# State laws for adult content An ever growing number of states in the USA have recently enacted and about half have already implemented several laws mandating age verification. We've compiled a list detailing these laws, their effective dates, and brief summaries of their requirements. ***Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate, neither its authors nor The AVPA Ltd. accepts responsibility for any errors or omissions. The content of this article is for general information only, and is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as legal advice.*** **This page reflects the position as of September 2026, At least 27 states have passed laws requiring age verification to access online pornography:** **1.    ****Louisiana  ** [Louisiana Act 440 ](https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=241701" target="_blank" rel="noopener)[Louisiana HB 77](https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1332277" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2023****August 1, 2023** **2.    ****Utah ** [Utah SB 287](https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0287.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [Utah SB 73](https://legiscan.com/UT/bill/SB0073/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **May 3, 2023** **May 6, 2026** **3.    ****Mississippi ** [Mississippi SB 2346](http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2023/pdf/history/SB/SB2346.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2023** **4.    ****Virginia ** [Virginia SB 1515](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0811" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2023** **5.    ****Arkansas** [Arkansas SB 66](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2023R%2FPublic%2FACT612.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 31, 2023** **6.    ****Texas** [Texas HB 1181](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB01181F.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener)[Texas HB 18](https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB18/id/2820309#:~:text=Texas%20House%20Bill%2018&text=Bill%20Title%3A%20Relating%20to%20the,students%20by%20a%20public%20school." target="_blank" rel="noopener) **September 19, 2023 ****September 1, 2024** **7.    ****Montana ** [Montana SB 544](https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/SB0599/SB0544_1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2024** **8.    ****North Carolina** [North Carolina HB 8](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-132.html#:~:text=%E2%80]%20Any%20commercial%20entity%20that%20knowingly,businesses%20or%20governmental%20entities%20for" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2024** **9.  ****Idaho ** [Idaho H 498](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/H0498.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2024** **10.  ****Kansas ** [Kansas](https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB394/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [SB 394](https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB394/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2024** **11.  ****Kentucky ** [Kentucky HB 278](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/24rs/hb278.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 15, 2024** **12****.  ****Nebraska ** [Nebraska LB 1092](https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/ne/108/bills/NEB00012007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 19, 2024** **13.  I****ndiana** [Indiana SB 17](https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/senate/17/details" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **August 16, 2024** **14.  ****Alabama ** [Alabama](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB164/2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [HB 164](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB164/2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **October 1, 2024** **15.  ****Oklahoma ** [Oklahoma SB 1959](http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1959&Session=2400" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **November 1, 2024** **16.  ****Florida** [Florida HB 3](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/3/BillText/er/PDF" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2025** **17.  South Carolina ** [South Carolina HB 3424](https://legiscan.com/SC/bill/H3424/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2025** **18.  Tennessee ** [Tennessee SB 1792](https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1792/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **January 1, 2025** **19.  ****Georgia ** [Georgia](https://legiscan.com/GA/text/SB351/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [SB 351](https://legiscan.com/GA/text/SB351/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2025** **20. Wyoming** [Wyoming HB 43](https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0043" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2025** **21. South Dakota** [South Dakota HB 1053](https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/25525/276255" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2025 ** **22. North Dakota** [North Dakota HB 1561](https://legiscan.com/ND/text/HB1561/id/3067786" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [North Dakota SB 2380](https://legiscan.com/ND/bill/SB2380/2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **August 1, 2025** **August 1, 2026** **23. Arizona** [Arizona HB 2112](https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2112/id/3239821" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **September 26, 2025** **24. Ohio** [Ohio HB 96](https://legiscan.com/OH/text/HB96/id/3259417" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **September 30, 2025** **25. Missouri** [**HCS HBs 1839, 2921 & 3015**](https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/AdRules/moreg/2025/v50n10May15/v50n10.pdf#page=7" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 9, 2026** **26. West Virginia** [HB 4412](https://legiscan.com/WV/bill/HB4412/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **June 12, 2026** **27. Iowa** [HF 864](https://legiscan.com/IA/bill/HF864/2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener) **July 1, 2026**   ## Bills currently under consideration State Bill Status Illinois [SB 3945](https://ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB3945.