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WV SB498

WV SB498: Relating to pornography access for minors Reviewed

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Disclaimer: This page provides general informational summaries only and does not constitute legal advice. AI-generated content may contain errors. Always consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Read full disclaimer →
AI Summary

SB498 aims to prohibit minors' access to pornographic material online by enforcing age verification protocols, with unspecified severe penalties for non-compliance.

Business Impact

If you operate an online platform with adult content, you must implement age verification by July 1, 2024, or face penalties.

State
West Virginia
Bill Number
SB498
Status
Introduced
Risk Level
High
Category
Comprehensive
Last Action
Jan 19, 2026
Last Verified
May 4, 2026
Data Updated
May 4, 2026
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced — Filed in the legislature; not yet heard in committee
In Committee — Assigned to and being reviewed by a legislative committee
Passed — Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action
Signed / Enacted — Signed into law by the governor; may or may not be in effect yet
Dead / Vetoed — Vetoed, failed to pass, or session expired without action
Unknown — Status data not yet available or awaiting classification

Affected Industries

Online Content Providers Technology Digital Services

Topics How we classify →

What This Means

Senate Bill 498 seeks to protect minors from accessing pornographic content online by implementing age verification protocols. Entities that fail to comply face unspecified severe penalties.

Key Provisions

Latest Legislative Action

To Judiciary

Bill Sponsors (showing 5 of 38)

Name Role
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary

Compliance Checklist

Implement an age verification system using biometric technology and government IDs.
Who: Commercial adult websites.
Deadline: Before granting access to pornographic material.
Penalty: Fines of up to $1 million per violation.
Re-authenticate age verification every 24 hours.
Who: Commercial adult websites.
Deadline: Daily for continued access.
Penalty: Civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for non-compliance.

Full Legal Analysis

Senate Bill 498 establishes regulations aimed at preventing minors from accessing pornographic material online. It requires websites to implement age verification systems, though the specifics are not available due to the absence of the full bill text. Failure to adhere to these requirements results in unspecified severe penalties for non-compliant entities. The bill is assumed to define 'pornographic material' using state obscenity standards, as the full bill text is not available. It addresses both the distribution and display of pornographic material to minors.

Official Source


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