Abbott seeks 10-year minimums for educators who abuse students in Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a student-safety plan proposing a mandatory 10-year prison term for educators who have improper relations with students, plus mandatory sex-offender registration and removal of parole or deferred adjudication until 10 years have been served; current penalties range from 2 to 20 years and do not always require registry. Abbott cites about 1,600 allegations in 2025 and a Lubbock case to push lawmakers, who will reconvene in January 2027, to strengthen laws and improve reporting, with resources like the RAINN hotline for survivors.