A bill for an act prohibiting certain materials in public libraries in counties and cities, authorizing civil actions, and providing civil penalties.

HF 558 prohibits public libraries in Iowa counties and cities from purchasing or providing materials depicting "sex acts" (as defined in Iowa law) or hard-core pornography to minors. It requires librarians to avoid knowingly providing such material to minors and creates a process where parents/guardians can file complaints after 30 days of ongoing violations, leading to civil lawsuits against the library district or city. If successful, courts must award damages ($10,000 for obscene material, $20,000 for hard-core pornography), attorney fees, and impose daily fines ($5,000 base + $500/day) that fund the state general fund. The bill directly affects public library staff and governing bodies (county boards, city councils) responsible for library operations.