Idaho Republicans Split About Proposed Porn Filter Mandate

Idaho Republicans Split About Proposed Porn Filter Mandate

BOISE, Idaho — Debate in the Idaho state Senate this week, over a copycat bill that would require device manufacturers to enable "pornography filters" on devices used by minors, divided members of the Republican supermajority, 12 of whom voted against the measure.

SB 1253, introduced by Republican Sen. Kevin Cook, still passed 23-12, with 16 Republicans voting in favor, plus the support of all seven Democratic senators. The bill then headed to the state House for consideration.

During the debate, Republican Sen. Dan Foreman said he “appreciated the intent but thought that the bill amounted to government overreach, which he saw as more harmful than the potential exposure to pornographic materials,” the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.

Foreman added that it is “up to parents” to decide whether or not to use filters for their children’s devices.

Some of the Republican senators expressed similar concerns about the government regulating the private sector, while others said anti-porn laws should not go after tech manufacturers but instead go after “the content creators themselves,” the newspaper reported.

Republican Sen. Scott Herndon opined, “I think there’s a disconnect between the problem and who we’re looking to hold accountable for the problem.”

Cook, who unsuccessfully tried to pass a similar bill in 2023, explained that “when he was a kid, pornography was usually distributed through magazines and it was behind a sealed bag as a barrier,” the Moscow-Pullman Daily News noted.

“What kind of barrier do we have on our mobile devices?” Cook asked his fellow senators.

Backing Cook and his bill, Republican Sen. Van Burtenshaw compared the porn filter mandate to other bills targeting supposed pornographic materials in libraries.

“If I was going to look at pornography, I wouldn’t go to the library, I would go on my cellphone,” Burtenshaw shared.

As XBIZ reported, the Idaho House is also currently considering the state’s copycat version of the age verification legislation being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Speaking in support of the bill, main sponsor Rep. Elaine Price (R) said last month, “We have a constitutional duty to protect virtue and sobriety and promote temperance and morality.”

The language of “sobriety” and “temperance” has not been part of mainstream constitutional debate since the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933, after the complete failure of its blanket alcohol prohibition. Price's use of the terms appears to be an explicit reference to Article III, Section 24 of Idaho’s constitution, written in 1889, which reads, “The first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people, and the purity of the home. The legislature should further all wise and well directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality.”

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Miami Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Miami, the latest edition of the adult industry’s premier creator conference, set to take place May 19-22 at the Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hotel in South Beach.

AV Bulletin: Arizona's About-Face, What New Laws Mean for Adult

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the United States. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, the U.K. and the EU are moving ahead with their own AV mandates and strategies, and legal challenges continue to play out in U.S. courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

Million Billion Media Launches New Website

Management and PR agency Million Billion Media (MBM) has launched a new website.

'Neon Nightswim' Party Returns to XBIZ Miami

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the annual Neon Nightswim Pool Party will once again illuminate XBIZ Miami on Tuesday, May 20.

FSC Addresses UK Age Verification Guidelines

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an article offering guidance on the U.K.'s Online Safety Act and the various guidelines put forward by the country's telecommunications regulator Ofcom.The article follows:

European Commission Posts AV Guidelines, Seeks Feedback

The European Commission has made public its draft guidelines on protecting minors online under the Digital Services Act, including age verification requirements covering adult sites and platforms.

'White-Hot' Party Set to Kick Off XBIZ Miami

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the annual White-Hot Party, the official opening bash of XBIZ Miami, is set for Monday, May 19, at Mynt Lounge in South Beach.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for March, April

AEBN has announced the top search terms for March and April from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Takedown Piracy Adds 'Search Max' Feature

Takedown Piracy has launched Search Max, a search engine for detecting, verifying, and removing Google infringements.

Sex Workers' Group Fights Proposed Swedish Ban on 'Remote' Sexual Services

The European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA) has launched a campaign against a Swedish government proposal to expand current laws against purchasing sexual services to apply to acts performed remotely by cammers, streamers and custom content creators.

Show More