SB 1278

relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 8, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 8.09 to read as follows:
Sec. 8.09.  VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING, COMPELLING PROSTITUTION,
OR FAMILY VIOLENCE.  (a)  It is an affirmative defense to
prosecution that the actor engaged in the conduct charged because
the actor was coerced, acting under duress, or reasonably feared
harm as a result of being the victim of an offense:
(1)  under Section 20A.02 or 43.05; or
(2)  punishable under Section 22.01(b)(2).
(b)  Information relevant to the identification of a
defendant's status as a victim of an offense described by
Subsection (a) may be offered to establish an affirmative defense
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.