Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services Refuses to Answer Questions About Anti-Porn Law's Mandatory 'Warnings'

Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services Refuses to Answer Questions About Anti-Porn Law's Mandatory 'Warnings'

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has declined to confirm or deny whether the “health warnings” mandated by the state’s recent anti-porn age verification law are supported by any official documentation or statement produced by that office.

As XBIZ reported, the Republican-authored HB 1181 was passed by the Texas legislature with bipartisan support in May and will go into effect September 1.

The new Texas age verification law — part of a state-by-state campaign by religious conservatives and anti-porn activists to outlaw all sexual material online — compels adult websites to post pseudoscientific anti-porn propaganda disclaimers declaring that “pornography is potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses and weakens brain function.”

HB 1181 is a much-augmented version of Louisiana’s age verification law and its many copycats, and echoes the debunked “porn addiction” language of faith-based anti-porn groups.

XBIZ asked the Press Office of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services if the department could provide any documentation or statement pertaining to those warnings, and clarify whether the language of the warnings has its basis in any documentation or statement produced by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

After requesting several days to provide a reply to the query, Press Officer Tiffany Young declined to answer, deflecting the questions with an invitation to contact “the authors of this bill for information about how it originated.”

XBIZ also contacted Texas Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Kate Hendrix and the bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Matt Shaheen (R), but received no reply to the same questions.

Pseudoscientific 'Health Warnings' of Unclear Origin

HB 1181 would compel any website showing adult content to post the following pseudoscientific warnings:

"TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Pornography is potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses, and weakens brain function."

"TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Exposure to this content is associated with low self-esteem and body image, eating disorders, impaired brain development, and other emotional and mental illnesses."

"TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Pornography increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography.”

The warnings must be posted “in 14-point font or larger” on adult sites’ landing pages, as well as on any advertisements for adult sites.

The websites are also compelled by the state to post the phone number of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s help line. However, there is no scientific basis for the belief — largely promoted by religious anti-porn activists — that there is any biological equivalence between watching adult content and actual substance abuse. Nor is "porn addiction" listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the authoritative diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiatric Association. 

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile told XBIZ on Tuesday, “It’s shocking that the Department of Health and Human Services can provide no support, data or background for the pseudoscientific anti-porn warning that the state of Texas now requires to be posted on websites — in their name.”

Stabile added, “As we’ve long known, these warnings aren’t based on actual science or evidence, but on the moral and ideological objections of legislators. It speaks volumes that the Department will not defend the law in the slightest, and cannot explain where it came from.”

Earlier this month, FSC filed a legal challenge in Texas over HB 1181, and were joined as co-plaintiffs by an array of adult platforms and workers, including MG Premium, MG Freesites, Webgroup Czech Republic, NKL Associates, Sonesta Technologies, Sonesta Media, Yellow Production, Paper Street Media, Neptune Media, Mediame, Midus Holdings and Jane Doe, an adult content creator.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Adult Industry Educational, Networking Platform 'Imperfectly You' Launches

Imperfectly You, an educational and networking platform for adult industry workers, has officially launched.

Segpay to Launch News Network for High-Risk Merchants

Segpay has announced that it will launch the Segpay News Network (SNN) on April 15.

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Show More