BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1552 By: Paul Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE State law currently uses the term "child pornography" to refer to an image of a child engaging in sexual conduct or sexual performance for purposes of certain offenses. The bill author has informed the committee that this is an outdated term that minimizes the harm inflicted and implies some level of participation by children, while in reality these children are coerced and exploited. According to organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the use of the term "child sexual abuse material," or CSAM, more accurately reflects the exploitative and harmful nature of such material. H.B. 1552 seeks to address this issue by changing references of "child pornography" in statute to "child sexual abuse material." CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1552 amends the Penal Code to rename the offense of possession or promotion of child pornography as possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material. H.B. 1552 amends the Business & Commerce Code, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Estates Code, and Family Code to make conforming changes relating to the change in that terminology. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1552
By: Paul
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1552
By: Paul
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE State law currently uses the term "child pornography" to refer to an image of a child engaging in sexual conduct or sexual performance for purposes of certain offenses. The bill author has informed the committee that this is an outdated term that minimizes the harm inflicted and implies some level of participation by children, while in reality these children are coerced and exploited. According to organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the use of the term "child sexual abuse material," or CSAM, more accurately reflects the exploitative and harmful nature of such material. H.B. 1552 seeks to address this issue by changing references of "child pornography" in statute to "child sexual abuse material."
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1552 amends the Penal Code to rename the offense of possession or promotion of child pornography as possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material. H.B. 1552 amends the Business & Commerce Code, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Estates Code, and Family Code to make conforming changes relating to the change in that terminology.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
State law currently uses the term "child pornography" to refer to an image of a child engaging in sexual conduct or sexual performance for purposes of certain offenses. The bill author has informed the committee that this is an outdated term that minimizes the harm inflicted and implies some level of participation by children, while in reality these children are coerced and exploited. According to organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the use of the term "child sexual abuse material," or CSAM, more accurately reflects the exploitative and harmful nature of such material. H.B. 1552 seeks to address this issue by changing references of "child pornography" in statute to "child sexual abuse material."
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1552 amends the Penal Code to rename the offense of possession or promotion of child pornography as possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material.
H.B. 1552 amends the Business & Commerce Code, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Estates Code, and Family Code to make conforming changes relating to the change in that terminology.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.