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House debate narrows library internet bill; amendment would require libraries to 'adopt and enforce' policies restricting minors' access
Summary
After extended debate, lawmakers amended HB157 to require public libraries to adopt and enforce policies restricting minors' on-site access to sexually explicit online material; members raised concerns about enforcement costs for small libraries and vague definitions of 'obscenity.' Final floor vote on the amended bill is not recorded in the provided transcript.
Representative Lionel Snow, sponsor of House Bill 157, told the House that the bill aims to curb minors’ access to sexually explicit material through public-library Internet terminals and to protect youths from what he described as an emerging and aggressive online adult-entertainment market. Snow argued the measure would not cost the state and cited committee testimony that libraries could use the public-education filtering software already in use in schools.
The measure drew sustained questioning from lawmakers worried about local costs, enforcement burden and vagueness. Representative King said the bill’s enforcement language could expose…
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