HB 170 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to civil liability arising out of justified uses of or threats to use force or deadly force.

HB 170 creates civil immunity for individuals who use or threaten to use force or deadly force that is justified under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 (e.g., self-defense or defense of others). It protects such individuals from civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from their justified actions. The bill also requires courts to award defendants who win immunity claims reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses. It repeals Section 9.06 of the Penal Code and applies only to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action May 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · May 13, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates civil immunity protections for individuals who use or threaten force in self-defense scenarios. It clarifies that defendants are presumed justified if a grand jury declines to indict them or if they are acquitted or have charges dismissed. The bill also ensures these defendants can recover attorney fees and other legal costs if found immune from liability.
Scope change
The bill expands civil immunity protections by adding a presumption of justification based on grand jury decisions or criminal acquittals, making it easier for self-defense claimants to avoid civil lawsuits.
ELIGIBILITY

Added presumption of justification when grand jury declines to indict or when criminal charges result in acquittal or dismissal

ENFORCEMENT

Added Section 83.002 allowing defendants found immune to recover attorney fees, court costs, lost income, and other expenses

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized and clarified the civil immunity language in Section 83.001 with new subsections (a) and (b)

TECHNICAL

Removed original bill header and formatting artifacts from the introduced version

Floor votes · House May 12, 2025

How they voted

11718
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 143
May 12, 2025
D Democratic57
38 Yea 16 Nay 3
66% Yea
R Republican86
79 Yea 2 Nay 5
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
7
Committee
7
May 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
4 primary · 25 co-sponsors

Sponsors