House Bill No. 2551 amends the Texas Penal Code to address the unlawful production or distribution of certain sexually explicit visual material, specifically focusing on "deep fake" content. The bill updates the heading of Section 21.165 to reflect this change, replacing "VIDEOS" with "VISUAL MATERIAL." It also clarifies the definition of "deep fake visual material," which is now described as content created with the intent to deceive, depicting a real person performing actions that did not occur in reality. Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "visual material" as assigned by Section 43.26(b)(3) of the Penal Code.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that a person commits an offense if they knowingly produce or distribute deep fake visual material that appears to depict an individual without their consent, particularly in scenarios where the person's intimate parts are exposed or they are engaged in sexual conduct. This legislation aims to enhance protections against the misuse of technology in creating misleading and potentially harmful content. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 21.165 (Penal Code 21)