AUSTIN, Texas—Two legislative proposals that would have put restrictions on the purchase of sex toys in the state of Texas failed to advance out of the legislature. House Bill (HB) 1549 and Senate Bill (SB) 3003 aimed to make it harder to purchase sex toys in a state where it is already illegal to own more than six so-called “obscene devices.”
AVN reported on both of these bills when they were proposed. HB 1549 would have banned the sale of sex toys in “big box” retailers like Walmart and Target. SB 3003 would have required age verification to purchase sex toys over the internet. Both bills were introduced by far-right anti-porn lawmakers, such as SB 3003’s sponsor, state Sen. Angela Paxton.
Both bills failed to garner traction and died as the state legislature adjourned for the year at the end of May.
Sen. Paxton is the estranged spouse of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and recently filed for divorce, according to local Texas newspapers and national news outlets.
Attorney General Paxton led the state’s defense of House Bill 1181, the controversial age verification law targeting adult platforms, at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Adult industry trade group the Free Speech Coalition sued Paxton and Texas to block HB 1181, alleging a violation of the First Amendment. The high court sided with Texas.
