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Interstate Obscenity Definition Act
To define ``obscenity'' for purposes of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Adds a definition of "obscene" or "obscenity" to the Communications Act for visual depictions that appeal to prurient interest, depict sexual acts with intent to arouse, and lack serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.
- References the definitions of "sexual act" and "sexual contact" from the federal criminal code for purposes of the obscenity definition.
- Makes a conforming amendment to a cross-reference in the Communications Act resulting from the new obscenity definition.
- Removes the requirement that obscene telephone calls be made "with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass another person" from the Communications Act's definition of obscene telephone calls.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/M001211.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Miller, Mary E. (R-IL) [#15]
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Mary E. Miller’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- Employer not reported $22,349
- SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $13,200
- THOMPSON THRIFT DEVELOPMENT $11,600
- KASPAR LAW COMPANY $6,600
- INDECK ENERGY SERVICES $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Mary E. Miller → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- May 8, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- May 8, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 8, 2025
Mrs. Miller of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To define “obscenity” for purposes of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Interstate Obscenity Definition Act”.
SEC. 2. DEFINING OBSCENITY.
(a) Definition.—
(1) In general.—Section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (38) through (59) as paragraphs (39) through (60), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (37) the following:
“(38) Obscene; obscenity.—
“(A) In general.—The term ‘obscene’ or ‘obscenity’, when used in a manner or context that explicitly refers to, or could apply to, a picture, image, graphic image file, film, videotape, or other visual depiction, includes a picture, image, graphic image file, film, videotape, or other visual depiction that—
“(i) taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
“(ii) depicts, describes, or represents, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or lewd exhibition of the genitals, with the objective intent to arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual desires of a person; and
“(iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
“(B) Sexual act; sexual contact.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the terms ‘sexual act’ and ‘sexual contact’ have the meanings given those terms in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.”.
(2) Technical and conforming amendment.—Section 271(c)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 271(c)(1)(A)) is amended by striking “section 3(47)(A)” and inserting “section 3(55)(A)”.
(b) Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls in the District of Columbia or in Interstate or Foreign Communications.—Section 223(a)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(a)(1)(A)) is amended, in the undesignated matter following clause (ii), by striking “, with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass another person”. <all>
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