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HB 10TEXASSession 891State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas House Bill 10 Establishes Affirmative Defense for Trafficking Victims Compelled Into Prostitution

Original title: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.

Last action · August 1, 2025: FiledSponsor: Senfronia Thompson

Companion · SB 10same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Texas HB 10 establishes an to prosecution for individuals who committed offenses as a direct result of being subjected to human trafficking or compelled prostitution through force, fraud, or coercion. The new legal defense applies strictly to offenses committed on or after the effective date, which is the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

Why it matters

The measure changes criminal liability for individuals forced into unlawful acts by human traffickers, allowing them to raise an if specific statutory criteria are met.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution

Individuals who are victims of trafficking gain an affirmative defense against criminal prosecution for offenses committed as a direct result of coercion.

Directly affected

Criminal prosecutors and courts

Prosecutors and courts must evaluate claims and evidence regarding a defendant's status as a trafficking victim when the affirmative defense is raised.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to use the new affirmative defense?

Individuals who were victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution and who engaged in the subject conduct as a direct result of force, fraud, or coercion.

Must the trafficker be convicted for the victim to use this defense?

No, the actor is not required to prove that the person using force, fraud, or coercion was charged with or convicted of an offense under Section 20A.02 or 43.05.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Aug 1, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Senfronia Thompson

otherPenal Code“State code amended by adding Section 8.09”Map →

otherCode of Criminal Procedure“Reference to Article 42A.054(a)”Map →

PersonSenfronia Thompson“Bill author/sponsor in the lower house”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
Controversy25
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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