The Texas House passed its first bill of the legislative session this week, easily approving a measure to curb human trafficking that’s part of a broader border security package.
The proposal makes it easier to prosecute forcing minors into prostitution while establishing a state anti-sex trafficking unit.
The bill was fast-tracked through the legislature because Governor Greg Abbott made border security an “emergency item.”
That exempted proposals on the topic from constitutional prohibitions against lawmakers passing bills during the first 60 days of the session.
The legislature reached the 60 day mark last week, though, meaning more approved bills are poised to follow.
The senate’s first bill, a road funding measure that was also an Abbott emergency item, came March 4th.
The proposal makes it easier to prosecute forcing minors into prostitution while establishing a state anti-sex trafficking unit.
The bill was fast-tracked through the legislature because Governor Greg Abbott made border security an “emergency item.”
That exempted proposals on the topic from constitutional prohibitions against lawmakers passing bills during the first 60 days of the session.
The legislature reached the 60 day mark last week, though, meaning more approved bills are poised to follow.
The senate’s first bill, a road funding measure that was also an Abbott emergency item, came March 4th.
