Texas HB1983 creates a criminal offense for knowingly engaging someone to smuggle a child across an international border.

Texas HB1983 amends the Penal Code to establish a new criminal offense for knowingly engaging an individual or organization to smuggle a child across an international border. The offense occurs if the child is found by law enforcement not in the custody of a parent or guardian, subjected to conditions that risk their health, or abandoned, exploited, or endangered. The offense is a state jail felony, but escalates to a second-degree felony if the child suffers serious bodily injury, or to a first-degree felony if the child dies. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Texas HB1983 creates a criminal offense for knowingly engaging someone to smuggle a child across an international border.

Texas HB1983 amends the Penal Code to establish a new criminal offense for knowingly engaging an individual or organization to smuggle a child across an international border. The offense occurs if the child is found by law enforcement not in the custody of a parent or guardian, subjected to conditions that risk their health, or abandoned, exploited, or endangered. The offense is a state jail felony, but escalates to a second-degree felony if the child suffers serious bodily injury, or to a first-degree felony if the child dies. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.