HB 3921
bill raising the minimum sentence for clergy aggravated sexual assault
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of aggravated sexual assault committed by a member of the clergy.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Minimum 25 years for clergy, any victim’s age.
This bill raises the minimum prison term for aggravated sexual assault to 25 years when the person who commits the offense is a member of the clergy. It touches anyone in the clergy who is convicted of that offense, and it applies no matter the victim's age. Starting September 1, 2025, judges and juries would have to impose at least 25 years in those cases, though conduct before that date stays under the old law.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 6, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3921 · 2025-03-06
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of aggravated sexual assault committed by a member of the clergy.
WHAT IT DOES
Minimum 25 years for clergy, any victim’s age.
This bill raises the minimum prison term for aggravated sexual assault to 25 years when the person who commits the offense is a member of the clergy. It touches anyone in the clergy who is convicted of that offense, and it applies no matter the victim's age. Starting September 1, 2025, judges and juries would have to impose at least 25 years in those cases, though conduct before that date stays under the old law.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 1, 2024 to Jun 9, 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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 6, 2025
03/27/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 27 2025 11:57AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual
Criminal Procedure--Sentencing & Punishment
Minors--Crimes Against
Religion
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Text
The text as introduced · 238 words
89R16024 EAS-D By: Talarico H.B. No. 3921 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of aggravated sexual assault committed by a member of the clergy. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 22.021(f), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) The minimum term of imprisonment for an offense under this section is increased to 25 years if: (1) the victim of the offense is younger than six years of age at the time the offense is committed; [ or ] (2) the victim of the offense is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is committed and the actor commits the offense in a manner described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) ; or (3) the actor is a member of the clergy . 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.