Librarians who work in public school or government-run libraries could face a felony charge if they recommend a book or media that contains sexually explicit content to a minor — including anything that depicts "sexual conduct, sexual excitement or ultimate sexual acts" — under a proposed Arizona bill.
Republican Sen. David Farnsworth supports Senate Bill 1435.
"My wife and I absolutely forbid our children from reading those horrible Judy Blume books," he said. "And because we didn’t clean up our society back then, then we have to deal with absolutely horrific things today."
Democratic Sen. Lauren Kuby opposed the measure, saying the bill criminalizes librarians and educators with a threat of two and half years in jail.
The bill passed out of committee on Wednesday and now must pass a vote of the full Senate.
-
Andy Biggs, Republican congressman and gubernatorial candidate, says he wants to get Arizona’s desalination plant in Yuma up and running.
-
Rep. Andy Biggs has a track record of supporting checks on a president’s ability to engage in war activities, but he said President Donald Trump’s actions in Iran are above board.
-
A majority of state senators want to ask voters to double their pay, with the claim that Arizonans may get a better, or at least broader, choice of people to represent them.
-
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly said he believes the culture at the Department of Defense and a disregard for traditional military safeguards contributed to a missile strike on an Iranian girls' school.
-
The bill would eliminate income tax for people who make less than $46,000 a year.