Kansas Senator Dismisses Free Speech Concerns About Her Age Verification Bill

Kansas Senator Dismisses Free Speech Concerns About Her Age Verification Bill

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas state Senate Judiciary Committee last week voted unanimously to endorse the state’s copycat version of the age verification legislation being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite Democratic senators expressing concerns about potential implications for free speech.

SB 394 was introduced by the committee’s Republican chair, Sen. Kellie Warren, who eventually convinced her colleagues to send the measure to a full Senate vote.

Under the bill, adult websites “would be subject to the age-confirmation requirement if more than one-fourth of content viewed in any calendar month could be interpreted as harmful to minors,” the Kansas Reflector reported.

Unlike some of the recent age verification laws in other states, which only enable civil suits by non-government plaintiffs, the Kansas bill also allows for state action. This led Democratic senators to express concerns that the bill could empower Kansas’ far-right conservative attorney general, Kris Kobach, to “attack websites dedicated to literature or fine art,” the Reflector reported.

Democratic Sen. Tom Holland asked whether the bill would cover, as an example, the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, which national anti-porn lobby NCOSE has called “hardcore pornography.” 

“Would that qualify as basically being harmful to minors?” Holland queried. “Could you not make the argument that that is sexually titillating?” 

Warren contended that Kansas already defines content “harmful to minors” as material “containing any description, exhibition, presentation or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sadomasochistic abuse.” 

“This bill is narrowly tailored so it doesn’t run afoul of First Amendment concerns,” she insisted.

She confirmed, however, that her bill would make the attorney general “responsible for investigating public reports of noncompliance with the law and the courts would make determinations based on that evidence,” the Reflector reported, adding that Kobach “would be allowed to seek civil penalties against websites ranging from $500 to $10,000 for each underage visit to the offending website.”

Warren’s bill also allows for civil actions by any Kansas parent or guardian of a minor “who gained access to pornography on certain websites.”

Despite his stated concerns, Holland voted in favor of the bill, as did other senators who initially expressed reservations about privacy and data security issues concerning the bill’s still-undetermined mandatory age verification system.

As XBIZ reported, last week, during a similar committee hearing in the South Dakota state House, Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach openly acknowledged that that state’s copycat bill is “part of a national movement pushing back on what he described as ‘this kind of filth,’” local station KELO reported.

His fellow Republican Rep. Rebecca Reimer expressed satisfaction that a similar measure in North Carolina had resulted in Pornhub blocking access to the site for all users regardless of age.

“It seems to be working,” Reimer stated.

Main Image Insert : Kansas Sen. Kellie Warren (R)

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

Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Florida AG Sues Aylo, Segpay Over State AV Law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Aylo and Segpay on Monday with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for noncompliance with HB3, the state's age verification law.

Colombian Court Sides with Performer Esperanza Goméz Over IG Suspensions

Colombia’s Constitutional Court last week ruled in favor of adult performer Esperanza Gómez in her legal battle against Meta over repeated suspensions of her Instagram account.

Missouri AG Announces Age Verification Rule to Take Effect Nov. 30

Newly appointed Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced Friday that the state's recently approved age verification regulation for adult websites will go into effect on Nov. 30.

Aylo, Woodhull Freedom Foundation to Host 'Online Censorship' Event

Aylo and Woodhull Freedom Foundation will co-host a virtual panel addressing online censorship on Sept. 30.

Severe Sex Films Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Severe Sex Films has relaunched its official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Judge Awards Plaintiffs Over $400K in Attorneys Fees in Derek Hay Civil Case

California Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer has awarded former clients of LA Direct Models over $400,000 in attorneys fees and court costs, to be paid by agency founder Derek Hay.

ChickPass Rebrands as 'ChickPass Cinematic Universe'

ChickPass has announced that it has rebranded its network of sites as ChickPass Cinematic Universe.

Brazilian Adult Industry Association ABIPEA Launches

Brazilian Association of the Adult Entertainment Industry and Professionals (ABIPEA) has officially launched its organization.

New Adult Social Media Platform 'Havven' Opens Beta Phase

Havven, a new adult social media platform, has opened its beta phase and will officially launch Oct. 5.

Show More