Relating to the offenses of assault, harassment, and interference with public duties committed against certain employees or agents of a utility.
Summary
SB 482 expands Texas criminal law protections for employees and agents of utilities by treating certain conduct against them more like offenses against other protected workers. The bill amends the assault statute to make simple assault a third-degree felony when committed against a utility employee or agent who is performing duties within the scope of employment, and it creates a presumption that the actor knew the person’s status if the person was wearing a distinctive uniform or badge. It also defines “utility” broadly to include electric, gas, telecommunications, cable/video, pipeline, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, broadband provider, and retail water or sewer service entities.
The bill also amends the interference-with-public-duties and harassment provisions to add utility employees and agents to the list of protected persons. Under the interference statute, criminally negligent disruption of a utility worker’s duties becomes an offense, and harassment against a utility employee or agent while they are performing their duties is elevated from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 482 changes multiple sections of the Penal Code by adding utility workers to existing categories of protected persons and by increasing penalties for assault, harassment, and interference with public duties involving those workers. It also adds a new statutory definition of “utility” in the assault and harassment provisions and expands the interference statute’s definition to include broadband and retail water/sewer services. The changes affect criminal charging and punishment decisions for prosecutors, and they provide utility employees and agents with enhanced legal protection while performing job-related duties.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received generally favorable treatment overall, passing both chambers with substantial margins. The Senate passed it 30-1 and later concurred in House amendments 31-0, while the House approved the amended version 130-16 with two present not voting. Those vote totals suggest broad bipartisan support for increasing protections for utility workers, though the House vote indicates some meaningful opposition or concern. No committee transcript is available, so the record reflects support primarily through the voting history rather than detailed debate.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the scope of the protections and the breadth of the definition of “utility.” The bill covers a wide range of entities, including broadband providers and retail water or sewer utilities, which may have raised questions about how far criminal enhancements should extend beyond traditional electric and gas utilities. More generally, any bill that increases penalties and expands protected classes can draw concern about overcriminalization or whether existing assault, harassment, and interference laws already provide sufficient protection. The recorded House opposition suggests some members may have objected to the penalty enhancements or the expanded coverage, even though the bill ultimately passed comfortably.
Same As
Relating to increasing the criminal penalties for the offenses of assault and harassment committed against certain employees or agents of a utility and committed in a disaster area or evacuated area.
Similar
Relating to increasing the criminal penalties for the offenses of assault and harassment committed against certain employees or agents of a utility and to the prosecution of the criminal offense of interference with public duties of those employees or agents; increasing criminal penalties for certain criminal offenses relating to interference with public duties.