HB 451: bill adding exploitation risk screening for foster and probation kids

Caption

relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.

Summary

Within 45 days of entering state conservatorship.

The bill adds a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation to the assessment every child in foster care gets within 45 days of entering state conservatorship. It also adds that screening to the risk and needs assessment juvenile probation departments must complete before a child's case is disposed. The screening tool is chosen by the existing Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Senfronia Thompson (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Angela Paxton (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB451 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141

Rep. Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

+ 6 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.

WHAT IT DOES

Within 45 days of entering state conservatorship.

The bill adds a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation to the assessment every child in foster care gets within 45 days of entering state conservatorship. It also adds that screening to the risk and needs assessment juvenile probation departments must complete before a child's case is disposed. The screening tool is chosen by the existing Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($692,140)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 13, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB451, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,126,802) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Department of Family and Protective Services is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Family and Protective Services may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($692,140)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Feb 28, 2025Read first time
Feb 28, 2025Referred to Human Services
Mar 18, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 18, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 18, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Mar 18, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Mar 18, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 25, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Mar 25, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 2, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 2, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 2, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 9, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 15, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 15, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 15, 2025Passed to engrossment
Apr 15, 2025Record vote RV#209
Apr 15, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 16, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 16, 2025Passed
Apr 16, 2025Record vote RV#225
Apr 16, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 16, 2025Received from the House
Apr 23, 2025Read first time
Apr 23, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
Apr 30, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 30, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 30, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 30, 2025Left pending in committee
May 5, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 5, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 6, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 7, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 8, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 9, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 12, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 12, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 12, 2025Read 2nd time
May 12, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Paxton
May 12, 2025Amended
May 12, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 12, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
May 12, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 12, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Read 3rd time
May 12, 2025Passed
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 13, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 13, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 19, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 19, 2025Record vote RV#2994
May 19, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 19, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 19, 2025Reported enrolled
May 20, 2025Signed in the House
May 20, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 20, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 20, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 29, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 29, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 147 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 12, 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

Senfronia Thompson

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$40K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$23K Texas Sands PAC$14K

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 18, 2024 to Oct 21, 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$40,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$22,500.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas Sands PAC$14,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.

Votes6

House May 19, 2025

Yea: 129
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 3
Excused: 17

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2994

Representative Thompson moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 451. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 451 prevailed by (Record 2994): 129 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 129 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 17 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

GutierrezExcused

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

GutierrezExcused

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 451 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

GutierrezExcused

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

Sources

CSHB 451 as amended 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: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 16, 2025

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

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 225

HB 451 was passed by (Record 225): 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: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 15, 2025

Yea: 144
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 3
Excused: 2

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 209

CSHB 451 was passed to engrossment by (Record 209): 144 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 144 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses33

For: 30
Against: 0
On: 3

Names

For

Allies Against Slavery1 registration
Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
Children at Risk1 registration
El Paso County1 registration
Girls Empowerment Network1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
Not On Our Watch Texas2 registrations
Self2 registrations
Self; Children at Risk1 registration
Self; Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective1 registration
Self; Students Engaged in Advancing Texas1 registration
Self; Texas CASA1 registration
Self; Texas Human Trafficking Survivor Leader Council1 registration
Texas CASA1 registration
Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration
Texas Council of Community Centers1 registration
Texas Medical Association1 registration
Texas Network of Youth Services2 registrations
Texas Pediatric Society2 registrations
Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition1 registration
TexProtects2 registrations
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration
Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
United Ways of Texas1 registration

On

Department of Family and Protective Services1 registration
Texas Juvenile Justice Department2 registrations

Sources

33 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

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($692,140)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 13, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB451, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,126,802) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Department of Family and Protective Services is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Family and Protective Services may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($692,140)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

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 Nov 12, 2024

05/29/2025 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

Aicha DavisDHouse 109

Lulu FloresDHouse 51

Carrie IsaacRHouse 73

Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148

Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

Ana-María Rodríguez RamosDHouse 102

Companion

SB 941 by Paxton (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual

Family--Child Protection

Minors--Crimes Against

Minors--Health & Safety

Minors--Juvenile Justice

FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 232 words

89R2676 AMF-F

By: Thompson
H.B. No. 451

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual

exploitation of certain children.

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

SECTION 1. Section 266.012(a), Family Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Not later than the 45th day after the date a child enters

the conservatorship of the department, the child shall receive a

developmentally appropriate comprehensive assessment. The

assessment must include:

(1) a screening for trauma; [ and ]

(2) a screening for risk of commercial sexual

exploitation using a validated screening tool selected by the Child

Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section

772.0062, Government Code; and

(3) interviews with individuals who have knowledge of

the child's needs.

SECTION 2. Section 221.003(b), Human Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) A juvenile probation department must, before the

disposition of a child's case and using a validated risk and needs

assessment instrument or process provided or approved by the

department, complete a risk and needs assessment for each child

under the jurisdiction of the juvenile probation department. The

risk and needs assessment must include a screening for risk of

commercial sexual exploitation using a screening tool selected by

the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section

772.0062, Government Code.

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

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

Texas Sands PAC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

Texas Sands PAC

House May 19, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

House Apr 16, 2025

House Apr 15, 2025

For

On

Companion