Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to obscene material available on devices and imposing civil liability on entities who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet
Topics:Courts & civil lawTechnology & privacyKids online & social mediaBooks & libraries
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 16, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 17, 2024
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Companies and social media platforms could be sued if they intentionally show obscene material to minors online without checking their ages first. If a business fails to use reasonable age verification methods, they may have to pay for damages, court costs, and lawyer fees. This rule does not apply to people who simply use the internet or provide basic computer services.1
Read the official explanation
This bill creates civil liability for commercial entities and social media platforms who publish or distribute material harmful to minors on the internet. The bill provides any commercial entity or social media platform that knowingly or intentionally publishes or distributes obscene material to minors on the internet from a website that contains such material shall be held civilly liable if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material. Any commercial entity or social media platform that is found in violation shall be civilly liable to an individual for damages resulting from a minor’s accessing the material, including court costs and reasonable attorney fees as ordered by the court. The bill does not impose civil liability on a provider or user of an interactive computer service on the internet.
House subcommittee
Named January 17, 2024. On January 23, 2024 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-1.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 23, 2024 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Similar bills
- HF 62 Relating to obscene material available on devices and imposing civil liability on certain …91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 864Similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.