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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 15, 2023
TO:
Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1181 by Shaheen (Relating to restricting access to sexual material harmful to minors on an Internet website; providing a civil penalty.), As Engrossed
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to because the extent to which caseloads would increase in the state court system is unknown.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to restrict access to pornographic materials on certain websites and to create civil liability for certain actions that allow minors to access pornographic materials.
The bill would require organizations that own Internet websites to have mechanisms for age verification as required by the bill. The bill would provide that an organization may be held liable if the organization does not include a mechanism for age verification. The bill would also provide that a person who uploads pornographic material to an Internet website may be held liable for damages if an individual below the age specified by the bill would access the materials on the website.
The bill would provide for a civil penalty against business who fail to comply with reasonable age verification requirements required by the bill.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, the fiscal implications to the state court system cannot be determined because the extent to which caseloads and penalties would increase under the provisions of the bill is unknown.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.