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Bill

HB 2151

Relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offenses of indecent assault and improper relationship between educator and student.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Giovanni Capriglione and 1 co-sponsor

HB 2151 expands Texas sex offender registration requirements to include indecent assault and educator-student relationship violations, subjecting more convicted individuals to permanent public registration.

Received from the House
#corrections--parole #probation&pardons(i0093) #crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #juvenilejusticedepartment #texas(v0846) #publicsafety #departmentof(v0251) #sexualoffenders(s0099)
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Bill Summary · HB 2151

Legislative bill overview

HB 2151 modifies Texas law to make certain offenses—specifically indecent assault and improper relationships between educators and students—subject to sex offender registration requirements. Currently, these offenses may not automatically trigger registration obligations depending on circumstances or victim age. The bill expands which individuals convicted of these crimes must register as sex offenders.

Why is this important

Sex offender registration creates a permanent public record that affects employment, housing, and residency options, making it a significant legal consequence. This bill determines which convicted individuals face these long-term collateral consequences and how law enforcement can monitor and track them. The policy reflects debate over how severely certain sexual misconduct should be treated compared to other sex offenses.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope concerns: Indecent assault covers a range of conduct with varying severity; mandatory registration for all cases may not distinguish between minor and serious incidents, potentially treating borderline cases the same as predatory behavior
  • Educator provisions: An "improper relationship" between teacher and student involves power imbalance but may include cases without violent coercion; opponents may argue registration is disproportionate while supporters see it as necessary to protect minors in institutional settings
  • Retroactivity questions: Unclear whether the bill applies to past convictions, which raises fairness concerns about changing consequences for sentences already served

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

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