HF 2309: Relating to public library requirements for materials harmful to minors, and providing civil and criminal penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions

What it does

This bill relates to public library requirements for materials harmful to minors. The bill defines “adult section”, “disseminate”, “library employee”, “material harmful to minors”, “parent”, “parental consent”, “presumptively harmful material”, “public library”, “restricted access”, and “sexual contact”. The bill eliminates an exemption to Code chapter 728 (obscenity) for use of appropriate material for education purposes by a public library program in which a minor is participating. The bill prohibits a public library from disseminating material harmful to minors to a minor unless the library has obtained parental consent authorizing the minor’s access to the material harmful to minors.

House subcommittee · named February 11, 2026

• Rep. Charley Thomson (R) · charley.thomson@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Samantha Fett (R) · samantha.fett@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Dr. Megan L. Srinivas (D) · megan.srinivas@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 7 for, 19 against

For: Anita Fischer - Personal Interest; Inspired Life; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Protect My Innocence; Rick Phillips; VALOR Iowa

Against: Bitches Get Stuff Done; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa League of Cities; Iowa Library Association (ILA); Iowa State Education Association; League of Women Voters of Iowa; One Iowa; and 7 more

In plain words

1. February 6, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. February 11, 2026House subcommittee named: Thomson, C., Fett and Srinivas
3. February 12, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it