New Texas Bill Could Require Photo ID to Buy Adult Toys Online — Yes, Really

Well folks, buckle up, because Texas might be fixin’ to make buying adult toys online much more complicated!

Senate Bill 3003, filed by Senator Angela Paxton—yes, that’s the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—would require online retailers to verify your age with a government-issued photo ID before you can buy any so-called “obscene device.” Translation: if you want to order a little something from the adult section of the internet, you’re going to need to flash your ID first.

And no, just having a credit card (which already requires you to be over 18) isn’t good enough. The bill says sites would have to use either direct photo ID uploads or third-party verification systems. Because apparently, your word just isn’t cutting it when it comes to adult toys in the Lone Star State.

For some, this feels like a throwback to a not-so-distant Texas where vibrators had to be labeled “personal massagers,” and stores couldn’t legally sell more than six of them. That’s not a joke. That’s an actual law still on the books—though it's pretty much unenforced.

Hallie Lieberman, a sex toy historian (yep, that’s a real and much-needed job) who sold products in Texas during the “six toy” era, said this new bill could send us right back there. “People will be calling vibrators back massagers again, and other adult toys will be marketed for medical purposes,” she told 404Media. “It’s like the 1930s all over again—only with Wi-Fi.”

She also warned of the privacy risks. Imagine uploading your ID to buy an adult toy... only for that purchase to end up linked to your name in a state where lawmakers have been cracking down on LGBTQ+ rights. “The government has no business tracking what consenting adults buy for their private lives,” Lieberman said. “This isn’t just about pleasure—it’s about safety and freedom.”

Oh, and in case you're wondering—Sen. Paxton’s bill includes Class A misdemeanor charges and fines up to $5,000 per violation for any seller who skips the ID check.

Stay tuned, y’all. Things are gettin’ real weird at the Capitol again.