Missouri Adult-Site Age Verification (HB 1839 and 15 CSR 60-18)
Missouri, United States- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Became Law
Missouri first imposed its adult-content ID check by Attorney General rule, then put the same checkpoint into state law through HB 1839.
Latest update
HB 1839 took effect, backing the Attorney General rule with statute
Current position
In force under both statute and Attorney General rule
What it does
Rule 15 CSR 60-18 declares it an unlawful practice to run a site, app, or self-contained sexual-content segment that is 33 percent or more pornographic without verifying users are 18. Its definition of covered service names social media platforms. HB 1839 now separately requires commercial adult websites to verify age through digital identification, government ID, or transactional data, prohibits retention of identifying information, and gives the Attorney General penalties reaching $10,000 per day and up to $250,000 when a minor gains access.
Why it matters
Missouri now has two legal routes to the same checkpoint. The Attorney General can enforce the rule it wrote and a statute approved by the legislature, making the mandate harder for a future officeholder to withdraw and giving it a stronger basis in court.
Our take
Missouri tested the mandate through executive rulemaking, then locked it into statute. The supposed privacy protection is a promise not to retain the identity data people must hand over before accessing lawful content.
Timeline
HB 1839 took effect, backing the Attorney General rule with statute
LatestGovernor approved HB 1839
Took effect
Rule finalized
Sponsors
Rep. Sherri Gallick, Missouri Attorney General