• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, April 1, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Iowa House bill requiring internet filters on devices used by minors stalls

An Iowa House bill holding smartphone and tablet manufacturers liable if internet filters on devices activated by minors is not enabled is dead for the session.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
February 18, 2022
in State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Iowa House bill requiring internet filters on devices used by minors stalls

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels.

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Iowa House bill, HF 2066, would hold manufacturers of smartphones or tablets liable if they did not enable an internet filter on devices activated by minors within the state. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, stalled in the Iowa House Judiciary Committee. 

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds names Mary Mosiman as head of Iowa Dept. of Revenue

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

The bill passed out of a subcommittee consisting of State Reps. On Monday, Skyler Wheeler, R-Orange City, Salmon, and Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, with Wheeler and Salmon supporting the bill.

The bill was initially on the Iowa House Judiciary Committee agenda for Wednesday, but it dropped off, and the committee meeting scheduled for Thursday was canceled. This week marks the first funnel deadline for non-appropriation or tax policy bills to be passed out of a committee to be still considered during the session.

The bill provides that smartphone and tablet manufacturers are liable to minors who live in the state who use their device to access pornography if the device is activated in the state and if, upon activation, the device does not enable a filter. However, the bill states that liability does not extend to manufacturers who make a reasonable effort to enable an internet filter following the bill’s language.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill also allows a class action lawsuit and that a court, upon liability being found, may order civil penalties not to exceed $5000 per violation with a cap at $50,000. The bill enables a civil action to be brought by the Attorney General of Iowa or a private individual. 

The bill would not take effect until five additional states enacted a similar law. If that condition is not met, the bill, if it had become law, would be automatically repealed effective January 31, 2031. 

Groups supporting the bill include the Iowa Catholic Conference and The FAMiLY Leader. 

The Motion Picture Association was the only group registered in opposition to the bill.

Tags: 2022 Iowa Legislative Session89th General AssemblyAttorney General of Iowainternet filteringIowa House Judiciary CommitteepornographySandy SalmonSkyler Wheelersmartphonestabletswireless devices
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Nineteen companies received $36.2 million in refundable tax credits from Iowa

Next Post

Hendrickson: Tax rates matter!

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

Reynolds Appoints Two Judges to District Court Bench
State Government

Bird sues ATF over rule requiring registration of guns with pistol brace attachment

February 10, 2023
Bird Says She Will Challenge Tom Miller for Attorney General
State Government

Bird joins lawsuit against Biden Administration’s Parole Action

January 25, 2023
Bird Says She Will Challenge Tom Miller for Attorney General
State Government

Bird tackles campaign promises during first day as Attorney General

January 3, 2023
Iowa Attorney General-elect Bird announces Chief Deputy Sam Langholz
State Government

Iowa Attorney General-elect Bird announces Chief Deputy Sam Langholz

November 28, 2022
Bird Says She Will Challenge Tom Miller for Attorney General
State Government

Bird announces Attorney General transition website

November 18, 2022
black samsung tablet on google page
State Government

Iowa to receive $6.17 million from Google settlement over location tracking practices

November 15, 2022
Next Post
Group Pushes for Tax Cuts with Iowa’s Projected Revenue Growth

Hendrickson: Tax rates matter!

Reynolds Launches New Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship

Reynolds to give Republican response to State of the Union Address

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Miller-Meeks Bill to Support DHS Workforce Passes House

Miller-Meeks Bill to Support DHS Workforce Passes House

July 21, 2021
Iowa House Speaker Grassley Reflects on 2021 Session

Iowa House Speaker Grassley Reflects on 2021 Session

June 10, 2021
Celebrate Iowa History Month beginning March 1

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Awards $2.3 million

July 9, 2021

Popular Stories

  • text

    Peters, Schuster & Zemanek: Enough is enough, Tamara Scott

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Vivek Ramaswamy launches first ad of presidential campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hinson: Let’s commit to enacting policies that matter most to farmers

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Feenstra: Main Street America can benefit from quantum computing

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.