HB 45: attorney general takes human trafficking cases after six months idle

Caption

relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute human trafficking criminal offenses.

Summary

Kicks in when a local prosecutor has not acted on a probable-cause report.

The bill requires the attorney general to prosecute human trafficking offenses under Chapter 20A of the Penal Code when a local prosecutor has not acted on a probable-cause report within six months. It touches police agencies, which must send the attorney general a copy of every such report they send to a local prosecutor, and local prosecutors, who must share investigation information when the attorney general asks. On the ground, trafficking cases that sit untouched by a district or county attorney for six months move to the attorney general, who must take them up.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4549 by Rep. Toth (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB45 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138

Rep. Candy NobleRHouse 89

Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67

+ 2 more authors, 16 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute human trafficking criminal offenses.

WHAT IT DOES

Kicks in when a local prosecutor has not acted on a probable-cause report.

The bill requires the attorney general to prosecute human trafficking offenses under Chapter 20A of the Penal Code when a local prosecutor has not acted on a probable-cause report within six months. It touches police agencies, which must send the attorney general a copy of every such report they send to a local prosecutor, and local prosecutors, who must share investigation information when the attorney general asks. On the ground, trafficking cases that sit untouched by a district or county attorney for six months move to the attorney general, who must take them up.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 19, 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

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Mar 17, 2025Read first time
Mar 17, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Apr 14, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 14, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 14, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 14, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 16, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 16, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 16, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 23, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 23, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 25, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 28, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 30, 2025Placed on Major State Calendar
Apr 30, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 30, 2025Postponed 4/30/25 3:30 PM
Apr 30, 2025Laid out as postponed business
Apr 30, 2025Postponed 4/30/25 4:30 PM
Apr 30, 2025Laid out as postponed business
Apr 30, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 8, Section 1(a)(1)
Apr 30, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 32(c)(2)
Apr 30, 2025Amended 1-Hull
Apr 30, 2025Amendment fails of adoption 2-Moody
Apr 30, 2025Record vote RV#1106
Apr 30, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 30, 2025Record vote RV#1107
Apr 30, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 1, 2025Read 3rd time
May 1, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 1, Section 4
May 1, 2025Amended 1-Vasut
May 1, 2025Passed as amended
May 1, 2025Record vote RV#1117
May 1, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 1, 2025Reported engrossed
May 5, 2025Received from the House
May 6, 2025Read first time
May 6, 2025Referred to Criminal Justice
May 13, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 13, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 13, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 13, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 14, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 14, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 15, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 19, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Read 2nd time
May 19, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Huffman
May 19, 2025Amended
May 19, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 19, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Read 3rd time
May 19, 2025Passed
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 19, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 19, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 23, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 23, 2025Record vote RV#3425
May 23, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 23, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 24, 2025Reported enrolled
May 25, 2025Signed in the House
May 25, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 26, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 86 yea · 58 nay

Senate · 23 yea · 8 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 19, 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

Lacey Hull

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$595K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$483K Texas Sands PAC$245K

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 28, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$595,376.10

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$595,376.10

Cash: $80,000.00
Paid by others: $515,376.10
Total: $595,376.10

mail $216,305.25advertising $185,974.50Other filed descriptions $66,286.00polling $46,810.35

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 · Jun 30, 2025 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: 101010359, 101033114, 101035066, 101040912, 101044098, 101069436, 101072848.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$483,456.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$483,456.00

Cash: $150,000.00
Paid by others: $333,456.00
Total: $483,456.00

canvassing $316,956.00polling $16,500.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 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: 101040912, 101069436, 101072848.

Texas Sands PAC$244,600.00

Texas Sands PAC

$244,600.00

Cash: $234,000.00
Paid by others: $10,600.00
Total: $244,600.00

polling $10,600.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 14, 2026 to Sep 25, 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: 101035066, 101040912, 101072848.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$595,376.10

Cash: $80,000.00
Paid by others: $515,376.10
Total: $595,376.10

mail $216,305.25advertising $185,974.50Other filed descriptions $66,286.00polling $46,810.35

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 · Jun 30, 2025 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: 101010359, 101033114, 101035066, 101040912, 101044098, 101069436, 101072848.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$483,456.00

Cash: $150,000.00
Paid by others: $333,456.00
Total: $483,456.00

canvassing $316,956.00polling $16,500.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 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: 101040912, 101069436, 101072848.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$244,600.00

Cash: $234,000.00
Paid by others: $10,600.00
Total: $244,600.00

polling $10,600.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 14, 2026 to Sep 25, 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: 101035066, 101040912, 101072848.

Votes8

House May 23, 2025

Yea: 99
Nay: 40
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 0
Excused: 10

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3425

Representative Hull moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 45. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 45 prevailed by (Record 3425): 99 Yeas, 40 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 99 (published)
Nay: 40 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 23
Nay: 8
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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

Yea: 23 (published)
Nay: 8 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 25
Nay: 6
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 45 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

Yea: 25 (published)
Nay: 6 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 23
Nay: 8
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

HB 45 as amended was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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

Yea: 23 (published)
Nay: 8 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 23
Nay: 8
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Huffman moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 45 at this time on its second reading: HB 45, Relating to the duty of the attorney general to represent the state in the prosecution of the criminal offense of trafficking of persons. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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