Conservative Lawmakers Want Porn Taxes. Critics Say They’re Unconstitutional

Salt Lake City: A Utah lawmaker wants to tax porn sites in the state. Senator Calvin Musselman, a Republican, introduced a bill for a 7 percent tax on earnings from adult content. If this bill passes, it would start in May and include a $500 yearly fee for adult websites. The funds would help Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services support teen mental health.

More lawmakers across the US are trying to limit adult content. Alabama has already passed a porn tax of 10 percent, while Pennsylvania is considering a bill to add a 10 percent tax on adult subscriptions. Many states, 25 so far, have also set age verification laws, requiring users to prove they are adults before viewing explicit material.

Experts worry about these targeted taxes. They argue these laws may be unconstitutional and could impact free speech. Evelyn Douek, a law professor, stated, “This kind of porn tax is blatantly unconstitutional.” She believes it unfairly targets protected speech.

Utah, like Alabama and Pennsylvania, declared porn a public health concern. In the past, Utah even hired a “porn czar” to address these issues. However, this position was ended in 2017. Companies like Pornhub say age verification is complicated and often fails to protect kids. They have blocked access in 23 states to follow new rules.