It is an amendment designed to protect teens due to the changing culture of the 21st century. This Romeo and Juliet law separates this kind of situation from sexual assault and clearly defines the differences. Now, however, Texas has adopted Romeo and Juliet law to address the scenario of 2 teens in agreement who both consent to the sexual practices within their relationship.
Typically, the oldest member of the couple would be charged with statutory rape, according to the old statutes. If these teens were caught before the state’s Romeo and Juliet law was established, they had no protection and could face sex offense punishments such as fines, jail time and being forced to register as a sex offender. Texas is one of many states that acknowledges that teens and young adults regularly engage in consensual sex with other teens who are the same age or below the age of consent.
How Texas law views sexual relationships between minors and teens