Democratic NC Governor Signs Copycat Age Verification Bill Into Law

Democratic NC Governor Signs Copycat Age Verification Bill Into Law

RALEIGH, N.C. — Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, a Democrat, signed into law Monday a bill mandating age verification on adult websites, ignoring the arguments and warnings of free speech advocates.

The new requirement will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

One in a slew of copycat bills introduced by religious conservative Republicans in several U.S. states, North Carolina’s House Bill 8 passed with bipartisan support last month, after State Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) inserted the anti-porn language into a previously unrelated measure about high school computer science classes.

As XBIZ reported, Galey justified her amendment by saying the measure was needed “to protect our children,” citing the seven other states that have passed similar laws and noting with satisfaction that overall traffic to adult websites in Louisiana dropped 80% after that state’s age verification law passed.

Last week, Free Speech Coalition (FSC) sent a letter to Gov. Cooper, asking him to veto House Bill 8. FSC Executive Director Alison Boden told Cooper, “This age-verification law is flawed and deeply unconstitutional, and will face many of the same legal challenges as laws in states like Texas and Louisiana have faced.”

After the bill passed the legislature, a rep for North Carolina’s leading religious conservative group, NC Values, stated to the local press that the alleged age verification amendment is in fact an “anti-pornography provision.”

Democrats Keep Ignoring Free Speech Advocates

Gov. Cooper and the North Carolina Democrats who voted for the Republican-led initiative are among a growing group of fellow party members supporting these right-wing proposals across the country for various reasons.

In August, Democratic state representative — and SWERF — Lois Reckitt teamed up with Maine’s Christian Civic League to propose a similar age verification bill, which conservative leaders have been openly promoting in an effort to reinstitute obscenity prosecutions of adult content at the federal level.

The bills are being touted by Republicans as bipartisan wins around the country, with some Democrats revealing the reasons behind these alliances of convenience. Virginia’s age verification bill was signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in May and went into effect July 1, the same day that a similar bill took effect in Mississippi. The Virginia bill received bipartisan support, although it was later revealed by Democratic State Sen. Scott A. Surovell that he had engineered a vote-trading scheme with the bill’s Republican author over an unrelated bill.

Texas’ extremely controversial version of the age verification law, which includes an outlandish, unconstitutional mandate to post anti-porn propaganda as “health warnings” on adult websites, was also passed with the support of the state’s Democratic lawmakers.

XBIZ contacted state, House and Senate offices of the Texas Democratic Party at the time to ask about Democratic support for the Texas law, but all declined to respond.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Penthouse Announces Digital Archive Launch

Penthouse Magazine has announced that it will launch a comprehensive digital archive in 2026.

Dreamcam Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Dreamcam has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches by Country for August, September

AEBN has released the list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters by country in August and September.

AV in Focus: A Guide to Unlocking Compliance With Clarity

The age verification era isn’t coming — it’s here. Laws are already on the books in numerous U.S. states, as well as in the U.K., France and beyond.

Canadian Privacy Commissioner Endorses National AV Bill

Philippe Dufresne, privacy commissioner of Canada, has voiced support for a bill that would impose fines of up to $500,000 on adult sites that do not implement age verification for Canadian viewers.

Ricky Johnson Launches 'Ricky's Resort' Through YourPaysitePartner

Ricky's Room studio honcho Ricky Johnson has launched his latest site, RickysResort.com, through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Industry Attorney Paul Cambria Retires After 50 Years of Practicing Law

After more than a half-century in practice, during which he provided the defense in some of the adult industry's most notable legal cases, attorney Paul Cambria has retired.

2026 XMA Nominations Party Set for Nov. 19 in Hollywood

The 2026 XMA nominations reveal party will take place at Keys on the Sunset Strip on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with red-carpet arrivals starting at 8 p.m.

Show More