Monitoring the Session

HB 2000

Bill adding child grooming to sex offender registration

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Trent AshbyRHouse 9

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Child grooming convictions now require registration, including out-of-state ones.

The bill adds the existing offense of child grooming under Section 15.032 of the Penal Code to the list of convictions that require sex offender registration. It touches people convicted of, or adjudicated for, child grooming, along with substantially similar out-of-state, federal, foreign or military offenses. Starting September 1, 2025, anyone convicted of child grooming for conduct on or after that date must register as a sex offender.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2000 · 2025-01-22

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors, 20 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming.

WHAT IT DOES

Child grooming convictions now require registration, including out-of-state ones.

The bill adds the existing offense of child grooming under Section 15.032 of the Penal Code to the list of convictions that require sex offender registration. It touches people convicted of, or adjudicated for, child grooming, along with substantially similar out-of-state, federal, foreign or military offenses. Starting September 1, 2025, anyone convicted of child grooming for conduct on or after that date must register as a sex offender.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Reported favorably as substituted
  9. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  10. Committee report distributed
  11. Committee report sent to Calendars
  12. Considered in Calendars
  13. Placed on Major State Calendar
  14. Read 2nd time
  15. Passed to engrossment
  16. Record vote RV#241
  17. Read 3rd time
  18. Passed
  19. Record vote RV#304
  20. Reported engrossed
  21. Received from the House
  22. Read first time
  23. Referred to Criminal Justice
  24. Co-sponsor authorized
  25. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  26. Considered in public hearing
  27. Testimony taken in committee
  28. Vote taken in committee
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  30. Committee report printed and distributed
  31. Co-sponsor authorized
  32. Placed on intent calendar
  33. Co-sponsor authorized
  34. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  35. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  36. Vote recorded in Journal
  37. Three day rule suspended
  38. Record vote
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote
  42. Senate passage reported
  43. Reported enrolled
  44. Signed in the House
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Sent to the Governor
  47. Signed by the Governor
  48. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 147 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 17, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$726,977.64

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$726,977.64

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$576,977.64
Total
$726,977.64
advertising $308,379.77grassroots $268,597.87

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983424, 101025002, 101034929, 101040023, 101071791.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$312,806.77

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$312,806.77

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$312,806.77
Total
$312,806.77
mailer $171,341.79television $68,405.00digital $37,095.00text $28,387.48Other filed descriptions $7,577.50

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005833, 101025002, 101040023.

John Nau III$230,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$726,977.64

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$576,977.64
Total
$726,977.64
advertising $308,379.77grassroots $268,597.87

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983424, 101025002, 101034929, 101040023, 101071791.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$312,806.77

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$312,806.77
Total
$312,806.77
mailer $171,341.79television $68,405.00digital $37,095.00text $28,387.48Other filed descriptions $7,577.50

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005833, 101025002, 101040023.

Votes6

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2000 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2000 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 17, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
0
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 304

HB 2000 was passed by (Record 304): 147 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 16, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 241

CSHB 2000 was passed to engrossment by (Record 241): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 16, 2025

Yea
124
Nay
18
Present, not voting
1
Absent
7
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 212

Representative Buckley moved to postpone consideration of CSSB 2 until after second reading consideration of CSHB 2000. The motion prevailed by (Record 212): 124 Yeas, 18 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Shared roll motion

Representative Buckley moved to postpone consideration of CSSB 2 until after second reading consideration of CSHB 2000. The motion prevailed by (Record 212): 124 Yeas, 18 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 124 (published)
  • Nay: 18 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses38
For
35
Against
1
On
2
Names

For

  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)2 registrations
  • Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #392 registrations
  • Houston Police Department2 registrations
  • San antonio police officers association1 registration
  • SAPOA1 registration
  • Self12 registrations
  • Self; Comal County Criminal District Attorney1 registration
  • Self; Crime Stoppers Houston2 registrations
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union2 registrations
  • Self; Montg Co District Attorneys Office1 registration
  • Self; Not on Our Watch Texas1 registration
  • Self; Sheriffs Association of Texas1 registration
  • Self; Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
  • Texas CASA1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)2 registrations
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration
  • Texas Police Chiefs Assosciation1 registration
  • TexProtects1 registration

Against

  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA)1 registration
Sources

38 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Jan 22, 2025

05/24/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Criminal Justice · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1193 by Nichols (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual

Minors--Crimes Against

AUDRII'S LAW (PT1OV)

SEXUAL OFFENDERS

Text

The text as introduced · 680 words

89R2990 CJD-D

By: Ashby
H.B. No. 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the applicability of sex offender registration

requirements to the offense of child grooming.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure,

is amended to read as follows:

(5) "Reportable conviction or adjudication" means a

conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of

delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of

the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication

for or based on:

(A) a violation of Section 21.02 (Continuous

sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual), 21.09

(Bestiality), 21.11 (Indecency with a child), 22.011 (Sexual

assault), 22.021 (Aggravated sexual assault), or 25.02 (Prohibited

sexual conduct), Penal Code;

(B) a violation of Section 43.04 (Aggravated

promotion of prostitution), 43.05 (Compelling prostitution), 43.25

(Sexual performance by a child), or 43.26 (Possession or promotion

of child pornography), Penal Code;

(B-1) a violation of Section 43.021

(Solicitation of Prostitution), Penal Code, if the offense is

punishable as a felony of the second degree;

(C) a violation of Section 20.04(a)(4)

(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the actor committed the

offense or engaged in the conduct with intent to violate or abuse

the victim sexually;

(D) a violation of Section 30.02 (Burglary),

Penal Code, if the offense or conduct is punishable under

Subsection (d) of that section and the actor committed the offense

or engaged in the conduct with intent to commit a felony listed in

Paragraph (A) or (C);

(E) a violation of Section 20.02 (Unlawful

restraint), 20.03 (Kidnapping), or 20.04 (Aggravated kidnapping),

Penal Code, if, as applicable:

(i) the judgment in the case contains an

affirmative finding under Article 42.015; or

(ii) the order in the hearing or the papers

in the case contain an affirmative finding that the victim or

intended victim was younger than 17 years of age;

(F) the second violation of Section 21.08

(Indecent exposure), Penal Code, but not if the second violation

results in a deferred adjudication;

(G) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation, as

defined by Chapter 15, Penal Code, to commit an offense or engage in

conduct listed in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (K), or (L);

(H) a violation of the laws of another state,

federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of

Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense

containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements

of an offense listed under Paragraph (A), (B), (B-1), (C), (D), (E),

(G), (J), (K), [ or ] (L), or (M), but not if the violation results in

a deferred adjudication;

(I) the second violation of the laws of another

state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform

Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense

containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements

of the offense of indecent exposure, but not if the second violation

results in a deferred adjudication;

(J) a violation of Section 33.021 (Online

solicitation of a minor), Penal Code;

(K) a violation of Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4),

(7), or (8) (Trafficking of persons), Penal Code; [ or ]

(L) a violation of Section 20A.03 (Continuous

trafficking of persons), Penal Code, if the offense is based partly

or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under Section

20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) of that code ; or

(M) a violation of Section 15.032 (Child

grooming), Penal Code .

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For

purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the

effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred

before that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.