SB 20 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of possession, promotion, or production of certain obscene visual material appearing to depict a child.

SB 20 creates a new criminal offense for possessing, accessing with intent to view, or promoting obscene visual material that appears to depict a child under 18, including AI-generated images, animations, or digital representations. The law applies to any material seeming to show a child in sexual activity (per Section 43.21(a)(1)(B)), regardless of whether the depiction is real or computer-created. A first offense is classified as a state jail felony, with repeat offenses potentially increasing penalties to third-degree (for one prior conviction) or second-degree (for two or more prior convictions) felonies. This bill directly affects individuals who share or view such material, with no exceptions for digital or AI-generated content.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
SB 20 was updated from its Engrossed version to the final Enrolled version, incorporating minor formatting corrections, clarifying language, and adding a new provision that criminalizes using images of real children to train artificial intelligence models to produce child pornography. The bill also expanded the list of offenses that can be charged in combination with the new child exploitation offense and added a new subsection to the criminal street gang statute.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include the production of child pornography using AI training images and to cover additional related offenses in the criminal street gang statute.
SCOPE

Added a new provision making it a crime to use an image of a real child under 18 to train an AI model to produce child pornography.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the list of offenses that can be charged in combination with the new child exploitation offense to include additional crimes and clarified sentencing enhancements.

Added a new subsection to the criminal street gang statute that includes offenses under the new child exploitation provision.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and numbering issues throughout the bill text to match standard legislative format.

TIMELINE

Added a section specifying that the Act takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · House May 21, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
67
Key actions
22
Committee
14
Amendments
9
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 26, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
lower
May 26, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
upper
May 26, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 21, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (140-0-3)
house
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
5 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors