House Judiciary advances bill requiring age verification for pornographic websites

CHEYENNE — The House Judiciary Committee on Monday advanced House Bill 43, a measure that would require internet sites that publish pornographic material to perform age verification before allowing access and to delete identifying data after verification. The committee voted 9-0 to move the bill to the full House.

Sponsor Representative Wally, presenting the bill, said the measure aims to reduce children’s unintentional and intentional exposure to pornographic material. “I have long been concerned … about the safety of children online,” Representative Wally said during the bill presentation.

The bill defines covered platforms and harmful material, borrows several definitions from existing Wyoming statutes and federal law, and directs covered sites to block access unless a user’s age is verified. It prohibits age-verification providers or platforms from retaining identifying information after access has been granted and creates private causes of action for parents and…