UPDATE (May 14): HB1375, the Texas bill that, if enacted, will authorize filing lawsuits against comic shops for selling graphic novels that anyone finds objectionable, made the House calendar at the last minute. This means that the bill will be considered tomorrow (Thursday, May 15) in what is likely to be a marathon session.
Public testimony will not be heard at this time, so if you are in Texas and do not want to see this bill passed, contact your local legislator!
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Suing comic shops for selling graphic novels & manga could become routine in Texas if House Bill 1375 (HB1375) becomes law.
There had been hope that the new version of HB1375, released today, would remove or significantly narrow this provision, but as you can see in the link & the images in this post, it remains.
One might think that HB1375 refers to material that’s obscene/harmful to minors would be a safe haven, and with respect to a guilty verdict, that’s possible for much of the material being challenged today. However, what many opposed to graphic novels & manga have realized is that winning in court can be irrelevant. Even a frivolous lawsuit can be expensive to fight, and being (mis)branded as a place dangerous for minors can be fatal for business.
In addition, as longtime members and supports @cbldf might recall, there is a history of comic art being found obscene in Texas that has not been found obscene anyway else — and then there’s this amazing restriction on prohibited defenses:
it would *not* be a defense from monetary liability under HB1375 for the same person accused under this statute to have been found not guilty under the criminal law from which HB1375 takes its definitions!
We @CBLDF will keep you posted on further developments, including any additional public hearings where those of you in Texas could be of help!
