Relating to the prosecution of the offense of sexual assault.

HB 1714 amends Texas Penal Code Section 22.011(b) to clarify when sexual assault occurs "without consent," directly affecting victims in specific vulnerable situations. The bill adds 15 explicit scenarios where consent is legally invalid, including cases involving mental health providers exploiting patient dependency, clergy using spiritual authority, coaches/tutors leveraging power, or perpetrators administering substances without knowledge. It defines consent as absent when victims are unconscious, mentally incapacitated, unaware of the act, or coerced through threats, emotional manipulation, or abuse of professional roles. The law aims to strengthen prosecution standards by providing clearer legal definitions for judges and prosecutors. This is a substantive policy change focused on defining consent, not altering penalties or procedures.