Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

SB 747 seeks to update Texas Education Code provisions related to student discipline and anti-cyberbullying efforts in response to the growing misuse of intimate visual materials, particularly those created or altered with artificial intelligence (AI). The bill expands the grounds for disciplinary action in schools to include the production, distribution, or threat to release intimate visual content of another student—regardless of whether the material is real or AI-generated—without that person’s consent.

Specifically, SB 747 amends Section 37.0052 of the Education Code to authorize a student’s removal to a disciplinary alternative education program or expulsion for releasing or threatening to release such material. It also revises Section 37.0832 to broaden the definition of “cyberbullying” to include the dissemination of intimate images or videos, whether created digitally or using AI. Additionally, terms like “intimate parts” and “sexual conduct” are cross-referenced to definitions already established in Section 21.16 of the Penal Code, ensuring legal clarity.

The bill requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to update minimum standards for district anti-bullying policies to address incidents involving AI-generated visual content. These policies must also promote school-based prevention strategies, student reporting, anonymous tip mechanisms, and the creation of campus-level anti-bullying committees. Furthermore, SB 747 mandates the development of educational programs—designed in consultation with the Attorney General's office—that inform students about the legal, social, and personal consequences of sharing such content. These include risks related to criminal penalties, relationship harm, and long-term digital exposure.

Overall, the legislation aims to modernize the state’s approach to cyberbullying by addressing emerging threats posed by technology while reinforcing a preventative and educational framework within schools. It reflects a shift toward proactive measures that promote accountability, consent, and student well-being in the digital age.

The originally filed version of Senate Bill 747 and the Committee Substitute both seek to address the growing issue of the creation and distribution of intimate visual material by students, especially material generated through artificial intelligence. While the core structure and intent of both versions remain aligned, the Committee Substitute makes several notable refinements and expansions to the original bill.

First, the originally filed bill already introduced the key policy mechanisms: amending Section 37.0052 of the Education Code to allow for student disciplinary actions when a student releases or threatens to release intimate visual material, including AI-generated content, without consent. It also defined such behavior as a form of cyberbullying and required the Texas Education Agency to update anti-bullying policy standards to reflect this technology-enabled conduct. These provisions remain intact in the Committee Substitute, showing continuity in the bill’s foundational components.

However, the Committee Substitute introduces several nuanced improvements. For example, it places additional emphasis on incorporating “intimate visual material created using artificial intelligence technology” in various contexts where it was previously only implied. The substitute also sharpens language related to district responsibilities, such as requiring district-level anti-bullying policies to include specific responses to incidents involving AI-generated intimate content. These additions create greater clarity for implementation and accountability within schools.

Moreover, the Committee Substitute likely includes conforming amendments or, more precisely, delineates responsibilities for the Texas Education Agency, which may have been generalized in the filed version. Though both versions call for collaboration with the Attorney General’s office to develop student education programs, the Committee Substitute may further define content expectations or rollout mechanisms, although the two versions are closely aligned in Section 37.218.

In essence, the Committee Substitute for SB 747 builds upon the originally filed bill with more deliberate language and implementation guidance. It improves clarity, ensures enforceability, and better aligns with legislative drafting standards without changing the overall scope or intent of the legislation.

Author (1)

Phil King

Co-Author (4)

Adam Hinojosa

Mayes Middleton

Angela Paxton

Royce West

Sponsor (1)

Giovanni Capriglione

Contact the Author

Sen. Phil King

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0110

Capitol Office:

CAP GE.5

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 747 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The LBB states that any associated costs related to the bill's implementation—such as updating bullying prevention policies, integrating artificial intelligence-related training, and producing educational materials—can be absorbed within existing resources at the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

At the local level, school districts will be required to update their anti-bullying policies, provide instruction on the harms of distributing intimate visual material (including AI-generated content), and possibly develop campus-level initiatives for bullying prevention. However, the LBB anticipates no significant fiscal impact on local governments or school districts. This suggests that either the required updates are minimal or can be integrated into current policy cycles and instructional programs without additional funding or personnel.

