HB 1053 South Dakota House · 2025 Regular Session

require age verification by websites containing material that is harmful to minors, and to provide a penalty therefor.

The bill requires websites hosting material harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It directly affects online platforms that distribute such content and their users. The legislation mandates that these sites verify a user's age before allowing access to protected material. Failure to comply with this requirement would result in penalties for the website operators. This measure aims to restrict access to age-inappropriate content while establishing clear enforcement consequences.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Feb 2025

Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Signed Feb 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · Feb 20, 2025

MINOR

This bill amends South Dakota's obscenity laws to add new definitions for online platforms and age verification requirements. It expands the legal framework to specifically address websites that host material harmful to minors, requiring them to implement age verification systems before minors can access such content.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of existing obscenity laws to include digital platforms and online content, previously focused on physical materials.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'covered platform,' 'harmful to minors,' 'reasonable age verification,' and related terms to clarify what online content and platforms are regulated.

REQUIREMENT

Established a requirement for covered platforms to implement age verification methods before minors can access material deemed harmful to minors.

ENFORCEMENT

Amended existing obscenity statutes to include digital dissemination and online platforms within the scope of prohibited conduct.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025 · House Jan 21, 2025

How they voted

34–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 35

Feb 19, 2025

D Democratic3

3 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican32

31 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 27, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor on 2025-02-27 H.J. 418

executive

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed by the President S.J. 345

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker H.J. 347

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 303

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-0-1)

senate

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to S.J. 101

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 61, NAYS 5 H.J. 46

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House of Representatives Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 46 Amendment 1053B

lower

Jan 21, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (60-5-3)

house

Jan 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 2

lower

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

First read in House and referred to H.J. 23

lower

43 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

Party

State

District