HB 5360

bill letting the attorney general prosecute human trafficking

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 duty of the attorney general to prosecute human trafficking offenses.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Only after a local prosecutor sits on it for six months.

The bill lets the attorney general step in and prosecute human trafficking offenses under Chapter 20A of the Penal Code when a local prosecutor has not acted within six months of a probable-cause report. It requires every law enforcement agency that sends such a report to a local prosecutor to send a copy to the attorney general at the same time. Local prosecutors and police must also hand over investigation information when the attorney general asks, and the change applies to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 4549 by Rep. Toth (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.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.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5360 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Denise VillalobosRHouse 34

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

Only after a local prosecutor sits on it for six months.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Apr 30, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 30, 2025Withdrawn from schedule

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Denise Villalobos

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$555K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$456K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$327K

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 29, 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$554,928.87

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$554,928.87

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $519,928.87
Total: $554,928.87

advertising $422,488.50mail $75,707.02polling $21,210.35fundraiser $523.00

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 23, 2025 to Oct 19, 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: 101011167, 101031617, 101061183, 101069345, 101071979.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$455,570.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$455,570.00

Cash: $150,000.00
Paid by others: $305,570.00
Total: $455,570.00

canvassing $190,000.00advertising $98,870.00polling $16,700.00

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 · Aug 21, 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: 101069345, 101071979.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$326,800.00

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$326,800.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $326,800.00
Total: $326,800.00

television $225,050.00radio $44,200.00mailer $22,600.00polling $16,700.00Other filed descriptions $10,750.00digital $7,500.00

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 · May 4, 2026 to Oct 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: 101061183, 101069345, 101071979.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$554,928.87

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $519,928.87
Total: $554,928.87

advertising $422,488.50mail $75,707.02polling $21,210.35fundraiser $523.00

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 23, 2025 to Oct 19, 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: 101011167, 101031617, 101061183, 101069345, 101071979.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$455,570.00

Cash: $150,000.00
Paid by others: $305,570.00
Total: $455,570.00

canvassing $190,000.00advertising $98,870.00polling $16,700.00

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 · Aug 21, 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: 101069345, 101071979.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$326,800.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $326,800.00
Total: $326,800.00

television $225,050.00radio $44,200.00mailer $22,600.00polling $16,700.00Other filed descriptions $10,750.00digital $7,500.00

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 · May 4, 2026 to Oct 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: 101061183, 101069345, 101071979.

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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4549

by Rep. Toth, different lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 22, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute certain criminal offenses.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025

04/30/2025 H Withdrawn from schedule

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 · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Courts--Prosecuting Attorneys

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Law Enforcement

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Text

The text as introduced · 388 words

By: Villalobos
H.B. No. 5360

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute human

trafficking offenses.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 402, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES

Sec. 402.101. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to a

criminal offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code.

Sec. 402.102. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(a) A law enforcement agency that submits to a local prosecuting

attorney a report stating there is probable cause to believe an

identified person has committed a criminal offense described by

Section 402.101 shall simultaneously submit a copy of that report

to the attorney general.

(b) On request of the attorney general, a local prosecuting

attorney or law enforcement agency shall provide information

regarding investigations of criminal offenses described by Section

402.101 to assist the attorney general in performing duties

required under this subchapter.

Sec. 402.103. PROSECUTION. Notwithstanding any other law,

the attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute and shall

represent the state in the prosecution of a criminal offense

described by Section 402.101 if:

(1) a law enforcement agency submits a report

described by Section 402.102(a) to the local prosecuting attorney

and the attorney general; and

(2) six months have elapsed from the date the report

was submitted and the local prosecuting attorney has not initiated

proceedings to prosecute the offense.

SECTION 2. Chapter 20A, Penal Code, is amended by adding

Section 20A.05 to read as follows:

Sec. 20A.05. PROSECUTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL AUTHORIZED.

The attorney general shall represent the state in the prosecution

of a criminal offense under this chapter as provided by Subchapter

D, Chapter 402, Government Code.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.