TX SB 1621 — AI CSAM Rewrite
Relating to Prosecution and Punishment of Certain Criminal Offenses Prohibiting Sexually Explicit Visual Material Involving Depictions of Children, Computer-Generated Children, or Other Persons (SB 1621)
Texas · Tex. Penal Code (child sexual abuse material provisions) (SB 1621, 89th Leg., R.S. (2025))
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- September 1, 2025
- Applies to
- Any person; the statute defines prohibited criminal conduct.
- Enforced by
- Texas county and district attorneys; Texas law enforcement (criminal prosecution).
This law rewrites Texas's child sexual abuse material statutes to account for AI and computer-generated imagery. It separately defines a 'depiction of a child' and a 'depiction of a computer-generated child,' and extends the offenses of possessing, electronically transmitting, and promoting such material to cover AI-generated images. It also updates penalty ranges and adds enhanced punishment for repeat offenders and offenders in positions of authority.
Who is protected: Minors, including real children whose likeness is used and children depicted via computer-generated/AI imagery.
Legal detail
SB 1621 (89th Leg., R.S.) restructures the Texas Penal Code possession/promotion offenses for sexually explicit visual material involving children, adding distinct definitions for a 'depiction of a child' and a 'depiction of a computer-generated child' and adjusting offense levels and penalty ranges; offenses are felonies.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Texas |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | June 20, 2025 |
| Citation | Tex. Penal Code (child sexual abuse material provisions) (SB 1621, 89th Leg., R.S. (2025)) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Felony offenses; offense level and penalty range vary with the type and quantity of material, with enhancements for prior convictions and for offenders in a position of authority over the depicted child. |
| Topics | children's online safety · AI-generated images · deepfakes |
| Bill text | Texas Legislature Online — SB 1621 (89R) Bill History |
More AI rules in Texas
- TX TDI Bulletin B-0003-26 (AI in insurance) · In effect
- Texas Gov. Abbott data center grid-connection audit freeze · In effect
- Texas HB 3512 government AI training mandate (2025) · In effect
- Texas TWDB data center water reporting penalties (2026) · In effect
- Texas Abbott halt on state funding for Flock cameras (2026) · In effect
- Texas AG data center water-reporting investigation (2026) · In effect
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
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