According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 1804 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the State of Texas. While the legislation expands the scope of restitution and victim compensation to include tattoo removal for victims of trafficking and certain prostitution-related offenses, the associated costs are anticipated to be manageable within existing budgeted resources.

The bill allows victims to receive up to $3,000 for tattoo removal as part of victim compensation. However, the Legislative Budget Board notes that state agencies, including the Office of Court Administration and the Office of the Attorney General, can absorb these costs without requiring additional appropriations. This is likely due to the relatively narrow scope of eligible recipients and the cap on reimbursement.

Similarly, there is no significant fiscal implication anticipated for local governments. Since the provisions pertain primarily to court-ordered restitution and access to an existing state compensation mechanism, local entities are not expected to incur additional costs related to implementation.

SB 1804 is a focused and restorative piece of legislation that strengthens protections for victims of human trafficking and related prostitution offenses by expanding access to restitution and compensation for tattoo removal. Often used as a method of branding and control, these tattoos are lasting physical and psychological reminders of abuse. SB 1804 recognizes this trauma and ensures that victims—regardless of age—can receive support to remove these marks, promoting healing and personal restoration. The bill holds offenders financially accountable for this aspect of recovery by requiring that they pay for tattoo removal costs as part of mandatory restitution.

Importantly, this legislation does not grow the size of government. It works entirely within existing judicial and victim compensation frameworks, simply expanding what types of expenses are eligible under current law. No new agencies, commissions, or programs are created. The Legislative Budget Board has determined that SB 1804 poses no significant fiscal implications to either state or local governments. Costs related to its implementation can be absorbed by existing resources, ensuring efficient use of public funds without bureaucratic expansion.

Furthermore, Texas taxpayers are not burdened by this bill. Restitution is offender-paid. While the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund may provide up to $3,000 for tattoo removal, this fund is primarily supported through court fees and fines, not general tax revenue. This aligns with conservative principles of limited government and personal accountability—those who commit harm should bear the cost of restitution, not the public.

In total, SB 1804 advances individual liberty, justice, and personal responsibility without expanding state power or increasing taxpayer costs. It is a targeted, compassionate, and fiscally responsible reform, and as such, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 1804.

• Individual Liberty: At its core, the bill advances personal freedom by recognizing the importance of bodily autonomy and the right of trafficking victims to reclaim their physical identity. Traffickers often use tattoos as tools of ownership and psychological control. By making tattoo removal a form of compensable restitution, this bill directly supports survivors’ ability to heal and reassert control over their bodies. It affirms the principle that every person has the right to live free from physical and symbolic reminders of exploitation and coercion.
• Personal Responsibility: The bill reinforces the foundational idea that individuals must be accountable for the harm they cause. By mandating that offenders cover the cost of tattoo removal for their victims, the bill ensures that restitution comes from those responsible—not from public funds. This shift in financial responsibility from survivors and the state to perpetrators directly upholds the moral and civic principle of personal accountability for wrongdoing.
• Free Enterprise: While the bill does not impose any mandates or restrictions on businesses, it may slightly stimulate market demand for professional tattoo removal services—especially those equipped to serve trauma-affected populations. It does not interfere with or distort the marketplace, thereby remaining neutral from a regulatory perspective while potentially increasing access to specialized services for victims.
• Private Property Rights: Although the bill doesn't directly concern property ownership, it upholds the broader concept of self-ownership—a fundamental extension of property rights. In protecting the bodily integrity of victims and empowering them to reverse involuntary markings, the bill affirms that each individual has the exclusive right to their own body, consistent with classical understandings of liberty and property.
• Limited Government: The bill does not grow government, expand regulatory authority, or create new administrative burdens. It operates entirely within existing legal and administrative frameworks, such as the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program and court-ordered restitution. Furthermore, it uses funds already collected through offender fines and fees, not general tax revenue. By improving victim services without expanding bureaucracy or increasing spending, the bill stays true to the principle of limited government.