TX HB1778

Expands mandatory human trafficking reporting requirements to include additional state agencies (Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and others) and requires semi-annual reports to the attorney general's office, which must establish a statewide human trafficking data repository

Requires tattoo studios and body piercing studios to post human trafficking awareness signs and mandates their employees complete approved training on identifying and assisting trafficking victims; also requires continuing education on human trafficking for cosmetology license holders

Creates new offense of "continuous promotion of prostitution" as a first-degree felony for engaging in promotion of prostitution conduct two or more times during a 30-day or longer period; upgrades promotion of child pornography from second-degree to first-degree felony with 15-year minimum sentence for repeat offenders

Lowers thresholds for enhanced child pornography possession penalties: third-degree felony for fewer than 10 images (previously 100), second-degree for 10-49 images (previously 100-499), and first-degree for 50+ images (previously 500+) or material depicting sexual assault of a child

Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecuting failure to stop or report sexual/assaultive offenses against children, upgrades that offense from Class A misdemeanor to third-degree felony, and expands hearsay exceptions and evidence rules for prosecuting sexual offenses against children and persons with disabilities