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Bill

HB 4672

Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for continuous sexual abuse of a child who is younger than 14 years of age.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by David Lowe

Texas bill increases criminal penalties for continuous sexual abuse of children under 14, strengthening punishment severity for this specific felony offense.

Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
#crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #criminalprocedure--sentencing&punishment(i0205) #minors--crimesagainst(i0532) #sexualabuse(s9791)
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Bill Summary · HB 4672

Legislative bill overview

HB 4672 proposes to increase the criminal penalty for the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age in Texas. The bill would make this crime subject to enhanced sentencing compared to current law. This represents a toughening of penalties for one of the most serious categories of child sexual abuse offenses.

Why is this important

Child sexual abuse is among the most severe crimes in any jurisdiction, and penalties directly reflect legislative judgment about crime severity and public safety priorities. Enhanced penalties can influence prosecutorial charging decisions, sentencing outcomes, and potentially deterrence effects, while also affecting incarceration costs and the composition of prison populations.

Potential points of contention

  • Sentencing philosophy debate: Whether increasing penalties for this offense achieves meaningful deterrence versus expanding incarceration without proportional public safety gains
  • Prosecutorial discretion: Enhanced penalties may incentivize prosecutors to charge this specific offense more aggressively, potentially affecting case plea negotiations and trial outcomes
  • Resource allocation: Whether increased penalties represent the most effective use of criminal justice resources compared to prevention, investigation, or victim services funding

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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