Criminal Jurisprudence

SB 16 amends Texas law to adjust the statute of limitations for certain felony prosecutions under Article 12.01 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It extends the time limit for filing felony charges in specific cases, including real property theft and fraud offenses, while establishing procedures for restitution and criminal prosecution. The bill directly affects individuals accused of these crimes by modifying when charges can be filed and outlining victim restitution processes. This law, signed by the Governor on September 17, 2025, creates a clearer framework for prosecuting property-related offenses but does not establish new crimes.

SB 11 creates a legal defense for individuals prosecuted for crimes they committed while being trafficked or subjected to compelling prostitution. It applies specifically to people who engaged in criminal conduct (like selling drugs or theft) because they were forced, defrauded, or coerced by traffickers - meeting four strict conditions, such as proving the coercion was unavoidable and the crime wouldn't have occurred without it. The defense does not apply to certain serious offenses listed in law or to cases where the victim had other options. This change only affects prosecutions for crimes committed on or after the bill’s effective date (September 17, 2025), not past cases. It aims to prevent trafficked victims from facing punishment for acts they were compelled to commit.

HB 19 creates new criminal offenses for real estate theft and fraud, targeting individuals who unlawfully take or defraud others of land or buildings. The bill requires certain real estate documents to be recorded in public records to prevent fraud and create transparent ownership histories. It establishes a statute of limitations for these offenses, mandates restitution for victims, and outlines procedures for prosecution. This bill directly affects property owners, real estate professionals, and law enforcement by introducing new legal tools to address property-related fraud.

HB 236 creates an affirmative defense for individuals prosecuted under certain laws if they were victims of human trafficking or compelled prostitution. It applies when a person engaged in criminal conduct (like prostitution or other offenses) directly because they were subjected to force, fraud, or coercion by traffickers, and would not have committed the act otherwise. The defense requires showing the conduct was compelled by such means, that a reasonable person in similar circumstances would have been compelled, and that the person wasn’t merely offered an opportunity without coercion. This applies to prosecutions for offenses under Sections 20A.02 (human trafficking) or 43.05 (prostitution) but excludes specific offenses listed in state law. The bill affects individuals prosecuted for crimes committed while trafficked, shifting legal focus to their victim status during prosecution.

HB 10 creates an affirmative defense for individuals prosecuted under certain Texas criminal laws if they were victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution. The bill states that a person cannot be prosecuted for conduct committed as a direct result of force, fraud, or coercion used by traffickers, provided they would not have engaged in that conduct without such coercion. This defense applies only when the conduct was compelled by trafficking tactics (as defined in Texas law), the victim wasn't merely offered an opportunity to commit the act, and the offense isn't listed in specific criminal procedure statutes. The law affects trafficking victims who face prosecution for crimes they committed while being trafficked, such as prostitution or drug offenses. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date.