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House approves age‑verification bill for websites with material harmful to minors after amendment
Summary
House Bill 1053, which requires age verification on covered platforms hosting material harmful to minors and assigns enforcement to the attorney general, was amended and passed. Sponsors cited public‑health concerns about youth exposure to violent sexual material; opponents warned of privacy, feasibility and free‑speech risks.
PIERRE — The South Dakota House passed House Bill 1053, a measure requiring age verification by websites that host material the state defines as harmful to minors, after adopting an amendment that removed military identification as an acceptable form of ID.
Representative Soy, the bill’s sponsor, told the House the bill addresses a rise in children’s exposure to violent sexual content and is modeled on measures in other states. "It's a predatory industry that actively works to ensnare our children," Soy said, summarizing committee testimony and national research cited during debate. The bill adds a covered‑platform definition and a standard for "reasonable age verification," designates the attorney general to enforce the law, and includes exceptions for search engines and internet service providers.
An amendment (1053B) was…
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