Bill > HB1561

This bill establishes new legal requirements for commercial entities publishing or distributing sexual material harmful to minors on the internet. The bill defines key terms such as "commercial entity," "distribute," "minor," and "sexual material harmful to a minor," and mandates that websites containing more than one-third sexually explicit content must implement reasonable age verification methods to prevent minors from accessing such material. Commercial entities must use digital identification cards or commercial age verification systems that rely on government-issued ID or transactional data to confirm a user is at least 18 years old. If a commercial entity fails to implement these verification methods, they can be held liable for damages. Parents or guardians of minors who access inappropriate content, or individuals whose identifying information is improperly retained, can bring civil actions seeking injunctions, compensatory and exemplary damages, and attorney fees. The bill explicitly exempts news organizations and clarifies that internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers are not liable for content transmission. The law will apply to websites accessed on or after its effective date, aiming to protect minors from accessing sexually explicit online content.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1561.html