PASSEDHouston City Council · 2025-11-05

The city council would create a new dedicated fund called the Human Trafficking Response and Recovery Fund, starting with a zero balance, to receive money from the Harris County District Attorney's Office and spend it on services and programs for human trafficking victims. State law (Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 59) requires that assets forfeited in connection with human trafficking and certain prostitution offenses be kept in a separate fund and used only for direct victim services or contracts with local nonprofits that provide those services.

What it means for you

This item does not directly affect most Houston residents' daily lives, but it would establish a formal financial structure ensuring that money recovered from human trafficking-related cases is legally set aside and used specifically to help trafficking victims — through Houston Police Department programs or nonprofit service providers.

Outcome

Adopted — vote recorded in official minutes. Mayor Whitmire, Council Members Thomas, Ramirez and Plummer absent. Ordinance 2025-0924, official minutes of Nov 5, 2025.

Public safety — see all →Citywide

Official sources

Item cover sheet — summary and background ↗Meeting minutes — full record with the vote (PDF) ↗

The cover sheet is the item's official summary page; supporting attachments (contracts, maps, fiscal notes) are listed at the bottom of it. The minutes show what happened at the meeting.

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

How to weigh in

Where: City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
When: Council meets Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Public Session — when you can speak — is Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month).
Speak: Register by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before: call 832.393.1100, email speakers@houstontx.gov, or go in person to the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101). Each speaker gets 1–3 minutes.
Watch: Live on HTV ↗

From the City Council meetings information page. Confirm the exact date on the official agenda before you go.

Quick answersfrom the official record

Who benefits?Human Trafficking Victimscoversheet ↗

Who pays?Harris County District Attorney's Office, any and all Funds received (no dollar amount stated)coversheet ↗

Who decides?Houston City Council — its 16 members (11 district + 5 at-large) vote; the Mayor presides and also votes. Taken up at the November 5, 2025 meeting — Adopted.minutes ↗

The official caption doesn't name a dollar amount — full details in the official coversheet ↗

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-35137 — data from official records via PlainDocket.