United States of America: Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Bill (HB 149) including design requirements was passed by State House

On 23 April 2025, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Bill (HB 149) was passed by the State House. The Bill Act imposes design requirements on Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems under Subchapter B, Chapter 552. Developers and deployers must ensure their systems comply with multiple prohibitions, including the unlawful capture of biometric data through methods such as untargeted internet scraping without explicit consent. The legislation expressly forbids AI systems from discriminating against protected classes such as race, sex, or disability, while clarifying that disparate impact alone does not demonstrate discriminatory intent. Additional restrictions ban the production of deepfake child exploitation material as defined under Penal Code Sections 21.165 and 43.26, along with text-based simulations of sexualized conversations impersonating minors. Systems must also avoid infringing on constitutional rights, including free speech protections outlined in Section 552.055. The Bill mandates that all disclosures use plain language for clarity, with healthcare applications requiring integration of notices into standard patient documentation. These provisions supersede any local AI regulations, establishing consistent compliance requirements across the state.