Texas legislation · 89th Legislature Regular Session
Texas SB2570: Relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer.
Status: Signed into law, June 20, 2025
What the bill says
An act relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer.
From the enrolled text, May 26, 2025:
AN ACT relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 9, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 9.55 to read as follows: [ADDED: Sec.][ADDED: ][ADDED: 9.55.][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: USE OF LESS-LETHAL FORCE WEAPON. ][ADDED: ][ADDED: (a) ][ADDED: ][ADDED: In this ] [ADDED: section, "less-lethal force weapon" means:] [ADDED: (1)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: any weapon, device, or munition that is designed, ] [ADDED: made, or adapted to expel a projectile or multiple projectiles ] [ADDED: against a target to temporarily incapacitate the target while ] [] [] [ or] [ADDED: (4) a stun gun, as defined by Section 38.14.] [ADDED: (b)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: This section applies only to a guard employed by a ] [ADDED: correctional facility or a peace officer who is engaged in the ] [ADDED: discharge of the guard's or officer's official duties.] [ADDED: (c)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: A person to whom this section applies is justified in ] [ADDED: using force with a less-lethal force weapon against another when ] [ADDED: and to the degree the person reasonably believes the force was ] [ADDED: necessary to accomplish the person's official duties as a guard or ] …
Sponsors
- Peter Flores (R, SD-024) · primary sponsor
- Ryan Guillen (R, HD-031)
Latest actions
- : Effective immediately
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Signed in the House
- : Signed in the Senate
- : Reported enrolled
- : Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
- : Record vote
- : Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
- : Read
Votes
- Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Committee Vote (Out of committee): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Criminal Justice Committee Vote (Out of committee): 5 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate concurs in House amendment(s) (May 26, 2025): 21 yea, 10 nay, passed
- Record vote RV#3832 (May 22, 2025): 141 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Record vote RV#3210 (May 22, 2025): 101 yea, 35 nay, passed
- Record vote RV#3921 (May 21, 2025): 86 yea, 55 nay, passed
Subjects: Weapons, Law Enforcement, Criminal Procedure--General
Common questions
- What is SB2570?
- SB2570 is a bill in the Texas Legislature (89th Legislature Regular Session): Relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer.
- What does SB2570 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer.
- What is the status of SB2570?
- Signed into law as of June 20, 2025. Latest action: Effective immediately (June 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB2570?
- Peter Flores (R, SD-024), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB2570?
- On the Texas Legislature website: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB02570
Source: official Texas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.