{
  "batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_anchor",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Citation anchor for Texas's prostitution offences",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas's prostitution and related offences sit in Subchapter A, 'PROSTITUTION', of Chapter 43, 'PUBLIC INDECENCY', within Title 9, 'OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY', of the Penal Code.",
      "body": "Texas's prostitution and related offences sit in Subchapter A, 'PROSTITUTION', of Chapter 43, 'PUBLIC INDECENCY', within Title 9, 'OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY', of the Penal Code.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“PENAL CODETITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCYCHAPTER 43. PUBLIC INDECENCYSUBCHAPTER A. PROSTITUTION”\n\nNote: Anchor record. Every later record in this batch sits under this citation: TEX. PENAL CODE Title 9, Chapter 43. The whole chapter (Subchapter A prostitution offences plus Subchapter B obscenity) is served in plain text on the Texas Code System page I opened and read in full. The revisor's own index at statutes.capitol.texas.gov (Docs/PE/htm/PE.43.htm and the GetStatute.aspx view) is JavaScript-rendered and returned only navigation chrome when fetched, so the TCSS page on the legislature's domain is the anchor source.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "PENAL CODETITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCYCHAPTER 43. PUBLIC INDECENCYSUBCHAPTER A. PROSTITUTION",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code, Title 9, Chapter 43 (Public Indecency)",
      "topic": "citation anchor for Texas's prostitution offences",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_01_fee",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas Penal Code 43.01(1-b): statutory definition of 'Fee' in the prostitution subchapter",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas defines 'fee' for the prostitution offences as payment or the offer of payment in money, goods, services, or other benefit, so the offences' fee element covers any form of benefit and mere offers to pay.",
      "body": "Texas defines 'fee' for the prostitution offences as payment or the offer of payment in money, goods, services, or other benefit, so the offences' fee element covers any form of benefit and mere offers to pay.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(1-b)  \"Fee\" means the payment or offer of payment in the form of money, goods, services, or other benefit.”\n\nNote: Definitions section 43.01 is its own record (it is the separate definitions section Texas uses for Subchapter A). Because Sections 43.02 and 43.021 both turn on a 'fee', this definition decides what counts as payment: money, goods, services, or other benefit, and an offer counts.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(1-b)  \"Fee\" means the payment or offer of payment in the form of money, goods, services, or other benefit.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.01(1-b)",
      "topic": "statutory definition of 'Fee' in the prostitution subchapter",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "money.fees"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_01_sexual_conduct",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas Penal Code 43.01(4): statutory definition of 'Sexual conduct'",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas defines the 'sexual conduct' that the prostitution offences refer to as deviate sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or sexual intercourse.",
      "body": "Texas defines the 'sexual conduct' that the prostitution offences refer to as deviate sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or sexual intercourse.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(4)  \"Sexual conduct\" includes deviate sexual intercourse, sexual contact, and sexual intercourse.”\n\nNote: 43.01(1-a) separately defines 'deviate sexual intercourse' as any contact between the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another person, and 43.01(3) defines 'sexual contact' as touching of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals with intent to arouse or gratify. The offences are not limited to intercourse.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(4)  \"Sexual conduct\" includes deviate sexual intercourse, sexual contact, and sexual intercourse.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.01(4)",
      "topic": "statutory definition of 'Sexual conduct'",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "rules.content"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_02_offence",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text of the prostitution offence (seller side)",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas's prostitution offence is committed by knowingly offering or agreeing to receive a fee from another to engage in sexual conduct; the offence therefore turns on a fee plus an offer or agreement, and is complete before any sexual conduct occurs.",
      "body": "Texas's prostitution offence is committed by knowingly offering or agreeing to receive a fee from another to engage in sexual conduct; the offence therefore turns on a fee plus an offer or agreement, and is complete before any sexual conduct occurs.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly offers or agrees to receive a fee from another to engage in sexual conduct.”\n\nNote: Current text after the 2021 transfer (H.B. 1540) that moved the payor-side offence to new 43.021. The whole Chapter 43 text (one official page) was read: the words 'assignation' or 'for hire' do not appear in current Subchapter A; the definition turns on a 'fee', not on premises or venue. The 2017-era language ('solicits another in a public place ... for hire') is gone. Whether paid adult-video production falls inside this test is an open legal question in Texas - see could_not_verify entries.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly offers or agrees to receive a fee from another to engage in sexual conduct.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.02(a) - Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text of the prostitution offence (seller side)",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "money.fees"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_02_penalty",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "Penalty grading for prostitution",
      "summary": "Base prostitution under 43.02(a) is a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor after one or two prior convictions under the subsection and to a state jail felony after three or more.",
