Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe Signs Adult Website Age Verification Law

Governor Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 1839 into law on Thursday, requiring pornography websites and social media platforms to verify that users are at least 18 years old before accessing sexually explicit content. Effective August 28, 2026, the law applies to commercial entities and mainstream networks like X and Reddit if more than one-third of their material is deemed harmful to minors. To comply, sites must use third-party verification via digital IDs, government identification, or transactional data, though these providers are prohibited from retaining user information.

The legislation codifies an administrative rule already being enforced by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, which previously led Pornhub to block access in the state. The law includes exemptions for news organizations and protects internet service providers and search engines from liability. Covered sites must also display warnings regarding mental health and addiction services.

Enforcement will be managed by the Office of the Missouri Attorney General through civil actions. Non-compliant entities face daily civil penalties of up to $10,000, with additional fines of up to $250,000 if a minor accesses prohibited material. The bill follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a similar age-verification law in Texas. State Representative Sherri Gallick carried the bill, arguing that children do not need to view pornography, while Representative Eric Woods opposed the measure, citing the ability of minors to bypass checks using VPNs.