TX POLICY VICTORIES
June 2025—
Street Grace proudly celebrates the passage and signing of 15 critical bills during the 89th Texas Legislative Session that significantly strengthen the state’s response to human trafficking. These new laws represent a bold and bipartisan effort to protect survivors, close regulatory gaps, and hold traffickers accountable.
“These legislative victories reflect Texas’ deep commitment to ending human trafficking in all its forms,” said Bob Rodgers, President|CEO of Street Grace. “They send a powerful message: survivors will be protected, traffickers will be pursued, and prevention will be prioritized.”
SB 761 (Sen. Hinojosa) – Strengthens a victim’s rights to advocate support, attorney access, and information regarding their case.
SB 958 (Sen. Parker) – Expands the ability of human trafficking survivors to free themselves from the criminal record that was a direct result of their trafficking and restoring justice for those survivors.
HB 1732 (Rep. Hernandez) – Ensures a person would become ineligible for a license as a massage establishment, massage school, massage therapist, or massage therapy instructor if they have been convicted of human trafficking.
HB 908 (Rep. Spiller) – Requires law enforcement to report missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
HB 754 (Rep. Thompson) – Mandates human trafficking training for medical assistants, expanding identification and intervention.
HB 742 (Rep. Thompson) – Mandates human trafficking training for emergency healthcare and EMS personnel, expanding early identification and intervention.
SB 955 (Sen. Parker) – Enhances penalties for traffickers who recruit from residential treatment facilities, group homes, correctional facilities, and near schools and other places vulnerable individuals might be found
HB 451 (Rep. Thompson) – Requires child protective services and juvenile probation to screen for trafficking victims so that that can be identified earlier and provided with services
SB 836 (Sen. Paxton) – Increases privacy protections for victims of human trafficking
SB 835 (Sen. Paxton) – Prohibits the enforceability of nondisclosure agreements for conduct that falls under certain sexual offenses against a child, including trafficking.
HB 1778 (Rep. S. Thompson) – Enacts the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force's recommendations, including expanded penalties, improved coordination, and more robust enforcement tools, including requiring training for tattoo artists and cosmetology professionals.
SB 703 (Sen. Zaffirini) – Boosts regulation of professional licensing in massage licensing which is particularly vulnerable to trafficking
SB 610 (Sen. Paxton) – Establishes a dedicated anti-trafficking unit within the Department of Licensing and Regulation, improving oversight across industries.
SB 535 (Sen. Huffman) – Protects the privacy of human trafficking survivors throughout the court process
SB 2420 (Sen. Hughes) –App Store Accountability Act, establishes comprehensive regulations for mobile app stores operating in Texas, focusing on protecting minors and their personal data. The legislation requires app stores to verify users' ages using commercially reasonable methods, categorizing users into four age groups: children (under 13), younger teenagers (13-15), older teenagers (16-17), and adults (18+). For users under 18, app stores must create a parent account linked to the minor's account and obtain parental consent for each download, purchase, or in-app purchase.
The passage of these 15 bills marks a transformative moment for Texas. Together, they strengthen legal tools, increase frontline awareness, close industry loopholes, and create new protections for survivors of trafficking.
“These aren’t just bills—they’re lifelines for those still trapped, and are building blocks for a future where trafficking is eradicated,” said Rodgers. “We’re proud to stand alongside Texas lawmakers and survivors in celebrating this historic progress.”