Governor Greg Abbott highlighted several public safety measures enacted in Texas during 2025, focusing on new laws and programs aimed at increasing security across the state. The Governor stated, “Texas secured major victories this session to give citizens the freedom to live in a secure and safe state. We ended the revolving door for violent criminals by passing the strongest bail reform package in history and took violent criminals off our streets through the Repeat Offender Program. With new laws against trafficking, squatters, and cyber threats, Texas is now more safe than ever before. This unwavering accountability, security, and liberty is why Texas is the best state to raise a family, start a business, and live a safe and prosperous life.”
One of the key initiatives discussed was the Texas Repeat Offender Program (TxROP), which operates as a joint task force between state and local law enforcement targeting repeat offenders in the Houston area. According to Governor Abbott, “The Texas Repeat Offender Program is cracking down on violent criminals terrorizing the streets of the Houston area. This past session, I signed the strongest bail reform package in Texas history, including a law that allows judges to deny bail to criminals charged with rape, murder, or human trafficking. The Repeat Offenders Program has advanced the state’s public safety mission and put 135 repeat offenders behind bars. The safety of Texans is our top priority, and the state will work to ensure that every Texan can live their lives without fear.” From October through November 2025, authorities made 193 arrests under this program; 135 were identified as repeat offenders.
Another recent operation involved apprehending 31 illegal immigrant drivers along Interstate 40 in the Panhandle during a one-day effort by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and federal agencies. Governor Abbott commented: “Millions of Texans drive on our highways, roads, and streets every day. When illegal immigrants break the law and illegally drive on our roads, they endanger the lives of countless Texans and Americans. This joint state and federal operation along one of the nation’s longest transcontinental highways removed illegal drivers and unsafe vehicles from Texas roads. While liberal states like California issue licenses to illegal immigrants and risk the lives of Americans, Texas will work with our federal partners to maintain safe roads and apprehend illegal immigrants to protect our communities.”
In August 2025, two anti-human trafficking bills were signed into law at an event at the Governor’s Mansion: House Bill 2306 eliminates parole for those convicted of trafficking children or disabled individuals; Senate Bill 1212 increases penalties for all human trafficking offenses to first-degree felonies. At that time Governor Abbott said: “I thank all the survivors of human trafficking for stepping up and telling their stories…We want to ensure that we do all we can so that human traffickers never walk the streets of Texas again. These two bills help achieve that goal…House Bill 2306 ensures that those traffickers will serve every single day of their prison sentence behind bars, no parole for the worst of the worst.”
Also in August 2025, three bills were enacted aiming at protecting Texans from foreign adversaries such as Russia, Iran, China, North Korea or certain criminal organizations by restricting land ownership rights or agreements with these entities.
In June 2025 at Crime Stoppers Houston headquarters—joined by advocates—Governor Abbott signed what he called “the strongest bail reform package in Texas history.” New laws allow prosecutors more power over bail decisions involving serious crimes; prohibit nonprofits from using public funds for posting bail; require transparency from magistrates about probable cause determinations; mandate judges deny bail for defendants accused of heinous crimes if they are deemed threats.
That same month saw creation of “Texas Cyber Command,” described as America’s largest state-based cybersecurity department headquartered in San Antonio tasked with defending against cyberattacks—a growing concern given frequent attacks attributed to foreign actors.
These efforts align with priorities outlined by the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, which emphasizes border security efforts—including Operation Lone Star—and initiatives addressing child sex trafficking prevention across its statewide executive functions.
The Office led by Greg Abbott since his election in 2014 continues its focus on public safety alongside economic development goals such as job growth—which have seen record levels—and educational enhancement throughout Texas (source).
