Jasmine Fiandaca | Support HB293

Testimony in Support of HB 293 Preventing Minors From Accessing Obscenity on Certain Electronic Devices With Internet Access Chairman and Members of the House Judiciary Committee, My name is Jasmine Fiandaca, and I am writing to voice my strong support for HB 293. As someone who works closely with survivors of sex trafficking and addiction, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of early exposure to pornography. It is not just a matter of moral concern—it is a public health crisis that fuels addiction, distorts healthy relationships, and makes children vulnerable to exploitation. Many of the women I work with trace their struggles back to childhood exposure to pornography, often occurring before they fully understood what they were seeing. This early exposure shaped their understanding of relationships, intimacy, and self-worth in destructive ways. The internet has made explicit content more accessible than ever before, and without proactive protections, we are leaving our children unguarded in a digital landscape that preys on their innocence. HB 293 is a common-sense measure that empowers parents and protects children. The technology already exists to implement these safety features, yet too many parents are unaware of how to enable them. By requiring that safety filters be turned on by default, this bill removes unnecessary barriers and ensures that children are shielded from harmful content from the moment they activate a device. This is not about government overreach—it is about corporate accountability. If manufacturers have the capability to protect minors but fail to implement these safeguards, they should be held responsible. We have seatbelt laws to protect children in cars, age restrictions on alcohol and tobacco, and laws against selling explicit material to minors in physical stores. It is time we apply the same level of care to the digital world, where harm is just as real and often far more insidious. I urge you to support HB 293 for the sake of our children’s well-being, their mental health, and their futures. Let’s take a stand against the forces that seek to exploit and corrupt them, and instead, provide them with the safeguards they need to grow into healthy, whole individuals. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jasmine Grace Fiandaca Jasmine Grace Outreach