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.

HB 5139 creates a legal defense for correctional facility guards and peace officers in Texas who use specific less-lethal weapons, such as tasers, pepper spray, or impact devices, during their duties. The bill states officers are justified if their use of force aligns with Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 standards and follows their required training. It applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote). The law does not change existing force standards but explicitly protects officers meeting these two conditions when using designated less-lethal tools.