A NEW law in one US state will ban sex toys from retail stores such as Target and Walmart.
One newly-elected legislator wants to introduce the ruling limiting sales to erotic businesses, such as strip clubs and sex shops.
In Texas, a new law is being created to replace the one that was deemed unconstitutional. The previous law limited the number of sex toys that could be sold at once to six.
Representative Hillary Hickland, recently elected to represent District 55 in Texas, has proposed a bill that will introduce new limitations on the sale of offensive devices.
Bill HB 1549 will limit sales of such devices including vibrators to “sexually-oriented businesses,” such as sex shops and strip clubs.
Speaking in support of the bill, Hickland said the move was being done to protect children from exposure to such items.
According to Hickland, the aim of the new legislation is to protect children from being exposed to inappropriate content that they may not comprehend and that could potentially impact their growth and well-being.
The bill would affect major stores that currently sell sex toys, including CVS, Target, and Walmart.
“Allowing sexually explicit items in family-friendly stores takes away that right and places an undue burden on parents to guard their kids against inappropriate exposure in spaces meant for basic necessities like food and toiletries,” Hickland went on.
Hickland shared photos on social media of sex toys she found for sale at their local stores.
The Lone Star State has a previous when it comes to limiting or even banning sex toys.
In 1973, a law passed in the state banned the sale of sex toys anywhere in Texas.
This was updated and softened in 2003, allowing their sale, but making it a crime to own six or more devices.
But in 2008, this law was declared unconstitutional and revoked.
The new ban will go into effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority of the vote.
If it passes but with less than a super majority, the law will take effect on September 1, 2025.
Under the law, regular stores caught selling sex toys face punishing fines of up to $5,000 for each violation.
TEXAS SEX TOY LAW
What is Texas’ proposed HB 1549, restricting sex toy sales in the Lone Star State?
- Proposed Texas House Bill 1549 would restrict the sale of obscene devices, ie sex toys.
- Proposed by incoming Texas Rep. Hillary Hickland, the bill would limit the sale of “obscene” toys to sex shops and strip clubs.
- Stores found selling such items would be fined $5,000 for each violation.
- If the law passes with a two-thirds supermajority, it will go into effect immediately.
- If it passes but with less than a supermajority, it will go into effect from September 1, 2025.
Critics have slammed the law as a disproportionate response.
“This is such a grotesque display of misplaced priorities that it is disheartening,” Texas Senator Nathan Johnson told the Dallas Observer.
“I hope we get over this stuff real fast because the voters, including Republican primary voters, Democratic primary voters, every voter, really need us to perform our job.”
Even critics within the Republican party have come forward to slam the move.
Last month, under a tweet from Hickland pushing for the law, newly-elected Republican District Attorney Sarah Stogner responded on X, writing, “I see you’re still obsessed with dildos. Perhaps you should buy one and try it. Might make you less uptight.”
