Will the Arkansas House of Representatives allow the sexualization of children through the children having access to pornography?
SB66 was filed to protect children from accessing pornography. This includes requiring reasonable age verification before accessing a pornography website. The bill quickly passed in the Senate without a dissenting vote. The bill then went to the House of Representatives where Speaker Matthew Shepherd assigned the bill to the House Rules Committee. Every member of the committee was appointed by Speaker Shepherd.[i] SB66 came before the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, but no motion was made to pass the bill. (Watch the committee meeting here.) Without further action, the bill will die in committee and the members of the House of Representatives will have sided with those who want to sexualize children through open access to pornography.
If you want to protect children, ask Speaker Matthew Shepherd to urge his appointees to quickly give SB66 a “do pass” from the Rules Committee. Also, ask the members of the committee to pass the bill.
Here is a list of the members of the House Rules Committee:
Chair DeAnn Vaught, Vice-Chair Shad Pearce, and the other Representatives on the committee are: Frances Cavenaugh, Carol Dalby, Matt Duffield, Jon S. Eubanks, Kenneth B. Ferguson, Lanny Fite, Mike Holcomb, Lane Jean, Stephen Magie, Jeremiah Moore, Milton Nicks, Jr., Dwight Tosh, and Jeff Wardlaw.
Finally, if the House Rules Committee fails to act quickly, ask your Representative to make a motion to pull the bill out of committee and straight on the House floor for a vote. (Pulling the bill out of committee requires a two-thirds majority vote of the House under House Rule 71.[ii])
[i] House Rules on the appointment of members to the House Rules Committee:
54.(b) SELECT COMMITTEES 54.(b)(1) With the exception of the House Budget Committee, the Speaker shall appoint all members and all alternates on all House select committees and all Joint Select Committees. The Speaker shall appoint ex officio members in accordance with the law.
53.(c) HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEES House Rules Committee shall consist of no more than fifteen (15) members.
[ii] House Rule on removing a bill from committee:
House Rule 71. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the elected membership of the House of Representatives shall be necessary to remove a bill from a committee.
