09/03/2026
There has been a lot of conversation about a “new law” involving children’s photos, so I wanted to clarify what actually changed.
Texas did not make it illegal to photograph children or share normal family, birthday, school, or sports photos.
Texas Senate Bills 20 and 1621, which took effect September 1, 2025, strengthened laws against AI-generated and digitally altered child sexual abuse material. These laws cover completely AI-generated material and situations where a real, recognizable child’s photo is used to create a sexualized image.
The laws are receiving renewed attention because of recent cases. In May 2026, Texas DPS reported that an accused individual allegedly downloaded children’s photos from publicly available South Texas school pages and used AI tools to alter them. Authorities identified more than 900 images and approximately 30 child victims.
This doesn’t mean we should stop capturing and sharing childhood memories. It means we should be more intentional about how children’s images are handled online.
For photographers, schools, teams, and businesses, that can include:
• Receiving clear parent or guardian permission before using images for marketing
• Offering private-gallery options
• Avoiding unnecessary identifying information
• Respecting families who choose not to have their children posted publicly
• Being cautious about uploading minors’ images into generative AI programs
At The Media Lair, I’m using this conversation to strengthen how I handle minors’ images and give families clearer choices regarding public sharing and private delivery.
We can preserve meaningful memories while still protecting the children in them.
This post is for general education and is not legal advice.
Sources: Texas Legislature — SB 20 and SB 1621; Texas Department of Public Safety; Federal Trade Commission.
