HB 108

"✅ HB 108: A Criminal Justice Bill That Actually Makes Sense...But Still Needs Watching

Texas House Bill 108 isn’t flashy. It doesn’t make headlines or get people riled up on social media.

But it does something surprisingly rare...it tightens a loophole without overreaching.

What HB 108 Says It Does:
If you commit a violent felony...like aggravated assault, kidnapping, or murder...and you’re wearing body armor while doing it, your sentence can be bumped up to the next level. Period.

Why That Might Sound Harsh...But Makes Sense:
Body armor isn’t illegal. A lot of responsible Texans own it, wear it, or carry it for self-protection. HB 108 doesn’t touch any of that.

What it targets are people who intentionally wear body armor while committing violent crimes...because they know what they’re doing is dangerous, and they want to protect themselves from being stopped by police or even armed civilians. That’s not self-defense. That’s premeditation.

Who’s Exempt:
Law enforcement, active military, and licensed security officers. That’s standard...they already wear armor to protect others, not to commit crimes.

What This Bill Doesn’t Do:
It doesn’t criminalize owning or wearing body armor.
It doesn’t increase government surveillance or control.
It doesn’t create a new crime...just adjusts punishment for an existing one.
And it doesn’t hand out money, create loopholes, or give new power to agencies.

Why It Still Deserves a Watchful Eye:
It’s a sentencing enhancement...so it only comes into play after a conviction. But like all enhancements, it depends on prosecutors and judges applying it fairly.
It also uses the term “used” body armor, but doesn’t clearly define what that means operationally. Wearing it? Holding it? That’s something to watch in the courts.

Bottom Line:
HB 108 is one of the few bills this session that actually sticks to its mission. It punishes people for how they commit violence...not for what they own or wear legally.

But no law is above accountability. If we’re going to increase sentences, we owe it to every Texan to make sure those rules are applied consistently...not used to pressure plea deals or stack charges unfairly.

✅ No hidden pipelines.
✅ No shady carveouts.
✅ Just a clean bill with a sharp focus...and one we’ll be watching to make sure it stays that way.

Because good laws don’t just get written. They get followed, challenged, and reviewed by people who are paying attention.

#HB108 #TexasJustice #StayInformed #GreenBillButWatchAnyway"