All Roll Calls
Yes: 296 • No: 0
TexasHB 4789th Legislature Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to sexual assault and other sex offenses.
Sponsored By: David Cook, Donna Howard, Lacey Hull, Tom Oliverson, Judith Zaffirini (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
County Government--GeneralCrimes--Against Persons--SexualCriminal Procedure--Sentencing & PunishmentMinors--Crimes AgainstMinors--Health & SafetyState Finances--Management & ControlCONTINUING EDUCATIONCRIME VICTIMSEVIDENCEFORENSIC TESTINGPHYSICIAN ASSISTANTSSEXUAL ASSAULTATTORNEY GENERALHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONMEDICAL BOARD, TEXASPHYSICIAN ASSISTANT BOARD, TEXASSEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' TASK FORCE
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
More paid follow-up care for survivors
Prescribed care related to a sexual assault qualifies for payment when received within 30 days after a forensic medical exam. Covered care includes medicine and medical tests. Providers and examiners must apply to the attorney general for reimbursement. Payment amounts follow attorney general rules and the limits in Article 56A.305(e). Victims also gain rights and notices explaining payment for this care.
Registered sex offenders face ride-work bans
Ride companies must check both the national and Texas public sex-offender websites before allowing a driver to log in. Anyone listed on either website cannot drive through the company's digital network. A separate rule bars offering or providing paid digitally arranged rides for people with specified registration requirements. That ban covers Chapter 62 registration based on a reportable conviction or adjudication with an affirmative finding under Article 42.015(b) or 42A.105(a).
Broader lease protections for assault survivors
Renters can use lease protections for covered sexual offenses or attempts even when they happened away from the rental property. The protections also cover a renter who is the victim's parent or guardian. The offense or attempt must have occurred within the preceding six months. Renters must still provide qualifying documentation from a health-care provider, mental-health provider, authorized sexual-assault services professional, or a qualifying protective order.
Assault nurse certifications last three years
Texas sexual assault nurse examiner certifications last three years from issuance instead of two. Certified examiners need to renew less often.
More court protections for assault victims
Sexual-assault victims gain access to specified court protections, including a right related to trial delays, regardless of age. Their case does not have to involve family violence. Other assault victims qualify for these protections only if they are younger than 17 or the case involves family violence.
Survivor forms add legal and health help
Texas must add statewide legal aid providers' names and contact details to standard sexual-assault survivor forms. This includes forms for survivors at facilities not equipped for forensic exams and those who have not authorized evidence release. The standard survivor information form must also explain medicine that can help prevent HIV after exposure. That information requirement does not itself provide or pay for the medicine.
Emergency staff get assault-response training
Facilities with emergency departments must provide at least one hour of basic sexual-assault response training to covered employees and contractors. This covers patient admission, patient-related administrative support, and direct care; contractors with qualifying evidence-collection education meet the requirement. Emergency-room physicians must complete at least two hours of continuing medical education when renewing their licenses. Licensed physician assistants practicing emergency-room care must also complete at least two hours. Training covers survivor-centered care, rights, referrals, preventive medicines, and evidence handling, with continuing education aligned to attorney general protocols.
Survivors lose required spoken compensation guidance
Sexual-assault forensic exam programs no longer have to explain local crime-victim compensation services out loud. They must still provide the required written survivor information form.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
David Cook
House
Donna Howard
House
Lacey Hull
House
Tom Oliverson
House
Judith Zaffirini
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Carol Alvarado
Democratic • Senate
Lulu Flores
House
Trey Martinez Fischer
House
Penny Morales Shaw
House
Angela Paxton
Republican • Senate
Mihaela Plesa
House
Royce West
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 5/1/2025
Record vote
Yes: 140 • No: 0
House vote • 4/30/2025
Record vote
Yes: 139 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Criminal Justice
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Criminal Jurisprudence
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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