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Stalled/re-referred to Assignments May 22 Minnesota HF 1434 Stalled; House recall failed 67–67 Hawaii HB 1198 No meaningful 2026 advancement Tennessee HB 2522 / SB 2398 Stalled; broader platform/content moderation proposal New Jersey [S1826 / S4455](https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1929717" target="_blank" rel="noopener) & [A3228](https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1955776/46376" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Pending and worth watching Ohio HB 84 "Innocence Act" Passed House; Senate consideration   ## Detail on Bills in force today **January 1 2023** [Louisiana HB 142](https://legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1289498" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) digital ID card or (2) government-issued ID or (2) a commercial reasonable method based on transaction data (e.g. mortgage, education, employment) **May 3, 2023** [Utah SB 287](https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0287.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) government-issued ID or (2) a commercial reasonable method based on transaction data (e.g. mortgage, education, employment) **July 1, 2023** [Mississippi SB 2346](http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2023/pdf/history/SB/SB2346.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) state-approved digital ID, (2) independent, third-party age verification services checking authoritative databases or (3) a commercial reasonable method based on transaction data (e.g. mortgage, education, employment) [Virginia SB 1515](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0811" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) commercially available database or (2) a commercial reasonable method of age and identity verification **July 31, 2023** [Arkansas SB 66](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2023R%2FPublic%2FACT612.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) state-approved digital ID, (2) government-issued ID or (3) a commercial reasonable method that holds identity assurance level 2 (for IAL2 definition, see [NIST](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/identity_assurance_level#:~:text=Definition(s)%3A,3%20(Very%20high%20confidence)." target="_blank" rel="noopener)) **August 1 2023** [Louisiana HB 77](https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1332277" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Gives commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic 30 days to remedy a failure to provide age verification before the Attorney-General can take legal action to impose a fine of $5k per day or $10k if done knowingly (the “PAVE Act”) **September 19 2023** [Texas HB 1181](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB01181F.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener) – Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) digitized ID card (not defined), or a commercial age verification system based on (2a) government-issued ID or (2b) a commercial reasonable method based on transaction data (e.g. mortgage, education, employment). The U.S. Supreme Court **upheld Texas HB 1181** in **Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton** on **June 27, 2025** **January 1st 2024** [Montana SB 544](https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/SB0599/SB0544_1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) digitized ID card (not defined), or a commercial age verification system based on (2a) government-issued ID or (2b) a commercial reasonable method based on transaction data (e.g. mortgage, education, employment) [North Carolina HB 8](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-132.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Makes commercial websites where more than one-third of their content is pornographic liable to being sued for damages by individuals unless age verification using (1) commercially available database or (2) a commercial reasonable method of age and identity verification **July 1 2024** [Idaho H 498](https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/H0498/" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform “reasonable age verification” to prevent minors from accessing the harmful material. [Kansas SB 394](https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2023_24/measures/sb394/" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires any commercial entity that knowingly shares or distributes material that is harmful to minors on a website, and the material appears on 25.0 percent or more of the webpages viewed on the website in any calendar month, or that knowingly hosts the website, to verify any person who is a resident of or is located in the state attempting to access the site is 18 years of age or older. **July 15 2024** [Kentucky HB 278](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/24rs/HB278.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Retain original provisions except, new sections of KRS Chapter 436 to declare legislative findings relating to pornography; define terms; establish a civil cause of action against any commercial entity that publishes matter harmful to minors on the internet without obtaining age verification; require removal of personal data following review for access; establish civil causes of action for violations; establish limitations on applicability and liability. **July 18 2024** [Nebraska NE LB 1092](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Slip/LB1092.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to  perform “reasonable age verification” to prevent minors from accessing the harmful material. **August 16 2024** [Indiana Act 17](https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/123/2024/senate/bills/SB0017/SB0017.05.ENRH.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires an adult oriented website operator that displays material harmful to minors to use a reasonable age verification method to prevent a minor from accessing an adult oriented website. **September 1 2024** [Texas HB 18  ](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB18" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Requires digital service providers to implement age verification measures if knowingly hosting “harmful” or “obscene” content. Allows parents more control over their children’s usage. A joint legislative study is required into the harms of various types of media on children. ** Much of this Bill was stayed by a US Federal Judge but the parts relating to pornography remain in force.