Tamaulipas Congress increases penalties for food abandonment

The Tamaulipas State Congress has approved a reform to the Penal Code to increase penalties for the failure to meet food and support obligations. Under the new law, prison sentences for those who unjustifiably fail to provide essential resources to economically dependent individuals can increase by up to one-third. Specifically, when the victims are vulnerable groups—such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, or pregnant women—the maximum sentence can rise from six years to eight years.

The reform also includes fines of up to 200 times the daily value of the UMA (Unit of Measure and Update) and requires the full payment of all owed amounts. The initiative, originally proposed by Deputy Gerardo Peña Flores, was expanded during legislative analysis to include broader protections for various legal dependents based on recommendations from the State Attorney General's Office and the Judiciary.