The bill amends Section 728.2 of the Iowa Code to increase the penalties for the dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors. Under current law, individuals, excluding parents or guardians, who knowingly disseminate or exhibit such material to minors are guilty of a serious misdemeanor. The proposed change reclassifies this offense as a class D felony, which carries a more severe punishment of up to five years of confinement and fines ranging from $1,025 to $10,245.

Additionally, the bill maintains that a violation of this section is classified as a tier I sex offense, requiring individuals convicted of this crime to register as sex offenders for a period of ten years. This legislative change aims to strengthen the legal repercussions for those who expose minors to obscene material, thereby enhancing protections for youth in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 728.2