** **October 1, 2024** [Alabama](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB164/2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener) [HB 164](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB164/2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform “reasonable age verification” to prevent minors from accessing the harmful material. Pornographic websites are also required to display a health warning. **November 1, 2024** [Oklahoma SB 1959](http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1959&Session=2400" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Prohibits commercial entities from distributing adult material without age verification. **January 1 2025** [Florida HB 3](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/3/BillText/er/PDF" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform “reasonable method of age verification” to prevent minors from accessing the harmful material.  Adult sites must offer at least one option of anonymized age verification. After the social media restrictions in HB 3 were blocked by a federal judge in June 2025, the porn-age-check requirement did remain after plaintiffs dropped that portion of the challenge in July 2025. [Tennessee SB 1792](https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1792/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires an individual or commercial entity that publishes or distributes a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors perform reasonable age-verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material. Also specifies that a violation of age-verification or data retention requirements is a Class C felony. [South Carolina HB 3424 ](https://legiscan.com/SC/bill/H3424/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform "reasonable age verification" to prevent minors from accessing the harmful material. Establishes penalties for noncompliance and outlines enforcement measures. **July 1 2025** [Georgia SB 351](https://legiscan.com/GA/text/SB351/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires social media companies to verify the age of users and gain parental consent for under 16’s. [Wyoming HB 43](https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0043" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform "reasonable age verification". Includes private right of action. [South Dakota HB 1053 ](https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/25525/276255" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Requires websites for which it is in the regular course of the website's trade or business to create, host, or make available material that is harmful to minors to implement "reasonable age verification". **August 1 2025** [North Dakota HB 1561](https://legiscan.com/ND/text/HB1561/id/3067786" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform "reasonable age verification". Includes private right of action. **September 26, 2025** [Arizona HB 2112](https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2112/id/3239821" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform "reasonable age verification". Includes private right of action. **September 30, 2025** [Ohio HB 96](https://legiscan.com/OH/text/HB96/id/3259417" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites displaying material “obscene or harmful to juveniles” to use reasonable age verification and geofencing to block minors in Ohio. Mandates periodic re-verification, strict data deletion rules, and allows the Ohio Attorney General to enforce penalties for noncompliance. **November 30, 2025** [Missouri 15 CSR 60-18](https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/AdRules/moreg/2025/v50n10May15/v50n10.pdf#page=7" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires websites where at least one-third of the content is pornographic to perform "reasonable age verification". **May 6, 2026** [**Utah SB 73 **](https://legiscan.com/UT/bill/SB0073/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener)with the 2% excise tax beginning October 1; enhanced enforcement, AV standards/safe harbor and controversial VPN/location provisions currently being litigated. **August 1, 2026** [North Dakota SB 2380](https://legiscan.com/ND/bill/SB2380/2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener) Requires device manufacturers, operating systems, and app stores to estimate the age of the primary user and transmit a digital age signal to websites and apps, which must block access to mature content for users under 18.**** **June 12, 2026** [**West Virginia HB 4412 **](https://legiscan.com/WV/bill/HB4412/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Requires commercial entities that publish or distribute a substantial portion of sexual material harmful to minors to verify users are 18 or older using digital ID, government-issued identification or a commercially reasonable transactional-data method. Includes data-retention restrictions, civil liability and Attorney General enforcement. **July 1, 2026** [**Iowa HF 864 **](https://legiscan.com/IA/bill/HF864/2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Requires operators of internet sites, applications, or portions thereof containing a substantial amount of material pornographic for minors to use reasonable age verification to prevent minors from accessing that material. Permitted methods include digital identification, commercially reasonable methods relying on transactional data, and methods approved by the Attorney General. **August 28, 2026 ** [**Missouri HCS HBs 1839, 2921 & 3015 **](https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/AdRules/moreg/2025/v50n10May15/v50n10.pdf#page=7" target="_blank" rel="noopener)Establishes a statutory age-verification requirement for commercial websites, including social-media platforms, where more than one-third of the material is sexual material harmful to minors. Requires third-party reasonable age verification, prohibits retention of identifying information by the verification provider and provides Attorney General enforcement and civil penalties   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Other Notable State-Level Activity:** Pennsylvania **SB 603** is a 2025–26 bill “Requiring Age Verification for Internet Pornography” New Jersey - 2 bills (see above)   **PLEASE NOTE**This page summarises current law and proposals and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult independent legal advisers before making compliance decisions.