Conservatives, help us save kids from permanent damage!
FACT: Texas law should not continue to give appalling legal justifications for the blatant sexualization of children.
In the 88th Session (2023), 11 bills were filed to repeal legal loopholes that allow sexualization of children. Not even one of the bills received a hearing! The last time such corrective bills received a hearing in the TX House was in 2019. Children are harmed every day by these loopholes!
There is NEVER A REASON to give a child porn and there is NEVER A REASON to have a child perform sexually for an adult.
Yet, Texas law says otherwise!
The Texas Penal Code (law) allows unethical and downright disgusting legal justifications for giving a child pornography (Section 43.24), for sexual performance by a child (Section 43.25), and for possession of child pornography (Section 43.26).
These “loophole” legal justifications vary by statute, but include scientific, educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, governmental, law enforcement, judicial, and legislative exemptions allowing children to be exposed to sexual materials and situations.
Great news! Your Texas Senate is prioritizing legislation that will remove these intolerable, unjustifiable affirmative defenses from the Texas Penal Code!
Senate Bill 412 by Sen. Mayes Middleton will remove shocking legal justifications for sexual crimes against children. We commend Senator Middleton for his effort.
We asked Senator Middleton to strengthen the bill’s child protections through a more narrowly tailored exception that allows law enforcement and judicial officers to investigate these horrible crimes, but makes it clear that they cannot induce, employ, or authorize the sexual performance of a child for investigative purposes. (This is consistent with current legal interpretation and investigative protocols.)
Senator Middleton included this in the committee substitute. The bill was passed in the Senate on 3.19.25 and it was received in the Texas House on 3.20.25.
Christin Bentley, SD-1 State Republican Executive Committeewoman Chair, Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids
JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People PAC