AUSTIN, Texas — In a unanimous decision, Texas legislators have advanced H.B. 2000, known as Audrii’s Law, to Governor Greg Abbott for final approval. This significant legislative move was made during a recent session of the Texas Senate.
Senator Robert Nichols, who sponsored the bill, highlighted the legislation’s roots in a tragic event from February 2024. The law is named after 12-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was kidnapped and killed in East Texas. Nichols emphasized the profound impact of her loss, which resonated deeply within the community and prompted this legislative response.
The circumstances surrounding Audrii’s death involved Don Steven McDougal, a man living in a camper behind Audrii’s grandparents’ home in Livingston. Although her grandparents were aware of McDougal’s troubled past, they accepted his claims of working to improve his life after reviewing his criminal history. However, they were unaware of his prior conviction involving a sex crime against a child, which McDougal had negotiated down in 2007 due to insufficient evidence, thereby avoiding sex offender registration.
“This gap in the legal framework left many families unaware of the potential dangers,” Nichols stated. He further underscored that Audrii’s Law aims to rectify this oversight by mandating that individuals convicted of child grooming offenses are more identifiable to the public.
The bill originated in the Texas House of Representatives, championed by Representative Trent Ashby. If signed into law, Audrii’s Law will go into effect on September 1, 2025, potentially altering the landscape for how child safety is approached in Texas.
As Texas awaits the governor’s decision, the legislation serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for laws that protect children from similar tragedies in the future.
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