SF 2176: Relating to obscenity, including the exposure of a minor to an obscene performance and admittance of a minor to a premises with obscene performances, establishing a private civil cause of action, and providing penalties

What it does

This bill relates to obscenity, including the exposure of a minor to an obscene performance and admittance of a minor to a premises with obscene performances, and establishes a private civil cause of action. The bill defines “obscene performance” as a visual performance by a person, whether compensated or uncompensated, that exposes the person’s genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast, including prosthetics and artificial sexual organs or substitutes therefor, or involves the person engaging in a sex act, masturbation, excretory function, or sadomasochistic abuse, which the average person, viewing the performance as a whole and applying contemporary community standards with respect to what is suitable to be viewed by minors, would find appeals to the prurient interest and is patently offensive, and the performance taken as a whole lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.

Senate subcommittee · named February 1, 2024

• Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R) · cherielynn.westrich@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Mike Klimesh (R) · mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Janice Weiner (D) · janice.weiner@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 6 for, 3 against

For: Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Protect My Innocence; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: One Iowa; One Iowa Action; Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa

In plain words

1. January 31, 2024Filed in the Senate and sent to the Local Government committee
2. February 1, 2024Senate subcommittee named: Westrich, Klimesh and Weiner
3. February 7, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes