More than five hours into a marathon session Wednesday, the Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed "Audrii's Law," which would prevent those convicted of child grooming from evading the state's sex offender registry.
House Bill 2000 was authored by state Rep. Trent Ashby and named in honor of Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old Livingston girl who was murdered and thrown into the Trinity River last year. Cunningham had gone missing after she failed to make it to her school bus on Feb. 15, 2024. Her multi-day disappearance garnered national attention.
HB 2000 wasfiled shortly afterDon Steven McDougal, who had lived in a trailer behind Cunningham’s home, pleaded guilty to her murder earlier this year.
McDougal had previously been accused of indecency with a child after accusations that he had tried to molest a girl. As part of his plea deal, McDougal pleaded guilty to enticing a child, which did not require him to register as a sex offender.
According to Texas law, the offense of enticing a child pertains to unlawfully taking custody of a child younger than age 18 and is not specific to sex acts. Child grooming offenses involve sexual activity.
Audibly holding back tears as he spoke on the House floor Wednesday, Ashby asked the chamber to pass HB 2000 and close the loophole that he said could have prevented Cunningham's death.
"It is with a heavy heart that I bring this bill before you today because this piece of legislation was filed in response to a tragedy that occurred in my district," Ashby said. "I can't begin to imagine the pain and outrage this family felt after learning about McDougal's troubled past. ... I ask you to join me in turning tragedy into triumph."
The legislation passed the House with a vote of 148-0. The bill will now move to the Texas Senate, where it would need to be approved before being sent to the governor's desk.
Copyright 2025 Houston Public Media News 88.7