Rhode Island S.B. 2156 would make it illegal to sell or rent a video game rated M to anyone under 17 years old or a video game rated AO to anyone under 18. It would also make it illegal to sell or rent a “sexually explicit” or “violent” video game to a minor.
Louisiana H.B. 1259 would make it a crime to communicate with another person with the intent to coerce, abuse, intimidate, harass, frighten, embarrass or cause emotional distress.
Delaware H.B. 346 would criminalize viewing or possessing visual depictions of animal cruelty, if the act of cruelty is illegal under Delaware or federal law and if it lacks serious scientific, journalistic or political value.
Baltimore County Council Bill 50-10 would define a business as an “adult business” if 15 percent of stock and trade, floor space or revenue is derived from material that describes or depicts sexual activities.
Alaska H.B. 298 would bar any distribution of “indecent material” to a minor or someone the person believes is a minor. The existing state law’s definition of “indecent material” goes beyond the Miller/Ginsberg test. It is a companion bill to S.B. 222.
Massachusetts S.B. 997 would apply the state’s “harmful to minors” law to apply to the internet.
Alaska S.B. 222 would bar any distribution of “indecent material” to a minor or someone the person believes is a minor. The existing state law’s definition of “indecent material” goes beyond the Miller/Ginsberg test. It is a companion bill to H.B. 298.
The U.S. District Court struck down Alaska’s application of its “harmful to minors” law to electronically transmitted speech and the state’s “harmful to minors” law, declaring both an unconstitutional restriction on the free speech rights of adults.
