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Panel Clears Bill Clarifying Prohibition on Obscene Animal‑Abuse Material
Summary
Senator Vickers' SB72, which creates standalone statutory language clarifying that producing or distributing obscene animal‑abuse material (including certain "animal crushing" depictions that meet an obscenity test) is prosecutable, received a favorable committee recommendation after brief public comment and support from prosecutors.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB72, a bill sponsored by Senator Vickers that creates standalone statutory provisions clarifying that obscene material depicting sexual conduct involving animals and certain "animal crushing" depictions that meet the obscenity test are prohibited from production or distribution.
Vickers told the committee the existing law scattered prohibitions across statutes and the bill consolidates and clarifies the prohibitions for law‑enforcement use. He said the bill does not increase penalties except to include animal crushing within the obscenity prohibitions and that the provision must meet the constitutional obscenity test.
Public testimony supported the bill. Dan Strong of the sentencing commission said the commission reviewed the measure and voted to support it, describing the bill as largely clarifying existing law rather than creating new mandatory sentences. Carl Holland of the Statewide Association of Prosecutors urged support, noting federal precedent and the disturbing nature of the material. Daniel Neville Rabin of the Utah Library Association expressed concerns that, as written, the definitions could inadvertently affect school library access to serious literature and asked that literary and educational value be explicitly protected.
The committee voted to favorably recommend SB72 to the floor; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously (chair recorded 4–0).
