A Utah lawmaker proposed a bill this week that would enforce a tax on porn sites operating within the state, reigniting debates about free speech, the adult entertainment industry, and the role of government in regulating online content. State Senator Calvin Musselman, a Republican, introduced the bill, which would impose a 7 percent tax on total receipts from sales, distributions, memberships, subscriptions, performances, and content considered harmful to minors that is produced, sold, filmed, generated, or otherwise based in Utah.
If passed, the bill would take effect in May and require adult sites to pay a $500 annual fee to the State Tax Commission. According to the legislation, the revenue generated from the tax would be allocated to Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to bolster mental health support for teenagers. Musselman did not respond to requests for comment.
The proposed tax comes amid a broader national conversation about age-verification laws and their impact on the adult industry and online free speech. As age-verification laws continue to dismantle the adult industry and determine the future of free speech on the internet, a new age of American conservatism commands the political arena, and more US lawmakers are calling for additional restrictions on adult content. In September, Alabama became the first state to require age verification for accessing adult content online.
The move by Utah lawmakers reflects a growing trend among conservative politicians to regulate adult content more stringently. Alabama became the first state to require age verification for accessing adult content online in September.
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