Texas Senate Committee Passes Bill to Protect Victims of Labor, Human Trafficking
Austin, TX — Today, the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice unanimously approved a committee substitute to Senate Bill 1278, sending the bill to the Senate floor with recommendation of passage. Sponsored by Senator Parker (R–TX12), SB 1278 would provide an affirmative defense for survivors of human trafficking who commit crimes as a direct result of their victimization.
Under current Texas law, individuals may claim duress as a defense only when facing an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury during the commission of the crime. This narrow definition fails to recognize the prolonged coercion and psychological control many trafficking survivors endure over the course of months and even years. SB 1278 would establish an affirmative defense for survivors who can show their actions were committed as a direct result of their victimization.
If passed, SB 1278 would bring Texas in line with the majority of states across the country—including Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Kentucky—that have already enacted similar protections for survivors.
“Every day, men, women and children across Texas are being robbed of their liberty, dignity and their ability to pursue their own potential as they’re forced to work without pay, in terrible conditions, and against their will. Their exploitation creates generational cycles of poverty, handicaps entire communities, and creates an unfair environment for businesses that treat their employees well,” said Diana Rademacher, co-founder of Free Human Project. “The fight against human trafficking is a battle for the American Dream — that everyone should be free to pursue their potential and benefit from the fruits of their own labor. By passing SB 1278 Texas brings moral clarity to the fight and ensures people who have been robbed of their potential are not further victimized by being funneled into the criminal justice system.”
“We must recognize the deep wounds inflicted by human trafficking and refuse to punish survivors for the crimes of their traffickers. SB1278 is a critical step in restoring dignity, hope, and true freedom to those who have been denied it for far too long. By recognizing that coercion, threats, and psychological manipulation often trap survivors into committing offenses under the control of their traffickers, this legislation offers a path back to opportunity rather than continued punishment,” said Jared Rodriguez, co-founder of Free Human Project. “It especially matters for individuals who have been labor trafficked and forced to work under threat and control for months or years. If passed, for the first time in Texas, trafficking victims will have a legal avenue to defend themselves and rebuild their lives without carrying the shame and burden of crimes they were compelled to commit. Texas is close to a future where survivors are seen not as criminals, but as courageous individuals reclaiming their freedom.”
Labor trafficking is a growing problem. In 2022, the number of human trafficking victims intercepted globally who were intended for forced labor outpaced those destined for sexual exploitation for the first time. In Texas, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified more than 200 cases of labor trafficking in 2023 alone, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Free Human Project is the world’s only organization designed to combat the high-money, high-stakes practice of labor trafficking by empowering business and consumers to fight exploitation together. A world free of exploitation is possible. You can help.