H.B. No. 1012 amends the Texas Penal Code regarding the prosecution of the criminal offense related to the sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to minors. The bill redefines "harmful material" by removing the phrase "whose dominant theme taken as a whole" and replacing it with "that," streamlining the definition. Additionally, it modifies the criteria for what constitutes harmful material by deleting the term "utterly" from the description of material that lacks redeeming social value for minors.

The changes made by this Act will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Offenses that occurred prior to this date will be governed by the law in effect at the time of the offense, ensuring that the previous legal standards remain applicable for those cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 43.24 (Penal Code 43)