Governor Abbott signs bills toughening penalties for human trafficking, bars parole for traffickers of children and people with disabilities

Governor Greg Abbott signed into law two measures aimed at strengthening penalties for human trafficking and increasing protections for survivors, the governor said at a public event where survivors and legislative sponsors were present.

The package includes Senate Bill 1212, which the governor said elevates all human-trafficking offenses to first-degree felonies, and House Bill 2306, which the governor and sponsors said prevents parole for traffickers of children and people with disabilities. The measures, Abbott said, are intended to reduce survivor trauma from repeated parole hearings and ensure the most serious offenders serve full sentences.

"This is an issue involving human trafficking that Texas has zero tolerance for," Governor Greg Abbott said, thanking survivors and advocates who testified and helped shape the bills. Abbott credited the First Lady, Cecilia Abbott, and the bipartisan work of lawmakers for moving the legislation to his desk.

Senator Parker, who the governor identified as a sponsor, praised the bills and said they reflect a long-standing commitment to criminal penalties for those who "would ever traffic a minor" and to ensuring those offenders "will never ever receive parole." Senator Parker described the package as a moral and legal response to what he called "horrific predators."

Representative Villamos, introduced during the ceremony, recounted that a constituent who testified said her stepfather trafficked her, was released early for good behavior and reoffended. Villamos said that history informed her work on the bill and noted the measure moved unanimously through both chambers.

Representative Helen Kerwin, another sponsor, said the legislation closed a penalty gap by making trafficking convictions first-degree felonies and noted that a first-degree sentence can be "up to 99 years." She described a personal connection: a constituent whose daughter was a trafficking victim and murder victim motivated her pursuit of the change.

Abbott also addressed prosecution and enforcement. He said recent laws have made these crimes easier to prosecute in Texas but criticized some district attorneys whom he described as "refusing to do their job" or delaying indictments. "We are committed to taking action against rogue district attorneys who are refusing to go after the famous files and prosecute them and put them behind bars," Abbott said, indicating the state is considering consequences for prosecutors who decline to pursue cases.

On victim supports, Abbott said survivors need mental-health services, emotional support and pathways to employment to help restore their lives. He said Texas invests in these services and that survivors and advocates have helped identify what resources are needed.

At the event Abbott said he planned to sign the bills that day and then travel to Kerrville to assist victims of a recent flood; he took a few questions before departing. He also noted he had added an item to the special session agenda related to access to ivermectin and identified Representatives Schaffner and Shelly Luther as legislators who advanced that issue to the agenda.

The bills were described at the ceremony as strengthening criminal penalties and limiting parole for the most serious trafficking offenses; sponsors and the governor framed the measures as part of a broader effort to support survivors and tighten prosecution of traffickers. The ceremony closed with the governor thanking survivors, advocates and lawmakers who helped pass the measures.