Texas HB418 increases penalties for possession and promotion of sexually explicit visual material involving children.

HB418 amends the Texas Penal Code to increase penalties for possession and promotion of sexually explicit visual material involving children. It raises the penalty for possessing visual material depicting a child younger than 10 years of age to the next higher offense category. For repeat offenders, the minimum term of confinement is increased to 15 years. The bill also defines "visual material" to include depictions of children created using artificial intelligence applications. The changes apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025.

Texas HB418 increases penalties for possession and promotion of sexually explicit visual material involving children.

HB418 amends the Texas Penal Code to increase penalties for possession and promotion of sexually explicit visual material involving children. It raises the penalty for possessing visual material depicting a child younger than 10 years of age to the next higher offense category. For repeat offenders, the minimum term of confinement is increased to 15 years. The bill also defines "visual material" to include depictions of children created using artificial intelligence applications. The changes apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025.