Relating to certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien, including the enforcement of those offenses; increasing criminal penalties.

HB 1303 increases criminal penalties for non-citizens entering or remaining in Texas illegally under specific circumstances. It raises penalties from misdemeanors to felonies for repeat offenses, particularly when individuals have prior convictions for drug crimes, violent offenses, or were removed under certain federal immigration provisions. The bill also prohibits arrests on school, church, healthcare facility, or SAFE-ready facility grounds for these offenses. These changes directly affect non-citizens with prior criminal histories or specific immigration removal records, making certain violations punishable as higher-level felonies.