Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of indecency with a child.

SB 358 amends Texas law to create a new defense for defendants charged with indecency with a child under Section 21.11 of the Penal Code. It allows a defense if the defendant was no more than three years older than the victim, did not use force or duress, and was not required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision applies to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and affects pending cases for offenses committed before that date. The bill does not change the core criminal offense but modifies the circumstances under which a defendant may avoid prosecution.