The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Senate Bill 628 requires online adult material providers to verify user age
Last action · January 27, 2026: To JudiciarySponsor: Mike Azinger
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What This Bill Proposed
Commercial entities publishing online must verify that users are 18 or older using a commercially available verification database or method. Entities that violate this requirement face civil liability for damages and reasonable attorney fees. providers are exempt from this liability.
Online businesses offering adult content to West Virginia residents must implement age-verification systems or face lawsuits and financial penalties if minors access the material.
- The West Virginia Legislature is the state's bicameral lawmaking body consisting of the Senate and the House of Delegates. context
- Senate Bill 628 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Commercial entities publishing material harmful to minors
Must implement age and identity verification systems for website users and face civil liability and legal fees for non-compliance.
Minors
Are restricted from accessing certain online material without passing commercial age verification.
Interactive computer service providers
Are explicitly exempted from liability resulting from users accessing material harmful to minors on the internet.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What websites are required to verify user ages under this bill?
What methods can businesses use to verify a user's age?
Are internet service providers held liable if a minor accesses restricted material?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 27, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 26, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Jan 26, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy70Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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