A bill filed in the Texas House of Representatives on Monday would make it a hate crime to target police officers or any first responders.
“We’re going to ask that it become an emergency legislative item for the governor so that as soon as we get to Austin in January, we pass it right away, make it law right away,” said State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas.
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It is the first legislation of its kind to be filed and it comes 24 hours after a San Antonio detective was murdered inside his patrol car at police headquarters there.
Gov. Greg Abbott first called for legislation like this in July after five police officers were ambushed and killed in downtown Dallas.
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the Texas Municipal Police Association, and the Dallas Police Association helped craft Villalba’s bill.
If passed, HB 429 would increase the penalty for attacking a cop, firefighter or paramedic.