Bill: HB 902, 86(R) - 2019
Committee
House Criminal Jurisprudence
2nd Chamber Committee
Senate Criminal Justice
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
Yes |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Positive |
Positive |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Brooks Landgraf
Angie Chen Button
Justin Holland
Candy Noble
Dade Phelan
Co-Author(s)
Steve Allison
Trent Ashby
Keith Bell
Dwayne Bohac
Greg Bonnen
Brad Buckley
DeWayne Burns
Giovanni Capriglione
Travis Clardy
Jay Dean
Dan Flynn
Craig Goldman
Ryan Guillen
Sam Harless
Matt Krause
Stan Lambert
Jeff Leach
Ben Leman
J.M. Lozano
Morgan Meyer
Rick Miller
Tan Parker
Jarred Patterson
Dennis Paul
Scott Sanford
Matt Schaefer
Matt Shaheen
Lynn Stucky
Valoree Swanson
Ed Thompson
Tony Tinderholt
Sponsor(s)
Joan Huffman
Bill Caption
Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for assault of a pregnant woman.
Fiscal Notes
The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate because data collected at the statewide level do not reveal the number of assault cases involving a pregnant victim, information necessary to determine the impact of the bill's enhancement provision.
Bill Analysis
HB 902 would make assault of a person the actor knew was pregnant at the time of the assault a third degree felony. This would be an increase from the current Class A misdemeanor penalty.
Vote Recommendation Notes
Texas Action supports HB 902 because it advances the principles of limited government and personal responsibility. We support the goal of the bill in seeking to deter any assaults upon pregnant women by increasing the penalty for the offense. It is a proper role of limited government to have punishment proportional to the crime. To knowingly assault a pregnant woman is to assault two people, so the penalty enhancement is justified.