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HB 2032 · 2025 session

Did not pass

Age verification requirements for access to sexual material harmful to minors

Requires a commercial entity that engages in the business of publishing or distributing sexual material harmful to minors to verify the ages of individuals to whom the commercial entity distributes or makes available the sexual material harmful to minors.

Where it stands

Last action, June 27, 2025: In committee upon adjournment.

What it does

Tells a business that hosts online matter than can harm a child to check the ages of those who can get access to the matter and not give access to people who are under 18 years of age. Lets people sue the business for not checking ages and giving people under 18 years of age access to matter than can harm a child.

Full legislative summary

Requires a commercial entity that engages in the business of publishing or distributing sexual material harmful to minors to verify the ages of individuals to whom the commercial entity distributes or makes available the sexual material harmful to minors. Specifies reasonable methods for age verification and requires a person that verifies ages to destroy or delete information that could identify an individual or the individual's address or that could disclose other personal information about the individual.

Imposes liability in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for failure to comply with the age verification requirement if the failure results in exposing an individual under the age of 18 years to sexual material harmful to minors. Imposes liability in an amount not to exceed the greater of a plaintiff's actual damages or $5,000 for failure to destroy or delete information used in age verification.

Already in place in Oregon

  • HB 2008(opens in a new tab)2025LawCompanies may not sell the personal data of anyone they know is under 16, or use it for targeted ads or profiling. In effect January 1, 2026.
  • Oregon Consumer Privacy Act(opens in a new tab)2023LawTreats the data of a child under 13 as sensitive data that companies must handle under the federal children’s privacy law (COPPA), with parents exercising the child’s rights.
  • HB 2299(opens in a new tab)2025LawMakes sharing a realistic fake (AI-made or edited) intimate image of a person a crime, like sharing a real one.
  • ORS 339.351 to 339.366(opens in a new tab)2007LawEvery school district must have a policy against harassment, bullying and cyberbullying, with anonymous reporting, parent notice and an investigation process.

Similar laws in other states

  • Utah S.B. 142(opens in a new tab)2025First App Store Accountability Act: app stores must verify ages and link minors' accounts to a parent who consents to downloads and purchases.
  • Texas SB 2420(opens in a new tab)2025Requires app stores to verify users' ages and get parental consent before minors download apps or make purchases.
  • Louisiana HB 570(opens in a new tab)2025App stores must verify ages and obtain parental consent for minors; a 2026 law (HB 977) delayed its start to July 2027.
  • California AB 1043(opens in a new tab)2025Digital Age Assurance Act: device operating systems ask a user's age at setup and send an age-bracket signal to apps, starting 2027.
  • Alabama HB 161(opens in a new tab)2026App stores must sort users into age brackets, link minors to a verified parent account and get parental consent for downloads and purchases.
  • Colorado SB26-051(opens in a new tab)2026Operating systems must collect a user's age at account setup and share an age signal with apps through a real-time interface.
  • Illinois HB5511(opens in a new tab)2026Devices and operating systems collect a child's birth date at setup; apps must use the age signal to apply protective defaults for minors.
  • California AB 2273(opens in a new tab)2022Partly blocked in courtFirst U.S. age-appropriate design code: online services likely used by kids must default to high privacy and assess risks to minors.
  • Texas HB 18(opens in a new tab)2023Partly blocked in courtSCOPE Act: limits data collection and targeted ads for minors, adds parental tools, and requires platforms to filter harmful content.
  • Maryland HB 603(opens in a new tab)2024Maryland Kids Code: services likely accessed by children must prioritize kids' best interests, default to high privacy and assess data risks.
  • New York S7695B(opens in a new tab)2024Child Data Protection Act: bars websites and apps from collecting or selling under-18 users' personal data without consent unless strictly necessary.
  • Utah S.B. 104(opens in a new tab)2024Children's Device Protection Act: new phones and tablets must automatically turn on an adult-content filter when set up for a minor.
  • Alabama SB 186(opens in a new tab)2025Phones and tablets sold in Alabama must include an obscenity filter that switches on automatically when the user is under 18.
  • Nebraska LB504(opens in a new tab)2025Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act: requires high-privacy defaults and limits on manipulative design and data use for known minors.
  • Vermont S.69(opens in a new tab)2025Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code (Act 63): limits data collection and manipulative design for minors, effective January 2027.
  • South Carolina H.3431(opens in a new tab)2026Design code requiring online services to use reasonable care to prevent harms to minors, protective defaults, parental tools and independent audits.
  • New Jersey A4015(opens in a new tab)2026New Jersey Kids Code Act: highest-privacy defaults for minors and limits on engagement-driving features like infinite scroll, starting September 2027.

History

  1. · House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. · House

    Referred to Judiciary.

  3. · House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.