Iowa House Bill HF2239

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/24
• Engrossed: 2/26/24
• Refer: 2/27/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and providing penalties.(Formerly HF 2046.)

Impact

If enacted, HF2239 would change the legal consequences associated with distributing obscene content to minors. The bills would increase the punishment framework from a serious misdemeanor—punishable by up to one year of confinement and fines between $430 and $2,560—to an aggravated misdemeanor, which carries a maximum prison sentence of two years and fines ranging from $855 to $8,540. This change reflects a legislative intent to deter the dissemination of unsuitable content to young audiences more effectively.

Summary

House File 2239 seeks to amend existing legislation concerning the dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors in the state of Iowa. The bill proposes to increase the penalties for individuals, other than parents or guardians, who knowingly exhibit or disseminate such material to minors. Under current law, these offenses are categorized as serious misdemeanors, which are less severe in nature. The new legislation intends to upgrade these offenses to aggravated misdemeanors, thereby imposing harsher penalties for violators.

Register

The bill also stipulates that violations of these new statutes would be classified as tier I sex offenses. Individuals convicted under this bill would be required to register as sex offenders for a period of 10 years, underlining the seriousness with which the state addresses the issue of disseminating obscene material to minors. This registration could have lasting impacts on individuals' lives, affecting employment and social standing.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HF2239 include concerns about its broader implications on free expression and the potential for overreach in policing content deemed 'obscene'. Critics might argue that elevating the severity of penalties could lead to unintended consequences, such as discouraging age-appropriate content or imposing restrictions that could infringe on artistic liberties. Additionally, advocates for minors’ protection may emphasize the necessity of stricter penalties in an era of easily accessible digital content that could harm young users.