)
House Committee Report: Penal Code 42.05 (Penal Code 42)
Engrossed: Penal Code 42.05 (Penal Code 42)
Senate Committee Report: Penal Code 42.05 (Penal Code 42)
Enrolled: Penal Code 42.05 (Penal Code 42)