Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska to Age-Restrict Access to Porn in July

Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska to Age-Restrict Access to Porn in July

BOISE, Idaho — Five U.S. states — Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska — will begin requiring age verification to access adult sites when the states’ copycat laws promoted by religious conservatives go into effect starting in July.

The mandates go into effect Monday in Idaho, Indiana, and Kansas. Kentucky’s law goes into effect on July 14 and Nebraska’s on July 18.

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) explained through a statement that the new laws “authorize private lawsuits against companies that do not force users to undergo identity verification to access adult websites. Indiana and Kansas also authorize their state attorneys general to impose civil penalties, including fines.”

All five laws are based on model legislation for which several conservative pro-censorship groups have taken credit. However, as in other states that passed their own versions, “the verification mechanisms authorized by these laws are not uniform,” FSC noted.

The FSC website provides a breakdown of the different “reasonable age verification methods” authorized by each law.

Age Verification a Political Tool in an Election Year

As XBIZ reported, religious conservative groups are using age verification battles to discipline dissenting Republicans.

Earlier this month, religious conservative leaders and publications celebrated the defeat of sitting Republican state Senator Michael Walsh in a primary election, boasting of the success of their efforts to target him exclusively because he voted against the anti-porn age verification bill they supported.

In online comments, Walsh’s religious conservative detractors described their campaign against him using violent terms like “scalping” and images like a bullseye targeting their fellow party member for elimination.

Terry Schilling, leader of the well-funded, pro-censorship conservative lobby American Principles Project (APP), posted on his X account, “First scalp collected on age verification,” followed by an anti-Walsh ad which his group produced.

The ad shows a map of the U.S. with the 17 states that have passed age verification laws painted Republican red, claiming those laws “protect kids from online pornography.”

Although the laws are almost universally proposed by religious conservative Republicans, Democrats in most legislatures have overwhelmingly supported them.

A major outlier among Democrats was Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who vetoed the state’s age verification bill in March, stating that legislation to protect the online safety of minors should be a bipartisan effort that does not conflict with the First Amendment.

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

CamSoda Launches 'Trick or Tease' AI Companions

CamSoda has launched its Halloween-themed Trick or Tease AI companions.

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

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).

Show More