requiring age verification by commercial entities to allow access to pornographic material.
What changed between versions
Replaced the three-part 'material harmful to minors' definition (prurient interest, patently offensive sexual conduct, lacking serious value for minors) with a simpler 'pornographic material' definition: material depicting nudity or sexual acts for the purpose of sexual stimulation. Added clarifying language that nudity alone does not make material pornographic if its purpose is something else, and that it can take many media forms.
Raised the 'substantial portion' threshold from more than one-third to more than one-half of a website's total content being pornographic before age verification requirements apply. This means fewer websites would be covered by the law.
Eliminated the private right of action that allowed any parent or legal guardian to sue a commercial entity for damages up to $10,000 per violation, plus court costs and attorney's fees, if their minor accessed material due to a failure to verify age.
Removed the provision that explicitly barred commercial entities from claiming Section 230 immunity under the federal Communications Decency Act as a defense in civil actions arising from violations of this chapter.
Enforcement is now solely through the attorney general (injunctive relief and civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation). The original version had both private lawsuits by parents and state enforcement; the amended version removes the private litigation pathway entirely.