Sen. Peter P. Flores introduced SB 1300, a bill on Crimes and Criminal Procedure, to the Texas Senate on Friday, Feb. 14 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the prosecution and punishment of the criminal offense of organized retail theft; increasing criminal penalties’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill addresses the prosecution and punishment of organized retail theft, increasing criminal penalties for such offenses. It simplifies indictment requirements by allowing the naming of the merchant and the aggregate value range of the stolen goods instead of listing each item. Evidence rules are expanded to include prior theft offenses and price tag markings as prima facie evidence of merchandise value and ownership. The bill defines retail merchandise and merchant, establishes value criteria based on sales or rental prices at the time of theft, and clarifies that certain defenses, like entrapment, do not apply. Penalties range from a Class B misdemeanor to a first-degree felony, with enhancement considerations for repeat offenders. The act takes effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Peter P. Flores, the chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, proposed another 31 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Border Security, a member of the Senate Committee on Committee of the Whole Senate, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
Flores graduated from Texas A&M University in 1983 with a BS.
Peter P. Flores is currently serving in the Texas State Senate, representing the state’s 24th Senate district. He replaced previous state senator Dawn Buckingham in 2023.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | SB 1284 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to civics instruction in public schools, including certain instructional requirements, civics training programs, and the essential knowledge and skills for the public school foundation curriculum and social studies curriculum |
| 89(R) | SB 1227 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates |
| 89(R) | SB 1194 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to creating the Central Texas Water Alliance; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain; providing authority to impose fees |
| 89(R) | SB 1101 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons |
| 89(R) | SB 1100 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image verification system for the purpose of verifying an individual’s identity; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | SB 1099 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed by an illegal alien |
| 89(R) | SB 1042 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to the Kimble County Hospital District of Kimble County, Texas |
| 89(R) | SB 947 | 01/27/2025 | Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water or sewer service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality |
| 89(R) | SB 860 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to abolishing the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee |
| 89(R) | SB 856 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the use of the skills development fund by certain entities |
| 89(R) | SB 785 | 01/15/2025 | Relating to the regulation of new HUD-code manufactured housing |
| 89(R) | SB 626 | 12/16/2024 | Relating to inservice training on identifying abuse, neglect, and illegal, unprofessional, and unethical conduct in certain health care facilities |
| 89(R) | SB 625 | 12/16/2024 | Relating to courses in personal financial literacy and economics for high school students in public schools |
| 89(R) | SB 608 | 12/13/2024 | Relating to reporting information regarding certain evidence collection kits |
| 89(R) | SB 553 | 12/09/2024 | Relating to the design-build method for certain government construction projects |
| 89(R) | SB 385 | 11/15/2024 | Relating to construction standards for certain recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds |
| 89(R) | SB 384 | 11/15/2024 | Relating to making a donation to the operation game thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license |
| 89(R) | SB 254 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the administration of a medication and the ordering and administration of an immunization or vaccination by a pharmacist |
| 89(R) | SB 253 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to county subdivision platting requirements |
| 89(R) | SB 252 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school |
| 89(R) | SB 251 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the creation of criminal law magistrates for Bell County |
| 89(R) | SB 250 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to municipal annexation of an area adjacent to contiguous or connecting railroad rights-of-way |
| 89(R) | SB 249 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to memorial markers for certain officers killed in the line of duty |
| 89(R) | SB 248 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge’s or interpreter’s salary |
| 89(R) | SB 247 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the applicability of the law governing the provision of state aid to certain local governments disproportionately affected by the granting of ad valorem tax relief to disabled veterans |
| 89(R) | SB 246 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the delivery and direct shipment of certain alcoholic beverages to ultimate consumers; creating criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | SB 245 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the delivery of alcoholic beverages by holders of a consumer delivery permit |
| 89(R) | SB 244 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes |
| 89(R) | SB 243 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; changing the amount of a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | SB 242 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that may be obscene or is otherwise harmful to children |
| 89(R) | SB 241 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibitions on camping in a public place |
| 88(4) | HB 88 | 11/08/2023 | Relating to workplace heat illness prevention, including the creation of a heat illness prevention advisory board; imposing administrative penalties |
| 88(4) | HB 89 | 11/08/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 27; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(3) | HB 148 | 10/13/2023 | Relating to certain heat safety protections; providing administrative and civil penalties |
| 88(3) | SB 4 | 10/09/2023 | Relating to the punishment for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house; increasing criminal penalties |
| 88(2) | HB 67 | 07/10/2023 | Relating to certain heat safety protections; providing administrative and civil penalties |
| 88(1) | SB 5 | 05/30/2023 | Relating to the punishment for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house; increasing criminal penalties |
| 88(R) | HB 5402 | 04/21/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 27; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | SB 2612 | 04/21/2023 | Relating to the commissioning by the General Land Office of certain Alamo complex rangers as peace officers |
| 88(R) | SB 2605 | 04/12/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Knob Creek Municipal Utility District of Bell County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | SB 2577 | 03/23/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Atascosa County Municipal Utility District No. 2; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | HB 4875 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to a law enforcement agency policy regarding drug and alcohol testing of peace officers involved in certain injuries or deaths |
| 88(R) | HB 4884 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to prohibited discrimination by health care providers based on an individual’s age, race, disability, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression |
| 88(R) | HB 4946 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to prohibited disqualification of and peremptory challenges to certain prospective jurors |
| 88(R) | HB 4289 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the establishment of a ketamine treatment grant program for veterans, active-duty military, and first responders |
| 88(R) | HB 4388 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to certain procedures for civil suits brought by local governments or certain other persons for violations of certain laws under the jurisdiction of, or rules adopted or orders or permits issued by, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| 88(R) | HB 4645 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property used to provide low-income or moderate-income housing |
| 88(R) | HB 4673 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to certain heat safety protections; providing administrative and civil penalties |
| 88(R) | SB 2018 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to prohibitions on camping in a public place |
| 88(R) | SB 2115 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral Network |
