Wyoming HB 43

Extremely non-standard age-verification bill:

• Applies to any “entity that operates a website that, in the regular course of business, creates, hosts or makes available content that is material harmful to minors that is provided by the entity, a user or other information content provider for purposes of making a profit” – not just websites composed of 33% (or more ) material harmful to minors.
• Material harmful to minors is defined as “any picture, image, graphic image file, film, videotape or other visual depiction that is obscene or is child pornography” – i.e., content that is illegal to distribute.
• Acceptable age-verification methods include:
  • A US driver's license or identification card
  • A valid United States passport or military card
  • A tribal identification card
  • A credit card that requires the cardholder to be eighteen (18) years of age or older
  • A debit card that requires the cardholder to be eighteen (18) years of age or older
  • Any other means or method that reliably and accurately can determine whether a user of a covered platform is a minor.
• Creates a right for “any parent or guardian of a minor who is aggrieved by a violation of” the law to sue for damages, court costs, fees, and $5,000 per “failure to perform age verification”. The minor must be a permanent resident of Wyoming, have resided there for more than 1 year, or have been present in the state for at least 31 days.