BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1443
89R22366 EAS-D	By: Schatzline et al. (King)
	Criminal Justice
	5/15/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current state law already criminalizes possession with intent to promote obscene devices, which could include child-like sex dolls. However, state law does not currently criminalize possession without intent to promote, leaving a gap for enforcement against these devices. H.B. 1443 would create felony offenses for certain possession and promotion of these dolls and establish a two-doll limit for the presumption that the individual possessed the dolls with the intent to promote them.

H.B. 1443 amends current law relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Penal Code, by adding Section 43.231, as follows:

Sec. 43.231. PROMOTION OR POSSESSION OF CHILD-LIKE SEX DOLL. (a) Defines "child-like sex doll."

(b) Provides that a person commits an offense if the person knowingly:

(1) promotes a child-like sex doll;

(2) possesses, with the intent to promote, a child-like sex doll; or

(3) possesses a child-like sex doll.

(c) Provides that an offense under Subsection (b)(1) is a felony of the second degree.

(d) Provides that an offense under Subsection (b)(2) is a felony of the third degree.

(e) Provides that an offense under Subsection (b)(3) is a state jail felony.

(f) Provides that a person who possesses two or more child-like sex dolls is presumed to possess the dolls with the intent to promote the dolls.

(g) Provides that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor possesses or promotes a child-like sex doll for a bona fide law enforcement purpose.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.