LEGISLATION

Alabama House Bill 153: Imposing a Tax on Speech

Memo in Opposition to Alabama H.B. 153

Alabama H.B. 153 would have imposed a 30% tax on all "sexually oriented materials" that are "sexually oriented in nature" and any material that is legally obscene for adults. Media Coalition members were concerned that the bill's definition of "Adult Novelty Items" could apply to books, magazines, movies, and other content that is sexually oriented but First Amendment-protected. Additionally, Media Coalition noted Supreme Court rulings that bar government from imposing taxes on speech based on its contents.

History: In February, Media Coalition sent a letter outlining its concerns to Rep. Williams. Media Coalition later sent to the full House a memo in opposition to H.B. 153.

updated 3/5/08

Litigation:	INTERNET \| RATINGS ENFORCEMENT \| SEIZURE/PRIOR RESTRAINT \| HARMFUL TO MINORS/MINORS' ACCESS \| SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT AND MINORS \| OBSCENITY \| ZONING & LICENSING \| VIOLENT CONTENT \| DISPLAY \| THIRD PARTY LIABILITY \| MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
Legislation:	LEGISLATIVE TRACKER 2011 LEGISLATION \| ALABAMA HOUSE BILL 153: IMPOSING A TAX ON SPEECH \| ALABAMA HOUSE BILL 441: BARRING MINORS' ACCESS TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO GAMES \| ALASKA SENATE BILL 31: RESTRICTING THE DISPLAY OF HARMFUL TO MINORS MATERIAL \| ARIZONA HOUSE BILL 2468: ALLOWING GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT OF INDUSTRY RATING SYSTEMS
Latest News:	PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED IN ABFFE V. SULLIVAN \| PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED IN ABFFE V. COAKLEY \| ALASKA LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL SAYS STATE IS NOT LIKELY TO APPEAL ABFFE V BURNS \| SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENT IN SCHWARZENEGGER V. EMA \| ALASKA SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO CERTIFY QUESTIONS IN ABFFE V. BURNS
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