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TX HB1422

Bill

Status

Passed

6/20/2025

Primary Sponsor

Lacey Hull

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

89th Legislature Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates new offense of "continuous sexual abuse" (Section 21.03, Penal Code) for persons 17+ who commit two or more acts of sexual abuse against two or more victims over a period of 30+ days, punishable as a first-degree felony

  • Increases minimum prison term for aggravated sexual assault to 25 years when the victim is younger than 10 years old (previously 6 years old) or younger than 14 with aggravating factors

  • Enhances penalties for sexual coercion (Section 21.17) from Class C misdemeanor to Class A misdemeanor, with state jail felony for repeat offenders or victims under 18, and third-degree felony for subsequent offenses against minors

  • Allows sexual assault survivors to consent to forensic DNA testing of evidence collection kits without reporting the offense to law enforcement, with DPS required to develop procedures and forms by December 1, 2025

  • Makes persons convicted of continuous sexual abuse ineligible for community supervision, deferred adjudication, parole, mandatory supervision release, and intensive supervision parole, and adds the offense to sex offender registration requirements

Legislative Description

Relating to the rights of victims of sexual assault and other sex offenses, the offense of continuous sexual abuse, and the prosecution, punishment, and collateral consequences of certain sex offenses; creating a criminal offense; increasing criminal penalties; changing the eligibility for community supervision, mandatory supervision, and parole for persons convicted of certain sex offenses.

Crimes

Last Action

Effective on 9/1/25

6/20/2025

Committee Referrals

Criminal Justice5/16/2025
Criminal Jurisprudence3/11/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available