Arizona governor signs porn age verification law 

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently signed a pornography age verification bill into law despite vetoing the measure last session. 

The law will require pornography sites to ensure Arizona users are at least 18 years old by requiring information from a government-issued ID. 

Hobbs said she signed the proposal after the backlash she received from parents over her 2024 veto. 

“I heard from parents across the state about their concerns about the harm caused by materials that children are exposed to online,” Hobbs recently told reporters. 

When she vetoed the legislation in 2024, Hobbs cited the First Amendment as one of her reasons. 

“This legislation goes against settled case law. Children’s online safety is a pressing issue for parents and the state,” Hobbs said at the time. “While we look for a solution, it should be bipartisan and work within the bounds of the First Amendment, which this bill does not.” 

Her reversal surprised Rep. Nick Kupper, R-Surprise, who introduced the measure. 

“Hardcore pornography has been just one click away from kids for too long, and the companies behind it have looked the other way while cashing in,” Kupper said in a statement. “This law forces them to take responsibility and keeps minors off their platforms. I’m proud Arizona is stepping up to hold these companies accountable. Protecting children online shouldn’t be a partisan fight.” 

The legislation began with significant bipartisan support, with 12 of 27 House Democrats approving it initially. Just two Democrats voted for it in the House’s final vote. 

Arizona is now the 21st state to enact such an age verification law.  

The American Civil Liberties Union opposes such laws, citing privacy and tracking concerns. 

“Uploading an ID, entering bank account information, or submitting to facial recognition technology specifically to access sexual content will make most people think twice, particularly when it means potentially creating a record of online activity that reveals our sexual preferences, interests, and questions,” its website says. 

Pornography age verification bills have been filed in other state legislatures, including New York, Iowa and Missouri.  

In Missouri, the proposal has strong bipartisan support. 

“My district did have firewalls, but these kids are really smart, and they know how to get around it. It interrupted my ability to teach because I was constantly kicking them off of porn sites, and we’re talking about third, fourth and fifth graders,” Rep. Connie Steinmetz, D-Hazelwood, told Missourinet.