H.B. No. 135 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code in Texas to provide civil liability protections for individuals who remove vulnerable individuals or domestic animals from locked motor vehicles. The bill defines "domestic animal" as a dog, cat, or other domesticated pets, excluding livestock, and introduces the term "motor vehicle" to encompass self-propelled vehicles and trailers. It establishes that a person is immune from civil liability if they enter a motor vehicle to remove a vulnerable individual or domestic animal, provided they meet specific conditions, such as ensuring the vehicle is locked, having a reasonable belief that imminent harm exists, notifying law enforcement, using minimal force, and remaining with the individual or animal until help arrives.

Additionally, the bill specifies that immunity from civil liability does not apply if the person was advised by law enforcement not to enter the vehicle after making a notification. The changes in law will only apply to causes of action that accrue after the bill's effective date, which is set for 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

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