This week, HB 1539 and SB 1692 have been assigned to committees. Please tell Representative Trabulsy, Representative Canady, and Senator Martin to hear in Committee these great bills.
State Senator Stan McClain and State Representative Doug Bankson filed (HB 1539 and SB 1692 respectively) that would protect children from obscene materials that harm their mental health.
A recent study concluded that exposing children to such material “can lead to exaggerated beliefs of sexual activity among peers, sexually permissible attitudes, and sexual callousness, including more negative attitudes toward sexual partners.”
Further, a 2023 study concluded that “stress, anxiety, and depression are strongly related to pornography consumption, and conflicting emotional experiences as well as identity problems significantly enhance vulnerability to addictive sexual behavior–related pornographic experiences."
We know by working with parents and concerned residents on the ground that school districts create difficult processes to determine how many objections someone can file. We also know that school districts use Part C of the Miller Test to argue that even when a book has content that violates educational law (F.S.1006.28), the books still have literary value based on Part C of the Miller Test, which is stated in Florida State Statute 847.001. Therefore, they argue that the book should still be kept on the shelves of public schools.
HB 1539 and SB 1692 would solve this issue.
It is critically important that the state of Florida protect children from the many effects of being exposed to material that will be harmful to their mental health. By making the necessary changes, Florida can build resilient children by protecting their mental health. We will also preserve the original intent of the Miller test and reduce the cost of medical expenses.
