Texas lawmakers reformed key sexual assault laws in 2019. Advocates hope the progress continues this session despite the pandemic.
Texas Tribune
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Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune
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On the heels of the #MeToo movement, both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers during the 2019 legislative session championed various reforms to how sexual assaults are investigated and victims are treated.
By the time the session gaveled to a close, legislators had steered millions of dollars toward addressing a rape kit backlog and funding sexual assault exams and rape crisis centers. Advocates specializing in sexual assault prevention praised the session as an unprecedented commitment to helping sexual assault survivors.
Lawmakers and advocates for sexual assault survivors are heading into the 2021 legislative session hoping to expand the definition of sexual assault and keep funding the processing of a rape kit backlog. Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
On the heels of the #MeToo movement, both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers during the 2019 legislative session championed various reforms to how sexual assaults are investigated and victims are treated.
By the time the session gaveled to a close, legislators had steered millions of dollars toward addressing a rape kit backlog and funding sexual assault exams and rape crisis centers. Advocates specializing in sexual assault prevention praised the session as an unprecedented commitment to helping sexual assault survivors.