HOUSTON, Texas– Senate Bill 990, introduced through Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), failed to pass the Texas Legislature.
The bill sought to expand the capital murder penalty and raise the age threshold for victims eligible for capital punishment from 10 to 15 years old.
The legislature considered the legislation partly in response to the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray, a case that attracted significant public attention.
Sen. Bettencourt emphasized the need for harsher penalties in cases involving the murder of children and teenagers.
After multiple readings and discussions in the Texas Senate, legislators did not secure enough votes to pass the bill.
Senate Bill 990 joined several recent legislative efforts in Texas addressing capital punishment laws.
The bill’s failure leaves the age threshold for capital punishment unchanged, applying only to victims under 10 years old.
