Monitoring the Session

SB 610

Paxton Bill Gives Licensing Agency An Anti-Trafficking Unit

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

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

It can flag businesses tied to trafficking and withhold victim records without asking the attorney general.

The bill gives the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation written permission to fight human trafficking by setting up an anti-trafficking unit, flagging licensed businesses tied to trafficking, and working with the attorney general, police, and private groups. It lets the agency's commission write rules for inspections and investigations across the industries it licenses. It also makes any record that identifies a trafficking victim confidential, so the agency can hold it back from public records requests without first asking the attorney general.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3772 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (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.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Angela Paxton (R) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Senfronia Thompson (D) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB610 · 2024-12-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

It can flag businesses tied to trafficking and withhold victim records without asking the attorney general.

The bill gives the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation written permission to fight human trafficking by setting up an anti-trafficking unit, flagging licensed businesses tied to trafficking, and working with the attorney general, police, and private groups. It lets the agency's commission write rules for inspections and investigations across the industries it licenses. It also makes any record that identifies a trafficking victim confidential, so the agency can hold it back from public records requests without first asking the attorney general.

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 10, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Business & Commerce
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Vote taken in committee
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  11. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  12. Committee report printed and distributed
  13. Placed on intent calendar
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
  29. Vote reconsidered in committee
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  31. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  32. Committee report distributed
  33. Committee report sent to Calendars
  34. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 589
  35. Read 2nd time
  36. Passed to 3rd reading
  37. Record vote RV#1376
  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote RV#1475
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. House passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective on 9/1/25
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 the agency to set up an anti-trafficking unit inside the department, which the committee statement says puts into law a team that already exists.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 133 yea · 12 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 24, 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

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Angela Paxton

Donors

James Stanton$47,500Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40KGary Blake$30,000

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 Jun 30, 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.

James Stanton$47,500.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

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

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 · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. 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: 100982305, 101012314.

Gary Blake$30,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

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

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 · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. 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: 100982305, 101012314.

Votes5

House May 6, 2025

Yea
133
Nay
12
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1475

SB 610 was passed by (Record 1475): 133 Yeas, 12 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 133 (published)
  • Nay: 12 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 5, 2025

Yea
130
Nay
12
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1376

SB 610 was read second time and was passed to third reading by (Record 1376): 130 Yeas, 12 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 130 (published)
  • Nay: 12 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 24, 2025

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

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 Mar 24, 2025

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

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 SB 610 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 Mar 24, 2025

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

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

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment 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.

Witnesses11
For
9
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Children at Risk1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP #391 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
  • Texas Pediatric Society1 registration
  • Unbound Now1 registration

On

  • TDLR2 registrations
Sources

11 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate 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 10, 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, different 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 Senate · Filed Dec 13, 2024

05/19/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Coauthors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20
Sponsors
Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141 Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63
Cosponsors
Suleman LalaniDHouse 76 Christina MoralesDHouse 145 Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 9 aye, 1 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

HB 589 by Thompson (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual

Law Enforcement

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Protection of Personal Information

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ATTORNEY GENERAL

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS COMMISSION OF

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 240 words

89R691 SHH-D

By: Paxton
S.B. No. 610

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.