Bill

Bill > HB2032


OR HB2032

Relating to age verification requirements for access to sexual material harmful to minors.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2025
In Committee
01/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: 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. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). 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 distrib- utes 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 verifica- tion 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.

AI Summary

This bill establishes new age verification requirements for online platforms that publish or distribute sexual material harmful to minors in Oregon. The legislation defines key terms such as "commercial entity" (which includes various business types), "sexual material harmful to minors" (content that is sexually explicit or appeals to prurient interests of those under 18), and specifies requirements for age verification. Under the bill, businesses that publish websites with more than one-third sexual material harmful to minors must implement reasonable age verification methods to prevent access by individuals under 18, such as using digital networks that confirm identity and birth date or verifying age through government-issued identification or transactional data. Importantly, these businesses must also immediately delete any personal information used in the age verification process. The bill imposes financial penalties of up to $5,000 for each instance of failing to verify ages or protect minors' access, and allows individuals to sue businesses that do not comply with these requirements. The goal is to protect minors from accessing sexually inappropriate online content while ensuring minimal retention of personal identification information.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (10)

Last Action

Referred to Judiciary. (on 01/17/2025)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...