Governor Greg Abbott held a ceremonial signing for two anti-human trafficking bills, House Bill 2306 and Senate Bill 1212, at the Governor’s Mansion. The new laws are designed to impose stronger penalties on human traffickers, particularly those who target children and vulnerable individuals.
“I thank all the survivors of human trafficking for stepping up and telling their stories, sharing their insight, and talking about what needs to be done to help their lives,” said Governor Abbott. “We want to ensure that we do all we can so that human traffickers never walk the streets of Texas again. These two bills help achieve that goal. Senate Bill 1212 increases the penalty for all human trafficking offenses to a first degree felony. The worst of the worst are human traffickers of children and people with disabilities. House Bill 2306 ensures that those traffickers will serve every single day of their prison sentence behind bars, no parole for the worst of the worst.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott attended the event along with several state legislators including Senators Joan Huffman and Tan Parker; Representatives Daniel Alders, David Cook, Paul Dyson, Helen Kerwin, Marc LaHood, Terri Leo-Wilson, John Lujan, Shelly Luther, Joanne Schofner, and Denise Villalobos. Anti-human trafficking advocates were also present.
House Bill 2306 eliminates parole eligibility for anyone convicted of trafficking a child or a disabled person. Senate Bill 1212 raises all human trafficking offenses to first-degree felonies and is intended to strengthen prosecution efforts against offenders.
