Texas just turned into the UK: GOP House passes dystopian bill criminalizing memes...

Something deeply concerning is happening in Texas.

The state that once symbolized rustic, cowboy independence and unapologetic free speech is now on the verge of criminalizing memes. Yes, political memes could land you in jail for a year, thanks to the GOP-run Texas House.

They recently passed a dystopian bill called “HB 366.” It was introduced by Republican Rep. Dade Phelan, and it would criminalize certain political memes and altered media. Sounds like the UK, right? Well, under this law, if a piece of parody content doesn’t have the “government-issued disclaimer,” the person who shared it could face up to one year in jail. The supposed reason for this bill is to prevent election misinformation, but the language is so broad that it leaves the door wide open for abuse, which is probably the entire point.

The bill targets any altered video or image that makes it look like a politician said or did something they didn’t actually say or do. But that’s exactly what political memes are: commentary through parody or exaggeration.

Here’s a copy of the bill:

And don’t be fooled, this bill doesn’t protect democracy; it shuts down humor, satire, and free speech and keeps public officials from being mocked. What makes this even more disturbing is who would enforce it: The Texas Ethics Commission. Who are they? A group of politically connected elites who will decide amongst themselves if a meme is lawful or not.

What could go wrong?

A lot, actually…

We’ve already seen what happens when the government turns into the “meme police.” Just look at the case of Douglass Mackey, the American husband and father who was tried and convicted of “election interference” for posting a satirical anti-Hillary meme that laughingly suggested Hillary supporters could text their vote.

Revolver’s Darren Beattie, now serving in President Trump’s administration as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, spoke out on the Mackey case two years ago, breaking down what it was really about, and why it matters to every American.

Watch:

Douglass has also shared his story. He’s appealing the conviction and fighting not just for himself, but for every American’s right to post a meme without the fear of ending up in prison.

Mackey was sentenced to seven months in federal prison, even though not one single person’s voting rights were violated.

Here’s a copy of the meme:

Doug Mackey's lawyer tells jury client was 's---posting'

For many Americans, Doug’s conviction and the meme bill in Texas are starting to look a lot like what’s happening overseas. In the UK, a man was arrested at his home simply for posting a trans meme that allegedly caused someone anxiety. That kind of totally subjective/emotional policing of speech is what we would expect in some authoritarian regime, not Texas.

Irish Independent:

A video has shown the moment an Irishman was arrested at his home in Aldershot, England on Friday.
Darren Brady (51) who was born and bred in Dublin was detained after he reposted a photograph depicting a swastika made out of LGBTQ+ Pride flags.

In the video, he asks officers: “Why am I in cuffs?” to which one replies: “It didn’t have to come to this at all.”

Brady then responds: “Tell us why you escalated it to this level, because I don’t understand.”

To which the officer adds: “Someone has been caused anxiety based on your social media post. This is why you have been arrested.”

Here’s the meme that caused the arrest:

As you can see, we’re already seeing how the meme police are abusing their power with what’s happening in the UK and right here at home with Douglass Mackey’s case. Now, thanks to the RINOs in Texas, that dangerous door is being kicked wide open. And like always, it’s all being done under the left’s favorite slogan: protecting democracy.

Thankfully, not every Republican in Texas has lost the plot. Rep. David Lowe was one of the few who voted against the bill, calling it “dangerous.”

I was one of the few Republicans that voted AGAINST Rep Phelan’s “meme bill”, criminalizing free speech. This is a dangerous bill. pic.twitter.com/UCTDfHemxK

— David Lowe for Texas (@DavidLowe4Texas) April 30, 2025

Let’s pray the Texas Senate shoots this dystopian bill down.

Meanwhile, as RINOs in Texas work to criminalize satirical memes, Vice President JD Vance is sounding the alarm on the growing retreat of free speech.

Vice President JD Vance calls out the British government for punishing a man who prayed silently outside an abortion clinic:

"Free speech, I fear, is in retreat." pic.twitter.com/f9asJW94vO

— The American Conservative (@amconmag) February 14, 2025

Free speech isn’t just about protecting the words we like, it’s also about defending the stuff that make us uncomfortable. If we let fear, feelings, or political pressure decide what we’re allowed to say, this country is finished. And if Texas, the heart and soul of conservative America, loses its way, the entire Republican Party goes down with it.

It’s time to wake up and reclaim the Lone Star spirit before it’s too late.

We’ll leave you with this meme; it seems very fitting…