Bill > HB235

This bill updates Texas law to expand civil and criminal liability for the unlawful disclosure of intimate visual material, specifically addressing the growing issue of non-consensual intimate imagery, including those created or manipulated by artificial intelligence. The bill modifies existing legal statutes in the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and Penal Code to clarify that individuals can be held liable for sharing intimate visual material if: the material was shared without effective consent, with intent to harm, and causes harm to the depicted person. Notably, the bill introduces new language that extends liability to computer-generated or AI-modified images where the depicted person is recognizable through their face, likeness, or distinctive characteristics. This means that even if an intimate image is artificially created or altered, if it is identifiably based on a real person, the creator or sharer could face civil damages or criminal prosecution. The changes will apply only to causes of action or offenses occurring on or after September 1, 2025, providing a clear timeline for implementation and allowing legal systems to prepare for the new provisions.

Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB235