HB 589

bill giving the licensing department written permission to fight trafficking

Companion SB 610 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

An anti-trafficking unit, inspection rules and confidential victim records.

The bill gives the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation written permission to fight human trafficking by setting up an anti-trafficking unit, flagging businesses in the industries it licenses that are hit by trafficking, and working with the attorney general, police, and nonprofits. It also lets the department's commission write anti-trafficking rules, including rules for inspections and investigations of the businesses it licenses. Records that identify someone as a trafficking victim become confidential, and the department can withhold them without first asking the attorney general, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3772 (Did not pass). 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.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB589 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141

Rep. Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63

Rep. Jolanda "Jo" JonesDHouse 147

+ 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

WHAT IT DOES

An anti-trafficking unit, inspection rules and confidential victim records.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 28, 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

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Mar 3, 2025Read first time
Mar 3, 2025Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Apr 1, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 1, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 1, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 8, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 8, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 16, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 16, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 17, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 22, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 24, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 24, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 24, 2025Postponed 4/29/25 10:00 AM
Apr 29, 2025Laid out as postponed business
Apr 29, 2025Postponed 5//5/25 10:00 AM
May 5, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 610
May 5, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER

THE TEXT

“establishing within the department an anti-trafficking unit;”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill authorizes a dedicated anti-trafficking unit inside the licensing department, which the committee analysis says puts an existing team into law.

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.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses10

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

Children at Risk1 registration
City of Houston1 registration
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Sheriffs Association of Texas1 registration
TCCB1 registration
Texas Medical Association1 registration
TMPA1 registration

On

TDLR2 registrations

Sources

10 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

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

88R HB 3772

by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 24, 2023: Removed from local & uncontested calendar

Relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/05/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Lulu FloresDHouse 51

Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

Christina MoralesDHouse 145

Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 11 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 610 by Paxton (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Open Records

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS COMMISSION OF

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 240 words

89R691 SHH-D

By: Thompson
H.B. No. 589

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of

Licensing and Regulation.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Sec. 51.551. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. The department

may combat human trafficking by:

(1) establishing within the department an

anti-trafficking unit;

(2) identifying businesses operating within

industries regulated by the department that are impacted by human

trafficking; and

(3) coordinating with:

(A) the office of the attorney general, including

any council, task force, or work group established by that office to

combat human trafficking;

(B) local, state, and federal law enforcement

agencies; and

(C) any nongovernmental entity engaged in

efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims.

Sec. 51.552. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to

combat human trafficking for any program regulated by the

department, including rules for conducting inspections and

investigations under Section 51.351.

Sec. 51.553. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS IDENTIFYING

VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) Information that identifies an

individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and

excepted from disclosure under Section 552.021, Government Code.

(b) The department may withhold the information without the

necessity of requesting a decision from the attorney general under

Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government Code.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.