The Texas Aiding in Commission of Terrorism law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you intentionally supported anyone engaged in the Terrorism offense.
FAQs about the
Aiding in Commission of Terrorism law in Texas
The Texas Legislature passed a bill that created several different terror-related offenses in 2023. The legislature intended the new state terrorism crimes to target “terrorists” who knowingly used terror tactics oand people who provided material support to the “terrorists” to “terrorist organizations.”
Have you been charged with Aiding in Commission of Terrorism? Book a consultation to discuss legal representation with criminal defense attorneys Paul Saputo and Nicholas Toufexis today.
Commission of any of the new offenses carries a mandatory penalty level enhancement and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for felonies and 180 days for misdemeanors. In addition to the new criminal laws, the legislature also created a “Terrorist Offender Registry,” similar to the sex offender registry. These new terrorism laws went into effect on September 1, 2023.
The Texas Penal Code classifies the Aiding in Commission of Terrorism law under Title 12 “Terrorism,” Chapter 76 “Terroristic Offenses.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Aiding in Commission of Terrorism below.
What is the current Texas law about Aiding in Commission of Terrorism?
The current Texas law defines the offense of Aiding in Commission of Terrorism in Penal Code Section §76.03 as follows:[1]
(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally raises, solicits, collects, or provides material support or resources with intent or knowledge that the material support or resources will be used, wholly or partly, to solicit, direct, supervise, plan, prepare, promote, carry out, assist, or aid in committing an offense under Section 76.02.
The 88th Texas Legislature created this law in 2023,[2] effective September 1, 2023.[3]
How can I be charged with Aiding In Commission Of Terrorism?
The state can charge you with Aiding In Commission Of Terrorism if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of §76.03 as described in the section above have been met.
What is the punishment for Aiding In Commission Of Terrorism?
The statute classifies the Aiding In Commission Of Terrorism offense as a category equal to the classification of the offense under Section 76.02 that the person aided.[4]
Legal References:
^1. Texas Penal Code §76.03. This law is current as of the 88th Legislature Regular Session.^2. SB 1518, 88th Texas Legislature (RS), Section 5^3. SB 1518, 88th Texas Legislature (RS), Section 6^4. Texas Penal Code §76.03(b)
