HB 394
bill on outcry hearsay in child abuse prosecutions
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 the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the prosecution of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or person with a disability.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The first-report rule applies no matter the age at the report.
This bill changes the Texas rule that lets a court admit a child victim's first report of sexual or assaultive abuse, told to another adult, as evidence even though it is secondhand testimony. It says that rule applies no matter how old the person was when they made that report, as long as the statement otherwise meets the existing requirements. Victims who were abused as children but first told someone later can have that first report admitted in prosecutions that start on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB394 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the prosecution of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or person with a disability.
WHAT IT DOES
The first-report rule applies no matter the age at the report.
This bill changes the Texas rule that lets a court admit a child victim's first report of sexual or assaultive abuse, told to another adult, as evidence even though it is secondhand testimony. It says that rule applies no matter how old the person was when they made that report, as long as the statement otherwise meets the existing requirements. Victims who were abused as children but first told someone later can have that first report admitted in prosecutions that start on or after September 1, 2025.
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$72,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$72,500.00
- Cash
- $72,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $72,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 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.
Report IDs: 100987008, 101008094, 101030169, 101058089, 101072095.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$65,000.00
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$65,000.00
- Cash
- $65,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $65,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101008094, 101072095.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$54,875.00
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$54,875.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $29,875.00
- Total
- $54,875.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100987008, 101058089, 101068643, 101072095.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$72,500.00
- Cash
- $72,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $72,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 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.
Report IDs: 100987008, 101008094, 101030169, 101058089, 101072095.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$65,000.00
- Cash
- $65,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $65,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101008094, 101072095.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$54,875.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $29,875.00
- Total
- $54,875.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100987008, 101058089, 101068643, 101072095.
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 Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 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--General
Disabilities, Persons with
Minors--Crimes Against
Text
The text as introduced · 171 words
89R1701 LHC-D By: Johnson H.B. No. 394 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the prosecution of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or person with a disability. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2, Article 38.072, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) This article applies to an individual's statement that meets the requirements of Subsection (a), regardless of the age of the individual at the time the statement was made. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective date of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.