A new Senate bill in Texas that aims to crack down on explicit content involving minors, whether real, drawn, or AI-generated, has some artists and anime fans concerned. ​In what is being called an "anti-anime bill," Texas Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) is a proposed law that has raised significant concerns within the anime and manga communities due to its potential implications for fictional content.

What is Texas Senate Bill 20?

Texas SB 20 aims to criminalize the "possession, access, or promotion of obscene visual material that appears to depict a child under 18 years of age engaging in sexual conduct." Notably, the bill's language specifies that this applies "regardless of whether the depiction is an image of an actual child, a cartoon or animation, or an image created using an artificial intelligence application or other computer software."

Artists and fans of anime are worried that the broad wording of SB 20 could inadvertently criminalize certain forms of anime and manga, particularly those featuring stylized characters who may appear youthful. Critics argue that the bill's broad language could inadvertently criminalize certain forms of artistic expression, such as specific anime or manga content, even when no real children are involved. There is concern that this could lead to censorship and impact creative works.

The bill doesn't explicitly say that it would impact the anime genre, which would include hentai, but the penalties are no joke; they range from a state jail felony to a second-degree felony for repeat offenses.

SB 20 has been passed by the Texas Senate and referred to the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence for further consideration. You can read the bill here.