SB610

Regular Session

Relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) • Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025. There is no grace period; businesses must be prepared for enhanced scrutiny immediately upon the effective date.
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation is authorized to adopt specific rules regarding inspection protocols under Section 51.552. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" between September 2025 and Spring 2026 where inspectors operate under broad statutory authority before specific procedural rules are finalized.

Immediate Action Plan

Audit Vendor Contracts: Immediately review all third-party labor contracts and add trafficking-specific indemnification clauses.
Verify Personnel Files: Conduct a 100% audit of employee identification and work eligibility documents to ensure readiness for spot inspections.
Review Insurance Policies: Contact your broker to confirm if your General Liability or EPLI policies cover defense costs for administrative enforcement actions related to trafficking allegations.
Monitor Texas Register: Assign compliance staff to watch for proposed TDLR rules regarding Section 51.552 (Inspection Protocols) in late 2025.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Vendor Indemnification: You must amend Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with third-party staffing agencies (security, janitorial, temporary labor).

Requirement: Insert specific indemnification clauses for violations of human trafficking laws.
Requirement: Mandate that vendors certify they perform background checks and verify legal work status. If a vendor traffics workers into your facility, TDLR will investigate *your* license.

Hiring/Training

Inspection Protocol Training: Shift management training from "technical compliance" (sanitation/signage) to "behavioral observation."

Manager Training: Train on-site managers to handle inspectors who will likely separate employees from management for interviews to detect coercion.
Staff Preparation: Ensure staff are prepared to provide identification and answer questions regarding their employment terms without management present; obstruction can be grounds for penalties.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Internal Investigation Privilege: Section 51.553 establishes confidentiality for information regarding trafficking victims.

Data Handling: If you conduct an internal investigation regarding a potential trafficking issue and submit findings to TDLR, mark all documents as "Confidential under SB610/Sec 51.553" to prevent disclosure under Public Information Act requests.
Identity Verification: Immediately audit all I-9s and personnel files. You must be able to produce valid identification for every person on the premises during a spot inspection.

Fees & Costs

Budget Impact: While the state anticipates no new licensing fees, allocate budget for legal counsel to review updated inspection rules once proposed. Insurance premiums for Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) may rise for high-risk sectors; verify your policy does not contain broad "criminal acts" exclusions that would void coverage during an investigation.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The statute grants the Commission broad discretion to "adopt rules" regarding inspections but does not define the limits of those inspections.

Scope of Access: It is currently unclear if the new "Anti-Trafficking" mandate will empower inspectors to access non-public areas (break rooms, private offices, or employee housing on-site) without a warrant.
"Impacted Industries": The bill allows TDLR to identify specific businesses impacted by trafficking. We anticipate future rulemaking may establish a tiered compliance system, imposing stricter training requirements on specific license types (e.g., Massage Therapy vs. Electricians).

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCrimes Crimes--against Persons Crimes--against Persons--general Crimes--against Persons--sexual Occupational Regulation Occupational Regulation--health Occupations Occupational Regulation--other Trades & Professions Human Trafficking Licensing & Regulation, Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Protection of Personal Information Attorney General

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 610
89R691 SHH-D	By: Paxton
	Business & Commerce
	3/6/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

As the regulator of massage establishments, nail salons, and numerous other industries, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is on the front lines of the state's fight against human trafficking.

During the 86th Regular Session (2019), TDLR received an appropriation for 12 full-time employees to establish the anti-trafficking unit to address the growing concern with illicit massage businesses. The anti-trafficking unit collaborates with law enforcement and community organizations to investigate and shut down these illegal operations and to connect victims with services.

S.B. 610 reinforces the state's efforts to combat illicit massage businesses by codifying the anti-trafficking unit to ensure that agency resources may be most efficiently and effectively leveraged in the fight against this horrific crime. By providing a clear statutory framework, this bill codifies in statute TDLR's authority to continue its work in both regulatory enforcement and assisting local and federal law enforcement in the fight against human trafficking.

As proposed, S.B. 610 amends current law relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 (Section 51.552, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Occupations Code, by adding Subchapter K, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Sec. 51.551. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. Authorizes the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to combat human trafficking by establishing within TDLR an anti-trafficking unit, identifying businesses operating within industries regulated by TDLR that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating with certain governmental and nongovernmental entities.

Sec. 51.552. RULES. Authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules to combat human trafficking for any program regulated by TDLR, including rules for conducting inspections and investigations under Section 51.351 (Inspections and Investigations).

Sec. 51.553. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) Provides that information that identifies an individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and excepted from disclosure under Section 552.021 (Availability of Public Information), Government Code.

(b) Authorizes TDLR to withhold the information without the necessity of requesting a decision from the attorney general under Subchapter G (Attorney General Decisions), Chapter 552, Government Code.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Angela PaxtonRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (2)

House Sponsors

Rep. Senfronia ThompsonDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Ben Bumgarner (R)

Cosponsors (3)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 610

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of
	Licensing and Regulation.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by
	adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER K. COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
	Sec. 51.551. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. The department
	may combat human trafficking by:
	(1) establishing within the department an
	anti-trafficking unit;
	(2) identifying businesses operating within
	industries regulated by the department that are impacted by human
	trafficking; and
	(3) coordinating with:
	(A) the office of the attorney general, including
	any council, task force, or work group established by that office to
	combat human trafficking;
	(B) local, state, and federal law enforcement
	agencies; and
	(C) any nongovernmental entity engaged in
	efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims.
	Sec. 51.552. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to
	combat human trafficking for any program regulated by the
	department, including rules for conducting inspections and
	investigations under Section 51.351.
	Sec. 51.553. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS IDENTIFYING
	VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) Information that identifies an
	individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and
	excepted from disclosure under Section 552.021, Government Code.
	(b) The department may withhold the information without the
	necessity of requesting a decision from the attorney general under
	Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government Code.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 10, 2025

TO:	Honorable Charles Schwertner, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB610 by Paxton (Relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation

LBB Staff:

JMc, RStu, GDZ, BFa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB610

What does Texas SB610 do?

SB610 mandates the creation of a specialized Anti-Trafficking Unit within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), effectively merging administrative regulation with criminal enforcement objectives. This legislation impacts all TDLR-license holders, with immediate heightened scrutiny on service-based industries—specifically massage therapy, cosmetology, and transportation—requiring businesses to prepare for invasive "behavioral" inspections rather than standard technical compliance checks. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025.

Who authored SB610?

SB610 was authored by Texas Senator Angela Paxton during the Regular Session.

When was SB610 signed into law?

SB610 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 19, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB610?

SB610 is enforced by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation.

How urgent is compliance with SB610?

The compliance urgency for SB610 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB610?

The cost impact of SB610 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB610 address?

SB610 addresses topics including crimes, crimes--against persons, crimes--against persons--general, crimes--against persons--sexual and occupational regulation.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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