      "body": "Base prostitution under 43.02(a) is a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor after one or two prior convictions under the subsection and to a state jail felony after three or more.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is:(1)  a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted one or two times of an offense under Subsection (a); or(2)  a state jail felony if the actor has previously been convicted three or more times of an offense under Subsection (a).”\n\nNote: 43.02(d) separately creates a defence to prosecution under 43.02(a) where the actor was the victim of conduct that is an offence under Section 20A.02 (Trafficking of Persons) or 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution). Subsection (b) no longer exists in current text (its paying-fee content moved to 43.021).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is:(1)  a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted one or two times of an offense under Subsection (a); or(2)  a state jail felony if the actor has previously been convicted three or more times of an offense under Subsection (a).",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.02(c) - Prostitution",
      "topic": "penalty grading for prostitution",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_021_offence",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the solicitation offence (buyer side)",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas's solicitation of prostitution offence is committed by knowingly offering or agreeing to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another; it is a state jail felony, a third-degree felony after a prior conviction, and a second-degree felony where the person offered-or-agreed-about is younger than 18, represented as younger than 18, or believed by the actor to be younger than 18.",
      "body": "Texas's solicitation of prostitution offence is committed by knowingly offering or agreeing to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another; it is a state jail felony, a third-degree felony after a prior conviction, and a second-degree felony where the person offered-or-agreed-about is younger than 18, represented as younger than 18, or believed by the actor to be younger than 18.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is:(1)  a felony of the third degree if the actor has previously been convicted of an offense under Subsection (a) or under Section 43.02(b), as that law existed before September 1, 2021; or(2)  a felony of the second degree if the person with respect to whom the actor offers or agrees to engage in sexual conduct is:(A)  younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense;(B)  represented to the actor as being younger than 18 years of age; or(C)  believed by the actor to be younger than 18 years of age.”\n\nNote: This is the payor-side offence, created by H.B. 1540 (2021) from the former 43.02(b). In 43.021(b-1) the punishment is increased one category if the offence is committed on or within 1,000 feet of school premises or an official school function or UIL event. A creator who pays a co-performer who is on camera is the kind of transaction this text addresses on its face, but whether paid filming is prosecutable is an open legal question in Texas with no court decision or AG opinion found (see could_not_verify).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is:(1)  a felony of the third degree if the actor has previously been convicted of an offense under Subsection (a) or under Section 43.02(b), as that law existed before September 1, 2021; or(2)  a felony of the second degree if the person with respect to whom the actor offers or agrees to engage in sexual conduct is:(A)  younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense;(B)  represented to the actor as being younger than 18 years of age; or(C)  believed by the actor to be younger than 18 years of age.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.021(a)-(b) - Solicitation of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the solicitation offence (buyer side)",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "partnered",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "money.fees"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_03_promotion",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the promotion offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas makes promotion of prostitution a third-degree felony (first-degree if the conduct involves a person younger than 18) for anyone, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered services, who knowingly receives money or other property under an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution or solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation.",
      "body": "Texas makes promotion of prostitution a third-degree felony (first-degree if the conduct involves a person younger than 18) for anyone, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered services, who knowingly receives money or other property under an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution or solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, he or she knowingly:(1)  receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution;  or(2)  solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is:(1)  a felony of the second degree if the actor has been previously convicted of an offense under this section; or(2)  a felony of the first degree if the actor engages in conduct described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) involving a person younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense.”\n\nNote: The carve-out excludes only 'a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services' from being a promoter; a person who shares in the proceeds of another's prostitution or arranges sex with a third person for compensation is not excluded. Section 43.032 (Continuous Promotion of Prostitution, added 2025, eff. 9/1/2025) makes first-degree-felony an aggregation of two or more 43.03 acts within 30 or more days.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, he or she knowingly:(1)  receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution;  or(2)  solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is:(1)  a felony of the second degree if the actor has been previously convicted of an offense under this section; or(2)  a felony of the first degree if the actor engages in conduct described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) involving a person younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.03(a)-(b) - Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the promotion offence",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "money.fees"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_031_online",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the online promotion offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas makes it a third-degree felony (second-degree if the actor has a prior conviction or the conduct involves a person younger than 18 engaged in prostitution) to own, manage, or operate an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operate as an information content provider, with intent to promote the prostitution of another person or facilitate another person to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.",
