Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of possession or promotion of child pornography.

HB 1653 amends Texas Penal Code Section 43.26 to clarify that possessing or promoting child pornography requires the person to knowingly or intentionally possess such material depicting a child under 18 in sexual conduct. It also updates court procedures (Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 38.45 and 39.15) to restrict public access to child pornography evidence during trials while allowing limited discovery for legal proceedings. The bill specifically targets cases involving visual material depicting minors, requiring proof that the defendant knew the material depicted a child. These changes apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects prosecutors, courts, and defendants in child pornography cases by tightening the legal definition and standard evidence handling.