1. Gov. Little signs bill banning AI-generated ‘revenge’ porn
Here’s some good news to start your Friday: Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 575 into law earlier this week.
This important legislation – which was sponsored by Rep. Julianne Young (R-Blackfoot), Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise), and Sen. Kevin Cook (R-Idaho Falls) – prohibits the distribution of AI-generated porn made to look like an identifiable person, most commonly used as ‘revenge porn.’
Idaho Family Policy Center was the only policy organization supporting this bill, testifying and lobbying before both the Idaho House and Senate.
Our policy assistant, Grace Howat, explained the need for this legislation to the House and Senate committees, saying:
This computer-generated pornography exploits real people—with real lives, real jobs, and real families. But currently, our laws don’t address AI-generated ‘deepfake’ porn.
That’s why this legislation is so important—it closes that loophole, ensuring that bad actors are held accountable if they take advantage of new technological capabilities to create sexually exploitative material.
Sadly, pornographic deepfakes are not a rare phenomenon.
According to Sensity AI (a company that specializes in deepfake detection), nonconsensual pornography comprises between 90 and 95% of all artificial intelligence-created ‘deepfake’ videos.
2. State legislature takes first steps to address DEI
Thankfully, the victories just keep coming! Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1274 into law Wednesday, pushing back against DEI policies in the state of Idaho.
The new law ensures hiring and admissions decisions made by state agencies, including public colleges and universities, are not “conditioned on a requirement that applicants submit or ascribe to a diversity statement.”
Our Policy Assistant, Grace Howat, testified in the House Education Committee in favor of the bill, saying:
DEI demands preferential treatment for politically favored groups based on race, gender, and sexual orientation, in clear violation of the biblical principles that undergird our constitutional system of government.
Although Senate Bill 1274 is a good start, more must be done to combat the pernicious influence of DEI in all levels of state government and public education.
3. Gov. Little signs legislation protecting conscience rights on mental health professionals
Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1352 into law Thursday, protecting mental health professionals from being forced to provide unethical care that ‘affirms’ harmful lifestyles.
This necessary legislation was sponsored by Rep. Julianne Young (R-Blackfoot) and Sen. Carl Bjerke (R-Coeur d’Alene).
More than 56% of likely Idaho voters agree that counselors and other mental health providers should not face legal or professional consequences for providing talk therapy intended to help patients overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion, according to statewide public opinion polling commissioned by Idaho Family Policy Center.
Our president, Blaine Conzatti, issued a statement celebrating this victory:
Around the country, the so-called “tolerant” left is actively compelling ideological conformity when it comes to affirming ascendant political and moral positions, especially on issues related to sexuality and gender.
This is why Senate Bill 1352 is so important: No counselor should ever be coerced into affirming harmful lifestyles violates their sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.
Thank you, Gov. Brad Little and state legislators, for taking this meaningful step to protect the rights of mental health professionals in the Gem State!
4. ALERT: ‘Children’s School and Library Protection Act’ stalls in Senate committee
Earlier this week, Chairman Jim Guthrie (R-Inkom) made a decision to hold the Children’s School and Library Act (H710) in the Senate State Affairs Committee after nearly two hours of public testimony.
Sen. Guthrie says that holding the bill will give committee members more time to “vet” and “debate” the new legislation. House Bill 710 largely utilizes bill language drafted last year by Idaho Family Policy Center.
Idaho Family Policy Center was the only organization to testify in favor of the bill during the Senate committee hearing.
Our policy assistant, Grace Howat, presented our petition to the committee as a sign of public support for the legislation:
According to our statewide public opinion polling, nearly 74% of likely Idaho voters believe that schools and community libraries should keep obscene materials away from minor children.
In fact, Mr. Chairman, I would like to present this petition – signed by 2,221 Idahoans from every corner of our great state – calling on the state legislature and Gov. Brad Little to restrict children’s access to obscene materials in taxpayer-funded schools and libraries.
We need your help urging Senate committee members to support House Bill 710. If you have not sent your message, now is the time before the committee meets again for a vote.
Also, we’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped collect signatures for our petition drive. By exercising biblical citizenship, you’re making a difference!
