Texas restricts retail sale of obscene devices to licensed sexually oriented businesses and sets civil penalties

Original title: Relating to restrictions on the sale of obscene devices; providing a civil penalty.

Last action · March 12, 2025: Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic DevelopmentSponsors: Hillary Hickland and 54 others

Companion · SB 2399same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Relating to restrictions on the sale of obscene devices; providing a civil penalty.

Why it matters

Retail establishments outside of licensed sexually oriented businesses face court s, financial penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and liability for prosecution costs for selling defined s.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

general businesses in Texas

General retail businesses are prohibited from selling obscene devices and face potential civil penalties and injunctions if they do so.

Directly affected

sexually oriented businesses

Sexually oriented businesses operating under Chapter 102 are explicitly exempted from the sales restriction.

Directly affected

county and district attorneys

County and district attorneys are granted explicit authority to bring injunctive actions, request civil penalties, and seek reimbursement for investigation costs.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is allowed to sell obscene devices under House Bill 1549?

Only sexually oriented businesses operating in accordance with Chapter 102 may sell, offer for sale, or hold for sale s.

What penalties can a business face for illegal sales?

A court may issue an , impose a of up to $5,000 per violation, and order the business to pay for the investigation and prosecution costs.

Who enforces these restrictions?

County and district attorneys are authorized to bring enforcement actions in district court.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Mar 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Mar 12, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Dec 9, 2024HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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