The Republican-led Texas House has officially caved to the radical Left’s war on free speech—and shockingly, it’s being spearheaded by none other than the state’s own scandal-plagued former House Speaker Dade Phelan.
On Tuesday, House Bill 366 passed with bipartisan support, making it a potential crime in the state of Texas to share or distribute AI-generated and “altered media”—including political memes—without a government-approved disclaimer on political ads.
According to the bill:
“A person may not, with the intent to influence an election, knowingly cause to be published, distributed, or broadcast political advertising that includes an image, audio recording, or video recording of an officeholder’s or candidate’s appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur in reality, including an image, audio recording, or video recording that has been altered using generative artificial intelligence technology, unless the political advertising includes a disclosure from the person or another person on whose behalf the political advertising is published, distributed, or broadcast indicating that the image, audio recording, or video recording did not occur in reality.”
Let that sink in: Texas Republicans — yes, Republicans — are now trying to police memes.
The bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor for candidates, officeholders, or political committees to knowingly distribute political ads that use manipulated images, audio, or video—especially if created with generative AI—without an explicit disclosure that the content did not occur in reality. The law applies to any group spending over $100 on such materials and seeks to curb misleading media that could influence elections.
Under the bill, the Texas Ethics Commission will define the specific formatting for these required disclosures. However, media platforms and service providers like internet hosts, broadcasters, and billboard owners are exempt from liability.
If signed into law, the legislation will take effect on September 1, 2025.
WATCH:
BREAKINGThe Texas House passed a bill to CRIMINALIZE POLITICAL MEMES. House Bill 366 would LOCK UP ANYONE FOR A YEAR unless political memes or altered media have a gov disclaimer. Why is TEXAS DOING THIS?!
RINOS are destroying the state!
Follow: @Carlos__Turcios pic.twitter.com/hWQWoe4tlH
— Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) April 29, 2025
The final (unofficial) vote was 106 Yeas, 39 Nays, with 2 present but not voting and 2 absent. Many RINOs joined hands with the radical Left to push this disgraceful bill forward.
Today, the Texas House of Representatives passed RINO Dade Phelan’s bill to CRIMINALIZE political memes.
The bill would imprison people for 1 year if meme does not have a disclaimer.
I have no words. Here is the vote. pic.twitter.com/oEIMofhNYs
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) April 30, 2025
The bill, presented under the guise of protecting voters from “AI misinformation,” has ignited a firestorm of backlash from Texans. But the real reason for this unconstitutional stunt? According to many, it’s simple: Dade Phelan got his feelings hurt.
“Mr. Phelan’s hurt feelings about what was obviously a political meme… will throttle free discourse in all venues,” one retired commenter from College Station wrote in the public comments submitted to the Texas House Committee on State Affairs.
“This is the stupidest bill I have heard from a Republican in a while,” blasted another Texan. “Speech (and memes) should not be infringed. This is the road to totalitarianism.”
“1st Amendment is a RIGHT! Just because Phelan is a politician does NOT trump my rights as an American. He should be censured and then removed from office, for trying to subvert our Constitution! Away with him!” another wrote.
It can be recalled that in May 2023, Phelan oversaw the Texas House’s shocking vote to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton on 20 articles, including bogus charges of bribery and abuse of office.
The Gateway Pundit called it what it was — a politically motivated ambush against one of the most pro-Trump, America First officials in the country.
The evidence? There was none.
Paxton fought back. Just days before the vote, he called for Phelan’s resignation, accusing him of presiding over the House while intoxicated — a charge The Gateway Pundit amplified, calling him the “drunk Texas House Speaker.”
This is video from last night in the Texas House of Representatives where it appears that TX House Speaker Dade Phelan is either really drunk or having a stroke. pic.twitter.com/dbSG7AO30r
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 20, 2023
Paxton was fully acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 2023. Not one of the 16 articles passed. A total embarrassment for Phelan, who tried to play kingmaker and failed — badly.
In February 2024, the Texas GOP officially censured Phelan for his betrayal of Republican values and his role in the impeachment fiasco.
By December 2024, the pressure had become too much. Phelan withdrew from his role as House speaker.
This story originally appeared on TheGateWayPundit
