TX HB31

Prohibits community supervision (including deferred adjudication) for defendants aged 17 or older who commit felony offenses while committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, placed in a TJJD halfway house, or held in a secure juvenile detention or correctional facility

Bans the use of chemical dispensing devices (pepper spray, OC gas) against pregnant children in juvenile facilities and requires the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to conduct annual audits of use-of-force incidents across all juvenile facilities, with findings reported to the legislature by August 31 each year

Restricts solitary confinement of children in juvenile facilities to situations involving immediate risk of physical harm, only after less restrictive methods are exhausted, and requires documentation and annual reporting of all solitary confinement placements

Raises the age threshold for discretionary transfer of juveniles to adult criminal court, limiting transfers for children aged 14 or older to capital felonies only, and requiring children aged 15 or older to have committed "serious felony conduct" (murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, etc.) before transfer can be considered

Establishes a legal presumption that retaining juvenile court jurisdiction is in the child's best interest, placing the burden on the state to overcome this presumption, and requires courts to consider mitigating evidence including diminished culpability of youth and greater capacity for rehabilitation