# Texas HB 236: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. Texas HB 236, Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution., is a 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session House bill sponsored by Benjamin Bumgarner, Gary Gates, Richard Hayes and 2 others; status failed, last action 2025-08-20 (Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB236-892 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas HB 236 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session - Title: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-08-18 - Last action: 2025-08-20, Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence - Sponsors: Benjamin Bumgarner, Gary Gates, Richard Hayes, Janis Holt, AJ Louderback - Cosponsors: 53 - Subjects: Crimes--Against Morals, Crimes--Against Persons--General, Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual, Criminal Procedure--Defense Counsel, Criminal Procedure--General, CRIME VICTIMS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Benjamin Bumgarner, House - Sponsor: Gary Gates, House - Sponsor: Richard Hayes, House - Sponsor: Janis Holt, House - Sponsor: AJ Louderback, House - Cosponsor: Daniel Alders, House - Cosponsor: Keith Bell, House - Cosponsor: Brad Buckley, House - Cosponsor: Briscoe Cain, House - Cosponsor: David Cook, House - Cosponsor: Charles Cunningham, House - Cosponsor: Pat Curry, House - Cosponsor: Jay Dean, House - Cosponsor: Mark Dorazio, House - Cosponsor: Paul Dyson, House - Cosponsor: Caroline Fairly, House - Cosponsor: James Frank, House - Cosponsor: Stan Gerdes, House - Cosponsor: Cody Harris, House - Cosponsor: Caroline Harris Davila, House - Cosponsor: Cole Hefner, House - Cosponsor: Hillary Hickland, House - Cosponsor: Andy Hopper, House - Cosponsor: Helen Kerwin, House - Cosponsor: Marc LaHood, House - Cosponsor: Jeff Leach, House - Cosponsor: Terri Leo Wilson, House - Cosponsor: Janie Lopez, House - Cosponsor: David Lowe, House - Cosponsor: Shelley Luther, House - Cosponsor: Don McLaughlin, House - Cosponsor: John McQueeney, House - Cosponsor: Will Metcalf, House - Cosponsor: Brent Money, House - Cosponsor: Matt Morgan, House - Cosponsor: Mike Olcott, House - Cosponsor: Tom Oliverson, House - Cosponsor: Angelia Orr, House - Cosponsor: Jared Patterson, House - Cosponsor: Dennis Paul, House - Cosponsor: Katrina Pierson, House - Cosponsor: Keresa Richardson, House - Cosponsor: Schatzline - Cosponsor: Alan Schoolcraft, House - Cosponsor: Matt Shaheen, House - Cosponsor: Joanne Shofner, House - Cosponsor: Shelby Slawson, House - Cosponsor: David Spiller, House - Cosponsor: Valoree Swanson, House - Cosponsor: Carl H. Tepper, House - Cosponsor: Tony Tinderholt, House - Cosponsor: Steve Toth, House - Cosponsor: Ellen Troxclair, House - Cosponsor: Cody Vasut, House - Cosponsor: Denise Villalobos, House - Cosponsor: Wes Virdell, House - Cosponsor: Trey Wharton, House - Cosponsor: Terry M. Wilson, House ## Actions (3) - 2025-08-20: Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence (House) - 2025-08-20: Read first time (House) - 2025-08-18: Filed (House) ## Bill text - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/892/billtext/html/HB00236I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/892/billtext/pdf/HB00236I.PDF) ## Related bills - HB 7: Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs, including the jurisdiction of and effect of certain judgments by courts w… (signed) - HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption an… (signed) - HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of certain political expenditures by a member of the legislature and cert… (signed) - HB 16: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (signed) - SB 16: Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the crimi… (signed) - HR 128: Amending the House Rules of Procedure to authorize additional constitutionally compliant, proportional penalties for members absent without leave for purpose o… (adopted) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/892/billtext/html/HB00236I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/892/billtext/pdf/HB00236I.PDF) ## Related - [HB 7: Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB7-892) - [HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implem…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB8-892) - [HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB18-892) - [HB 16: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB16-892) - [SB 16: Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB16-892) - [HR 128: Amending the House Rules of Procedure to authorize additional constitutionally…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HR128-892) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB236-892 (as of 2026-11-01).