Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Texas Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
H.B. No. 2761 AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offenses of trafficking of persons, continuous trafficking of persons, and compelling prostitution. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 20A.02, Penal Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) This subsection applies only to a prosecution for an offense under Subsection (a)(7) or (8), in which the actor is alleged to have caused a trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in or become the victim of prostitution, as defined by Section 43.01. It is not a defense to a prosecution described by this subsection that the trafficked child or disabled individual: (1) lacks the culpable mental state to engage in the act of prostitution; or (2) did not complete the act of prostitution. SECTION 2. Section 20A.03, Penal Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: (f) This subsection applies only to a prosecution for an offense under this section based on conduct constituting an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(7) or (8), in which the actor is alleged to have caused for one or more times a trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in or become the victim of prostitution as defined by Section 43.01. It is not a defense to a prosecution described by this subsection that the trafficked child or disabled individual: (1) lacks the culpable mental state to engage in the act of prostitution; or (2) did not complete the act of prostitution. SECTION 3. Section 43.05, Penal Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) It is not a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) that the child or disabled individual: (1) lacks the culpable mental state to engage in the act of prostitution; or (2) did not complete the act of prostitution. SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2761 was passed by the House on May 12, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2761 was passed by the Senate on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.