Senate Bill 2307 and its companion House Bill 2055 would require that all state and state-funded facilities have internet computer and wireless access filters to block access to pornography sites.

The bills are part of the Women’s Legislative Caucus package.

“The legislature finds that today’s internet is full of pornographic content,” both bills state. “A simple web search leads to a plethora of results to both free and paid websites.”

State lawmakers want to prevent state workers and people using state facilities with WiFi from accessing online pornography. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The bills explain that porn “often involves women or children being coerced or treated brutally during sexual intercourse.”

There is also the concern that state facilities that provide free WiFi are also providing “unfettered access” to pornography “at taxpayer expense.”

Both bills note that the federal government requires all public schools and libraries getting federal funding to have such filters.

HB 2055, supported by 23 of the 51 House reps including men and members from both political parties, has not been scheduled for a hearing.

But SB 2037, supported by 19 of the 25 senators (including men but not the lone Republican), has a hearing set for Thursday.

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