      "body": "Texas makes it a third-degree felony (second-degree if the actor has a prior conviction or the conduct involves a person younger than 18 engaged in prostitution) to own, manage, or operate an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operate as an information content provider, with intent to promote the prostitution of another person or facilitate another person to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if the person owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operates as an information content provider, with the intent to promote the prostitution of another person or facilitate another person to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the actor:(1)  has been previously convicted of an offense under this section or Section 43.041; or(2)  engages in conduct described by Subsection (a) involving a person younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense.”\n\nNote: Created by S.B. 20 (2019). Section 43.01(1-c) defines 'information content provider' as any person or entity wholly or partly responsible for the creation or development of information provided through the Internet or any other interactive computer service, and 43.01(1-d) defines 'interactive computer service'. The intention test ('with the intent to promote the prostitution of another') is the operative element.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if the person owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operates as an information content provider, with the intent to promote the prostitution of another person or facilitate another person to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the actor:(1)  has been previously convicted of an offense under this section or Section 43.041; or(2)  engages in conduct described by Subsection (a) involving a person younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.031(a)-(b) - Online Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the online promotion offence",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_032_offence",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text of the continuous promotion offence (added 2025)",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas creates a continuous-promotion offence where a person, during a period of 30 or more days, engages two or more times in conduct that constitutes an offence under the promotion-of-prostitution section (43.03).",
      "body": "Texas creates a continuous-promotion offence where a person, during a period of 30 or more days, engages two or more times in conduct that constitutes an offence under the promotion-of-prostitution section (43.03).\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, the person engages two or more times in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 43.03.”\n\nNote: Newest section in the subchapter (eff. 9/1/2025). Subsection (b) says the jury need not agree on which specific 43.03 conduct or on which exact date it occurred; (c)-(d) impose one-count and same-action limits around a single victim; the penalty under (e) is a first-degree felony (separate record).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, the person engages two or more times in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 43.03.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.032(a) - Continuous Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text of the continuous promotion offence (added 2025)",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_032_penalty",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "Penalty class for continuous promotion",
      "summary": "Continuous promotion of prostitution under 43.032 is a felony of the first degree.",
      "body": "Continuous promotion of prostitution under 43.032 is a felony of the first degree.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(e)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.”\n\nNote: Penalty clause of the continuous promotion offence (43.032(a) recorded separately).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(e)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.032(e) - Continuous Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "penalty class for continuous promotion",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_04_agg_promotion",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the aggravated promotion offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas makes it a first-degree felony to knowingly own, invest in, finance, control, supervise, or manage a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.",
      "body": "Texas makes it a first-degree felony to knowingly own, invest in, finance, control, supervise, or manage a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if he knowingly owns, invests in, finances, controls, supervises, or manages a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.”\n\nNote: Texas's top prostitution-related charge short of compelling/trafficking: first-degree felony operating on a two-or-more-prostitutes enterprise.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if he knowingly owns, invests in, finances, controls, supervises, or manages a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.04(a)-(b) - Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the aggravated promotion offence",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_041_online_agg",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the aggravated online promotion offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas makes it a second-degree felony, escalated to first-degree on a prior conviction or where the conduct involves two or more persons younger than 18 engaged in prostitution, to own, manage, or operate an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operate as an information content provider, with intent to promote the prostitution of five or more persons or facilitate five or more persons to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.",
