Texas Law Bans Retail Sale of Sex Toys

Texas Representative Hillary Hickland has introduced a bill, HB 1549, aiming to ban the sale of sex toys in major retail stores like Target and Walmart, limiting sales to 'sexually-oriented businesses' such as sex shops and strip clubs. This legislation is a response to a previous law that restricted sales to six items at a time, which was deemed unconstitutional in 2008. Hickland argues the bill is necessary to protect children from exposure to explicit materials, stating that family-friendly stores should not carry such items. The proposed law would impose fines of up to $5,000 for violations and could take effect immediately with a two-thirds majority vote in the Texas House. Supporters, including fellow Republican Christin Bentley, echo the sentiment that the state has a compelling interest in protecting children from sexualization. The bill reflects ongoing cultural debates regarding the appropriateness of adult products in general retail environments.