Bill > HB1878

This bill establishes legal provisions for civil liability related to publishing or distributing internet content considered harmful to minors, specifically targeting commercial entities that have websites with more than 33% material deemed inappropriate for minors. The bill defines "material harmful to minors" as content that appeals to prurient interests, includes graphic descriptions of sexual or anatomical content, and lacks serious artistic or scientific value for minors. Commercial entities would be legally required to implement reasonable age-verification methods to prevent minors from accessing such content, and could be held liable for damages if they fail to do so. The bill mandates that age-verification providers cannot retain identifying information of individuals after verifying their age, and imposes potential financial penalties for violations. Importantly, the legislation includes exemptions for news-gathering organizations and internet service providers, ensuring they are not held responsible for content they do not directly create. The bill also emphasizes an emergency provision, indicating the urgent nature of protecting children from potentially inappropriate online content.

Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1878&year=2026&code=R