      "body": "Texas makes it a second-degree felony, escalated to first-degree on a prior conviction or where the conduct involves two or more persons younger than 18 engaged in prostitution, to own, manage, or operate an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operate as an information content provider, with intent to promote the prostitution of five or more persons or facilitate five or more persons to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if the person owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operates as an information content provider, with the intent to promote the prostitution of five or more persons or facilitate five or more persons to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if the actor:(1)  has been previously convicted of an offense under this section; or(2)  engages in conduct described by Subsection (a) involving two or more persons younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the persons at the time of the offense.”\n\nNote: Added by S.B. 20 (2019); the 'five or more persons' threshold distinguishes it from 43.031. Uses the same information-content-provider terms defined in 43.01(1-c) and (1-d).",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if the person owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service or information content provider, or operates as an information content provider, with the intent to promote the prostitution of five or more persons or facilitate five or more persons to engage in prostitution or solicitation of prostitution.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if the actor:(1)  has been previously convicted of an offense under this section; or(2)  engages in conduct described by Subsection (a) involving two or more persons younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the persons at the time of the offense.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.041(a)-(b) - Aggravated Online Promotion of Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the aggravated online promotion offence",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_05_compelling",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Operative text and penalty of the compelling offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas makes it a first-degree felony to knowingly cause another by force, threat, coercion, or fraud to commit prostitution, or to cause by any means a child younger than 18 or a disabled individual to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age or disability.",
      "body": "Texas makes it a first-degree felony to knowingly cause another by force, threat, coercion, or fraud to commit prostitution, or to cause by any means a child younger than 18 or a disabled individual to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age or disability.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:(1)  causes another by force, threat, coercion, or fraud to commit prostitution;(2)  causes by any means a child younger than 18 years to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the child at the time of the offense; or(3)  causes by any means a disabled individual, as defined by Section 22.021(b), to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the individual is disabled at the time of the offense.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.”\n\nNote: Under 43.05(c) the actor may be prosecuted for an offense under this section and another section for the same conduct; 43.05(d)-(e) expand 'coercion' beyond Section 1.07 to include document/record withholding and intoxication-forcing, and bar the defence that a child or disabled individual lacked the mental state or did not complete the act.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:(1)  causes another by force, threat, coercion, or fraud to commit prostitution;(2)  causes by any means a child younger than 18 years to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the child at the time of the offense; or(3)  causes by any means a disabled individual, as defined by Section 22.021(b), to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the individual is disabled at the time of the offense.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.05(a)-(b) - Compelling Prostitution",
      "topic": "operative text and penalty of the compelling offence",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal",
          "safety.harm"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r173_texas_prostitution_statute_every_section_texas_penal_43_06_witness",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Testimony and immunity for parties to subchapter A offences",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Texas may require a party to any offence in the prostitution subchapter to testify, grants that party immunity from prosecution for any offence about which the party is required to testify (except aggravated perjury), and allows conviction on the uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offence.",
      "body": "Texas may require a party to any offence in the prostitution subchapter to testify, grants that party immunity from prosecution for any offence about which the party is required to testify (except aggravated perjury), and allows conviction on the uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offence.\n\nWhat Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site) actually says:\n\n“(a)  A party to an offense under this subchapter may be required to furnish evidence or testify about the offense.(b)  A party to an offense under this subchapter may not be prosecuted for any offense about which he is required to furnish evidence or testify, and the evidence and testimony may not be used against the party in any adjudicatory proceeding except a prosecution for aggravated perjury.”\n\nNote: 43.06(d) (same section, not quoted here) provides that a conviction under the subchapter may be had upon the uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offence. This is the section behind co-performer testimony exposure in a prosecutable case.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PE/htm/PE.43.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Texas Legislative Council, Texas Code System (official legislature site)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a)  A party to an offense under this subchapter may be required to furnish evidence or testify about the offense.(b)  A party to an offense under this subchapter may not be prosecuted for any offense about which he is required to furnish evidence or testify, and the evidence and testimony may not be used against the party in any adjudicatory proceeding except a prosecution for aggravated perjury.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "173-texas-prostitution-statute-every-section",
      "subject": "Texas Penal Code 43.06(a)-(b) - Accomplice Witness; Testimony and Immunity",
      "topic": "testimony and immunity for parties to subchapter A offences",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "State of Texas law; Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 43, Subchapter A",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-tx"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    }
  ]
}