Librarians, museum workers, and school educators could all be thrown in jail if West Virginia passes a new bill that would punish them for giving “obscene” materials to minors. On Friday, the West Virginia House of Delegates voted 85-12 in favor of House Bill 4654. The bill would allow a pre-existing law, State Code 61-8A-2, to apply to the aforementioned workers who used to be exempt from it. The bill will now head to the state’s Republican-dominated Senate. The state code targets any adult who knowingly and intentionally displays obscene...

(NEW YORK) — The West Virginia legislature is considering a bill that would remove protections for librarians in case minors come across books that contain what the state considers “obscene” material at their facilities. The bill passed the House of Delegates on Feb. 16 and has now been introduced in the Senate. The bill would remove any exemptions from criminal liability for public libraries or museums that display or distribute “obscene matter to a minor.” A librarian or museum who violates these restrictions could be charged with a felony, fined...