Conservative lawmakers want porn taxes. Critics say they're unconstitutional.

"Introduced by state senator Calvin Musselman, a Republican, the bill would impose a 7 percent tax on total receipts "from sales, distributions, memberships, subscriptions, performances, and content amounting to material harmful to minors that is produced, sold, filmed, generated, or otherwise based" in Utah. If passed, the bill would go into effect in May and would also require adult sites to pay a $500 annual fee to the State Tax Commission."

"A new age of American conservatism commands the political arena, and more US lawmakers are calling for additional restrictions on adult content. In September, Alabama became the first state to impose a porn tax on adult entertainment companies (10 percent) following the passage of age-verification mandates, which require users to upload an ID or other personal documentation to verify that they are not a minor before viewing sexually explicit content."

Half the country has implemented age-verification laws aimed at preventing minors from viewing pornography. Utah state senator Calvin Musselman introduced a bill to levy a 7 percent tax on total receipts from material deemed harmful to minors produced or based in Utah, plus a $500 annual fee to the State Tax Commission, with the revenue earmarked for teen mental health through the Department of Health and Human Services and a proposed May effective date. Alabama already enacted a 10 percent porn tax after age-verification mandates, and Pennsylvania and other states are considering similar taxes or proposals.

Read at Ars Technica