HB 1552 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to changing the name of the offense of child pornography to child sexual abuse material and to updating references to conform to that terminology.

HB 1552 updates Texas law to replace the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" in multiple statutes. It directly affects law enforcement, computer technicians, and digital service providers by requiring consistent terminology in legal references. Key provisions include amending Section 43.26 of the Penal Code (possession offense), Chapter 110 of the Business & Commerce Code (reporting requirements), and related definitions to use the new terminology. The bill maintains existing reporting obligations for technicians viewing such material but removes outdated references. This is a terminological update, not a change to legal standards or penalties.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 12, 2025 Last action May 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Texas law to change the terminology for child sexual abuse material from 'child pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material' across multiple state statutes. The change aligns legal language with modern terminology that better reflects the nature of the material and its impact on victims. The bill also updates related sections in the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding felony limitations, forfeiture procedures, and sex offender registration to use the new terminology consistently.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on child sexual abuse material offenses, but the terminology change applies broadly across multiple chapters of the Texas Penal Code, Business & Commerce Code, and Code of Criminal Procedure.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'child pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material' in Section 43.26 of the Penal Code and related sections throughout the bill.

Updated references to 'child pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material' in reporting requirements for computer technicians and telecommunications providers under Chapter 110 of the Business & Commerce Code.

Modified felony limitation periods and forfeiture procedures in the Code of Criminal Procedure to use the new terminology when referring to possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material.

Updated sex offender registration requirements and reportable convictions to reference 'child sexual abuse material' instead of 'child pornography' in Article 42A.251 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

142–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 146

Apr 29, 2025

D Democratic59

57 Yea 2

96% Yea

R Republican87

85 Yea 2

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Justice

upper

May 1, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor