WEST VIRGINIA: "The first speaker at a public hearing on opening West Virginia’s obscenity laws to prosecution of library representatives read right away from a book describing oral sex, and that set a tone for the House Chamber discussion of what is or isn’t appropriate material.

“This is for our 12, 13 and 14-year old children in our middle schools,” said speaker Elisa Payne. “Our society is morally bankrupt if we allow children access to this obscenity in our schools. “We are not banning or burning; we are protecting.”

The public hearing in the House of Delegates was occurring because West Virginia lawmakers are considering opening public and school libraries up to felony charges for the display or dissemination of obscene material. The House Judiciary Committee has held off on considering the bill until after the public hearing. Removing exemptions from West Virginia’s obscenity law could expose library representatives to felony penalties resulting in up to $25,000 fines or up to five years in jail."

https://wvmetronews.com/2024/01/24/public-hearing-over-bill-that-could-criminalize-library-content-brings-out-books-and-passages-read-aloud/