Overall, the bill's provisions are structured to enhance existing frameworks rather than introduce entirely new systems or programs. The fiscal note affirms that both the TEA and local districts have sufficient flexibility and capacity within current budget and staffing levels to accommodate the bill’s requirements. This fiscal neutrality enhances the bill’s feasibility and attractiveness from a policy implementation perspective.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 747 strengthens the Texas Education Code’s framework for combating cyberbullying by explicitly addressing the use of artificial intelligence in the creation and distribution of intimate visual material among public school students. The bill reinforces student safety, ensures disciplinary clarity, and expands preventative education, all while avoiding new rulemaking mandates or significant costs to state or local governments.

The bill aligns with core liberty principles. It protects individual liberty by safeguarding students’ right to privacy and dignity, especially in digital spaces. By clearly stating that AI-generated depictions of intimate conduct are subject to disciplinary action, the bill fills a regulatory gap and reaffirms the principle that consent governs the use of one’s likeness. The legislation also affirms personal responsibility by holding students accountable for harmful behavior, particularly as technology makes the creation of realistic false images easier.

The substitute version improves upon the original by clarifying language and ensuring consistency across sections, particularly in Section 37.218, which deals with education programs developed in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General. These programs are required to address not only traditional risks but also the unique threats posed by AI-enhanced visual content. This demonstrates the bill’s forward-looking approach and its effort to remain technologically relevant.

From a fiscal and governance standpoint, SB 747 respects the principle of limited government. The Legislative Budget Board’s fiscal note confirms that the bill’s implementation can be absorbed by the Texas Education Agency and school districts without requiring new appropriations or administrative expansion. Overall, this bill is a practical, measured response to a growing problem, and its focus on student protection, digital responsibility, and modernized policy frameworks are why Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 747.

Individual Liberty: This bill strongly upholds individual liberty by protecting students' rights to privacy and personal dignity. By prohibiting the nonconsensual distribution or creation of intimate visual content—particularly content manipulated with artificial intelligence—it defends the autonomy of students over their image and body. Including AI-generated material ensures that students are protected from false or exploitative depictions that can be just as harmful as real ones. By codifying protections against the use of intimate images in bullying—especially in ways that can lead to long-term psychological harm or reputational damage—SB 747 recognizes and defends students’ right to exist safely and respectfully in both physical and digital spaces.

Personal Responsibility: The bill reinforces the principle that individuals must take responsibility for their actions. It holds students accountable for producing, sharing, or threatening to release intimate visual content of others. It also mandates education programs that highlight not just the legal consequences but also the personal, social, and emotional impacts of this behavior. This ensures that students are equipped with the knowledge needed to make responsible decisions in a digital environment. By requiring that school policies address this specific form of cyberbullying and its technological aspects, the bill teaches that misuse of technology—especially in ways that harm others—carries real-world consequences.

Free Enterprise: The bill does not directly affect business or economic liberty. However, its provisions may indirectly promote innovation in educational technology, privacy tools, and school safety software by heightening awareness around the misuse of AI and digital content.

Private Property Rights: Although the bill does not explicitly address traditional property rights, it intersects conceptually with the idea that individuals "own" their likeness and image. By outlawing the unauthorized use of someone's intimate likeness—even when AI-generated—the bill reinforces a modern extension of self-ownership and consent.

Limited Government: The bill carefully balances state oversight with local discretion. It does not impose a new bureaucracy or grant new rulemaking authority; instead, it directs the Texas Education Agency to update minimum standards within existing policy frameworks. The bill leverages existing statutory authority (e.g., Education Code Sections 37.0052, 37.0832, and 37.218) and relies on cooperation with the Texas School Safety Center and Attorney General’s Office to expand programs without expanding government. Moreover, the Legislative Budget Board found no significant fiscal impact to the state or local governments, showing that the bill is fiscally restrained and aligns with principles of efficient governance.

View Bill Text and Status