HB 368 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to a prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices of certain individuals and to the criminal prosecution of that conduct.

HB 368 prohibits alleged offenders in family violence protective orders from remotely controlling electronic devices affecting the victim's residence, vehicle, or property. It directly affects individuals subject to protective orders in family violence cases, adding this specific conduct to existing prohibitions. The key provision (Section 1(a)(2)(F)) explicitly bans remotely controlling devices like smart home systems or tracking apps without the victim's consent. This targets technology-enabled harassment tactics, such as manipulating devices to monitor or intimidate victims. The bill amends Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to include this as a punishable violation under protective order enforcement.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 28, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 10 edits · Apr 25, 2025
MAJOR
This bill adds new prohibitions to protective orders and emergency protection orders, specifically banning the remote control of electronic devices affecting a person's residence, vehicle, or property. It also expands existing laws to explicitly include tracking and monitoring of personal property or vehicles without consent as a violation of protective orders. These changes strengthen protections for victims of family violence and stalking by addressing modern digital threats.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of protective orders to include digital and remote control violations, applying to orders issued on or after the effective date of the Act.
REQUIREMENT

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property in protective orders under Article 7B.005(a), Code of Criminal Procedure.

Added prohibition on tracking or monitoring personal property or vehicles without consent in protective orders under Article 7B.005(a), Code of Criminal Procedure.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property in emergency protection orders under Article 17.292(c), Code of Criminal Procedure.

Added prohibition on tracking or monitoring personal property or vehicles without consent in emergency protection orders under Article 17.292(c), Code of Criminal Procedure.

Added new subsection prohibiting tracking or monitoring of personal property or vehicles without consent in temporary restraining orders under Section 6.501(a), Family Code.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property in temporary restraining orders under Section 6.501(a), Family Code.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property in protective orders under Section 85.021, Family Code.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property in protective orders under Section 85.022(b), Family Code.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property as a violation of bond conditions under Section 25.07(a), Penal Code.

Added prohibition on remotely controlling electronic devices affecting a residence, vehicle, or property as a stalking offense under Section 42.07(a), Penal Code.

Floor votes · House Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

1440
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 146
Apr 24, 2025
D Democratic60
58 Yea 2
96% Yea
R Republican86
86 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors