Legislation Search

H.R. 2029: Stop Comstock Act

This bill, titled the "Stop Comstock Act," aims to amend existing laws regarding the prohibition of certain materials deemed obscene or indecent. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

1. Changes to Laws on Obscenity

The bill proposes revisions to three key sections of Title 18 of the United States Code that relate to obscene materials:

Section 552: The bill aims to remove the term "indecent" from the definition of obscene materials. It also proposes to eliminate references to materials related to abortion or other "indecent or immoral" uses.
Section 1461: This section is revised to declare only “All obscene materials are declared” as opposed to previous phrases defining obscenity. Additionally, references to "indecent" terms and related legal definitions will be struck.
Section 1462: The bill will update language concerning the commerce of obscene materials, specifying language about “obscene material” and removing certain legal references that were previously included.

2. Amendments to the Tariff Act of 1930

The bill also revises section 305 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which deals with the importation of objectionable materials. Key changes include:

Removal of the term "immoral" and the associated language regarding unlawful abortion.
Streamlining the text concerning the authority of the Secretary in relation to the importation of sensitive materials.

3. Intended Purpose

The underlying intention of the bill appears to be the modernization and clarification of laws regarding obscenity, specifically in how they relate to current societal standards and issues such as reproductive rights. By removing outdated terminology and definitions, the bill seeks to lessen restrictions on certain materials that are currently categorized as obscene or indecent under federal law.

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Actions

2 actions

Date	Action
Mar. 11, 2025	Introduced in House
Mar. 11, 2025	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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