BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 589 By: Thompson Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During the 86th Regular Session, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) received an appropriation for 12 full-time employees for inspections and enforcement actions by the human trafficking team. The bill author has informed the committee that while this team works in collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations and conducts research, inspections, and investigations to bring down illegal fronts for human trafficking and connect victims with services, it needs a clear statutory framework so that TDLR may continue its work combating human trafficking. H.B. 589 seeks to codify these current practices by authorizing TDLR to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit, identifying businesses that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating efforts with the attorney general, law enforcement, and nongovernmental entities. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill. ANALYSIS H.B. 589 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit within TDLR, identifying businesses operating within TDLR-regulated industries that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating with the following entities: the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), including any council, task force, or work group established by the OAG to combat human trafficking; local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and any nongovernmental entity engaged in efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims. The bill authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules to combat human trafficking for any TDLR-regulated program, including rules for conducting TDLR inspections and investigations. H.B. 589 establishes that information that identifies an individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and excepted from disclosure under the public availability requirement of state public information law. The bill authorizes TDLR to withhold such information without requesting an attorney general decision as to whether the information is excepted from disclosure under that law. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 589
By: Thompson
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 589
By: Thompson
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During the 86th Regular Session, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) received an appropriation for 12 full-time employees for inspections and enforcement actions by the human trafficking team. The bill author has informed the committee that while this team works in collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations and conducts research, inspections, and investigations to bring down illegal fronts for human trafficking and connect victims with services, it needs a clear statutory framework so that TDLR may continue its work combating human trafficking. H.B. 589 seeks to codify these current practices by authorizing TDLR to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit, identifying businesses that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating efforts with the attorney general, law enforcement, and nongovernmental entities.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS H.B. 589 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit within TDLR, identifying businesses operating within TDLR-regulated industries that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating with the following entities: the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), including any council, task force, or work group established by the OAG to combat human trafficking; local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and any nongovernmental entity engaged in efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims. The bill authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules to combat human trafficking for any TDLR-regulated program, including rules for conducting TDLR inspections and investigations. H.B. 589 establishes that information that identifies an individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and excepted from disclosure under the public availability requirement of state public information law. The bill authorizes TDLR to withhold such information without requesting an attorney general decision as to whether the information is excepted from disclosure under that law.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
During the 86th Regular Session, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) received an appropriation for 12 full-time employees for inspections and enforcement actions by the human trafficking team. The bill author has informed the committee that while this team works in collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations and conducts research, inspections, and investigations to bring down illegal fronts for human trafficking and connect victims with services, it needs a clear statutory framework so that TDLR may continue its work combating human trafficking. H.B. 589 seeks to codify these current practices by authorizing TDLR to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit, identifying businesses that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating efforts with the attorney general, law enforcement, and nongovernmental entities.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 589 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to combat human trafficking by establishing an anti-trafficking unit within TDLR, identifying businesses operating within TDLR-regulated industries that are impacted by human trafficking, and coordinating with the following entities:
the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), including any council, task force, or work group established by the OAG to combat human trafficking;
local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and
any nongovernmental entity engaged in efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims.
The bill authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules to combat human trafficking for any TDLR-regulated program, including rules for conducting TDLR inspections and investigations.
H.B. 589 establishes that information that identifies an individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and excepted from disclosure under the public availability requirement of state public information law. The bill authorizes TDLR to withhold such information without requesting an attorney general decision as to whether the information is excepted from disclosure under that law.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.