Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed by a professional who is required to report child abuse or neglect and against a child under the care of that professional.

HB 1255 increases criminal penalties for professionals required to report child abuse (such as teachers, doctors, and childcare workers) who commit specific offenses against children in their care. It raises the minimum jail time for qualifying misdemeanors to 180 days and applies to offenses including assault, sexual abuse, and neglect listed in the Penal Code. The law only affects cases where the offender was a mandated reporter at the time of the crime and the victim was under their care. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to first-degree felony offenses.