Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll: Texas Penal Code §43.231

The Texas Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you promoted or possessed a child-like sex doll intended for sexual stimulation or gratification.

This offense is codified in Chapter 43 of the Penal Code at Section 43.231 alongside other public-indecency offenses. The statute defines “child-like sex doll” as an obscene, anatomically correct doll, mannequin, or robot that has the “features of a child” and is intended for sexual stimulation or gratification.

The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies prospectively. It also creates a presumption of intent to promote if a person possesses two or more child-like sex dolls. There is a limited affirmative defense for bona fide law-enforcement purposes.

The Penal Code classifies the Texas Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll law under Title 9 “Offenses Against Public Order and Decency,” Chapter 43 “Public Indecency.” These “public indecency” crimes are sex crimes, but they are not of a violent or assaultive nature. Learn more about the Texas offense of Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll below.

What is the current Texas law about Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll?

AV Preeminent Texas lawyer Paul Saputo provides the current law defining Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll in Penal Code Section §43.231, as follows:^[1]

(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:

(1) promotes a child-like sex doll;

(2) possesses, with the intent to promote, a child-like sex doll; or

(3) possesses a child-like sex doll.

The law creates three prohibited acts: promoting a child-like sex doll, possessing a child-like sex doll with intent to promote, and possessing a child-like sex doll.^[2]

Possessing two or more child-like sex dolls triggers a statutory presumption that the person possesses them with the intent to promote them, which the defense may rebut with evidence to the contrary.^[3]

The statute also recognizes an affirmative defense when the person possesses or promotes a child-like sex doll for a bona fide law-enforcement purpose.^[4]

This law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.^[5]

What is the penalty for a Texas Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll offense?

Promoting a child-like sex doll, prosecuted under subsection (b)(1), is a felony of the second degree.^[6] The punishment range for a second-degree felony is two to 20 years in prison and an optional fine up to $10,000.^[7]

Possessing a child-like sex doll with intent to promote, prosecuted under subsection (b)(2), is a felony of the third degree.^[8] The punishment range for a third-degree felony is two to 10 years in prison and an optional fine up to $10,000.^[9]

Possessing a child-like sex doll, prosecuted under subsection (b)(3), is a state jail felony.^[10] The punishment range for a state jail felony is 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and an optional fine up to $10,000.^[11]

There is a statutory presumption of intent to promote if a person possesses two or more child-like sex dolls, and a limited affirmative defense for bona fide law-enforcement purposes.^[12]

What counts as promoting a child-like sex doll?

Texas law uses a broad definition of “promote,” which includes making, issuing, selling, giving, providing, lending, mailing, delivering, transferring, transmitting, publishing, distributing, circulating, disseminating, presenting, exhibiting, or advertising a child-like sex doll, and if you possess two or more, the law presumes you intended to promote them.^[13]

What does child-like sex doll mean under Texas law?

Texas defines a “child-like sex doll” as an obscene, anatomically correct doll, mannequin, or robot that has the features of a child and is intended to be used for sexual stimulation or gratification.^[14] The term “obscene” has a technical definition under the law in Chapter 43.^[15]

Is it a crime to simply possess one for personal use?

Yes. Possessing a single child-like sex doll is a state jail felony.^[16] A narrow affirmative defense exists only for bona fide law-enforcement purposes.^[17]

How can I be charged with a Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll offense in Texas?

You can be charged with Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll in Texas if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of §43.231(b), as described in the section above, have been met.

What is the statute of limitations for Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll in Texas?

Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll offenses have a three-year limitations period.^[18]

Can you get probation for Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll in Texas?

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.^[19]

Note, however, that no matter the offense, neither judges nor juries may recommend community supervision for any suspended sentence of over 10 years.^[20] Also, judges may not grant community supervision after a conviction if (1) the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the felony or immediate flight thereafter and (2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon himself or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.^[21]

Do I have to register as a sex offender in Texas if guilty of Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll?

The Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll offense does not appear on the list of offenses requiring registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.^[22]

However, the legislature can add this offense to the list at any time. If that happens, people convicted of Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll would have to register, even if the offense did not appear on the list at the time they accepted a deferred adjudication plea (even if later dismissed), pled guilty or were found guilty.

What level of crime is Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll in Texas?

The Penal Code classifies the punishment for Promotion or Possession of Child-like Sex Doll as a second-degree felony for promotion, a third-degree felony for possession with intent to promote, or a state jail felony for possession, depending on which subsection applies.

Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §43.231. This law is current as of 2025.^2. Texas Penal Code §43.231(b), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^3. Texas Penal Code §43.231(f)^4. Texas Penal Code §43.231(g)^5. HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 2^6. Texas Penal Code §43.231(c), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^7. Texas Penal Code §12.33^8. Texas Penal Code §43.231(d), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^9. Texas Penal Code §12.34^10. Texas Penal Code §43.231(e), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^11. Texas Penal Code §12.35^12. Texas Penal Code §43.231(f)–(g), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^13. Texas Penal Code §43.21(a)(5), and Texas Penal Code §43.231(b), (f), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^14. Texas Penal Code §43.231(a)(1), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^15. Texas Penal Code §43.21(a)(1)^16. Texas Penal Code §43.231(b)(3), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^17. Texas Penal Code §43.231(g), as enacted by HB 1443, 89th Legislature (RS), Section 1^18. See Code of Criminal Procedure §12.01(11)^19. See Chapter 42A, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102^20. Art. 42A.053(c), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure^21. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure^22. Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 62.001