HB 3225 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the restriction of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections; providing a civil penalty.

HB 3225 requires municipal public libraries in Texas to restrict minors (under 18) from accessing sexually explicit materials in sections designated for younger audiences. Libraries must remove such materials from "minor's sections" and obtain legal guardian consent before allowing minors to check out or view these materials. The bill imposes civil penalties for violations, including fines. It directly affects municipal public libraries, minors, and their guardians by changing how libraries manage content access in designated youth areas.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · May 10, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to clarify definitions, add new exemptions for religious materials, introduce guardian consent provisions, and update enforcement mechanisms. The changes also restructure the timeline for library reviews and add public notice requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to specifically address minor's sections and added exemptions for religious materials. The applicability now explicitly includes electronic formats and requires guardian consent for minors accessing sexually explicit materials.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'sexual conduct' with specific examples including sado-masochistic abuse and lewd exhibition of genitals.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for libraries to obtain legal guardian consent before minors can access sexually explicit materials.

Modified review requirements to specify annual review of new materials only, rather than all collections.

TIMELINE

Changed review deadline from January 1, 2027 to September 1, 2027, and added new public notice requirement by March 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Added eligibility requirements for state library grants based on compliance with the chapter.

EXEMPTIONS

Added explicit exemption for religious materials from the sexually explicit material restrictions.

TECHNICAL

Removed unrelated text about digital content accessibility updates and formatting inconsistencies.

Floor votes · House May 10, 2025

How they voted

92–37

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 143

May 10, 2025

D Democratic57

13 Yea 35 Nay 9

61% Nay

R Republican86

79 Yea 2 Nay 5

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

May 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

upper

May 13, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

lower

May 9, 2025

Amended

Amendment fails of adoption

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

5 primary · 60 co-sponsors