HB 2444

Hickland Harmful Communication Bill Adds An Offense Prosecutors Can Stack

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

Why it's charged

Already a crime

THE TEXT

“If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill expects overlap with existing offenses. Based on general knowledge, the Penal Code already covers harmful material given to minors and sexually explicit online communication with minors, so part of this conduct is already an offense, though spoken words may be new ground.

Already a crime

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the creation of the criminal offense of harmful communication to a minor.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Class A misdemeanor for speech or writing. Prosecute under it, “the other law, or both.”

The bill creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense for an adult who tells a minor, in speech or writing, explicit and detailed descriptions of sexual conduct, sexual excitement, physical torture or brutality that are harmful to minors. It touches any adult who talks or writes to someone under 18, if the adult knows or reasonably should know the listener is a minor and the content meets a three-part harmful-to-minors test. Starting September 1, 2025, prosecutors gain a new misdemeanor charge for this kind of speech, which they can stack with any other law that covers the same conduct.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 5, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2444 · 2025-02-05

SOLD BY

Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

ITEM

relating to the creation of the criminal offense of harmful communication to a minor.

WHAT IT DOES

Class A misdemeanor for speech or writing. Prosecute under it, “the other law, or both.”

CHARGES

[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Feb 5, 2025Filed
Mar 17, 2025Read first time
Mar 17, 2025Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
Mar 25, 2025Referred directly to subcommittee by chair

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“"Communication" means any verbal or written communication.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill makes certain spoken or written words to a minor a criminal offense, which regulates what Texans can say.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Hillary Hickland

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$135K Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310,226.49

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $260,226.49
Total: $310,226.49

mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$135,152.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $125,152.00
Total: $135,152.00

canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $260,226.49
Total: $310,226.49

mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $125,152.00
Total: $135,152.00

canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 5, 2025

03/25/2025 H Referred directly to subcommittee by chair

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual

Criminal Procedure--General

Minors--Crimes Against

Text

The text as introduced · 315 words

89R8406 JCG-D

By: Hickland
H.B. No. 2444

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the criminal offense of harmful

communication to a minor.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Penal Code, is amended

by adding Section 43.245 to read as follows:

Sec. 43.245. HARMFUL COMMUNICATION TO MINOR. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Communication" means any verbal or written

communication.

(2) "Minor" means an individual younger than 18 years

of age.

(3) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by

Section 43.25.

(4) "Sexual excitement" means male or female human

genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(b) A person who is 18 years of age or older commits an

offense if:

(1) the person communicates to a minor explicit and

detailed descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual conduct,

sexual excitement, physical torture, or brutality;

(2) the person knows or reasonably should know that

the individual to whom the communication is made is a minor; and

(3) the communication is harmful to minors.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), a communication is

harmful to minors if the dominant theme of the communication taken

as a whole:

(1) appeals to the prurient interest of a minor, in

sex, nudity, or excretion;

(2) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in

the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for

minors; and

(3) is utterly without redeeming social value for

minors.

(d) The affirmative defenses provided by Section 22.011(e)

also apply to a prosecution under this section.

(e) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(f) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this

section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor

may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.