Group Wants "Common Sense" Bill to Protect Kids from Obscenity

According to its supporters, Massachusetts parents and lawmakers are uniting behind House Bill H.2042, a measure intended to shut down a legal loophole that allows pornographic and sexually explicit materials to be legally distributed to children in the Commonwealth’s schools and children’s libraries. Supporters say the bill by request is a “common-sense fix” to ensure that what is illegal to give to minors in any other setting is also illegal in classrooms and libraries.

Since its filing in January 2025, H.2042 has gained almost 100 citizen co-sponsors, as well as the honorable John R. Gaskey, House Representative from Plymouth’s 2nd District. The Carver resident is a veteran and long a champion for protecting children, leading efforts to keep boys out of girls’ sports and ending potentially dangerous gender-related surgeries for minors.

Under current Massachusetts law, Chapter 272, Section 28, schools and libraries – including the elementary level -- are exempt from obscenity restrictions that otherwise apply across Massachusetts . This exemption means that material deemed criminal if given to a minor in any other setting can be legally placed in schools or handed to minors by staff. H.2042 seeks to end this exemption by striking the final sentence of the current statute, ensuring obscenity laws apply uniformly—regardless of where the material is presented.

“If these materials are deemed obscene and harmful outside of school walls, they don’t magically become appropriate inside them,” said Deedee Dorrington, ProtectKids25’s co-founder. “No one should have a legal pass to provide access to such materials to young, innocent children—ever.”

Supporters emphasize that schools should be safe havens where children are protected from harmful influences—not exposed to them much less encouraged to seek them out. They hope growing list of citizen co-sponsors signals a clear message to lawmakers: Massachusetts residents expect the same protections for children in educational settings that they have everywhere else.

Massachusetts residents can become co-sponsors of H.2042 by sending an email with their name and address to House.Clerk@mahouse.gov. Anyone wishing to keep their address private should add “limited publication” to their request. The opportunity to co-sponsor H.2042 is available until the Judiciary Committee issues its recommendation on the bill, which is scheduled to occur this fall. Citizens are also encouraged to reach out to their Representatives and Senators and request that they join Rep. Gaskey and add their support to the bill. Representative Gaskey can be reached by email at: John.Gaskey@mahouse.gov