Sponsors (29)
The bill modernizes and clarifies obscenity-related statutory language for regulators and private actors, at the potential cost of narrowing prohibitions (by removing 'indecent') and creating some enforcement uncertainty at the border.
Publishers, distributors, postal regulators, internet platforms, and law enforcement will have clearer, updated statutory language and cross-references (including internet-era definitions) that reduce ambiguity about which materials are prohibited.
Parents and Americans who oppose exposure to sexually explicit material may see increased access to some content because removing the word 'indecent' can narrow prohibitions and make certain materials harder to regulate.
Customs officials and taxpayers may face uncertainty about which imported materials can be seized or refused entry because changes to importation and tariff language could complicate enforcement and adjudication at the border.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Rewrites statutory language in federal criminal and customs law to remove certain references to "indecent," revise descriptions of obscene material, and update cross-references.
Amends federal criminal and customs statutes to change wording about obscene and indecent materials. The bill removes certain references to “indecent” material, rewrites phrases that describe prohibited obscene materials, and updates cross-references to another federal statute, affecting how the laws describe and target material carried in mail, interstate commerce, and imports. Changes are technical and textual: no new agencies, funding, deadlines, or explicit penalties are added. The main effect is to alter statutory language that guides enforcement and interpretation of laws on obscene and related materials.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Tina Smith · Last progress March 11, 2025