United States of America: Adopted Bill relating to restricting access to sexual material harmful to minors on an Internet website (HB 1181)

On 25 May 2023, the Texas House of Representatives adopted the Bill relating to restricting access to sexual material harmful to minors on an Internet website (HB 1181). The Bill aims to restrict access to sexual material harmful to minors on internet websites and introduces a new chapter, 129B, in the Civil Practice and Remedies Code of Texas. The chapter includes definitions of key terms and establishes liability for commercial entities that publish or distribute material containing harmful sexual content to minors. The Bill requires entities to use reasonable age verification methods to ensure individuals accessing the material are 18 years or older. It also addresses the retention of identifying information, liability to parents or guardians, and the applicability of the chapter to news-gathering organisations and internet service providers. The Act will take effect on 1 September 2023.