Porn Age Verification Laws by State (2026): All 27 States
27 US states now require porn sites to check your age. Here is every state, when its law took effect, what it requires, and why Pornhub blocks most of them.
If a porn site suddenly asked for your ID, or showed you a block page instead of videos, you've run into an age-verification law. As of late 2026, 27 US states require adult websites to check that visitors are 18 or older. This guide lists every state, explains what the laws require, and why some sites, including Pornhub, block whole states instead.
Short answer: 27 states have porn age-verification laws in force, starting with Louisiana in January 2023. Sites must check age with an ID, a digital driver's license or a third-party age check. In June 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the laws in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton. Some sites, most notably Pornhub, block states with these laws rather than collect IDs.
Which states have porn age-verification laws?
Laws checked against four trackers (Recording Law, the Age Verification Providers Association, the Free Speech Coalition and State of Surveillance) in September and October 2026. Dates are when each law took effect.
| State | Law | In effect since |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | HB 164 | October 2024 |
| Arizona | HB 2112 | September 2025 |
| Arkansas | SB 66 | August 2023 |
| Florida | HB 3 | January 2025 |
| Georgia | SB 351 | July 2025 |
| Idaho | H 498 | July 2024 |
| Indiana | SEA 17 | 2024 |
| Iowa | HF 864 | July 2026 |
| Kansas | SB 394 | July 2024 |
| Kentucky | HB 278 | July 2024 |
| Louisiana | Act 440 (HB 142) | January 2023 |
| Mississippi | SB 2346 | July 2023 |
| Missouri | HB 1839 and AG rule | November 2025 (rule), August 2026 (law) |
| Montana | SB 544 | January 2024 |
| Nebraska | LB 1092 | July 2024 |
| North Carolina | HB 8 (PAVE Act) | January 2024 |
| North Dakota | HB 1561 | August 2025 |
| Ohio | HB 96 | September 2025 |
| Oklahoma | SB 1959 | November 2024 |
| South Carolina | H.3424 | January 2025 |
| South Dakota | HB 1053 | July 2025 |
| Tennessee | Public Chapter 1021 | January 2025 |
| Texas | HB 1181 | September 2023 |
| Utah | SB 287 | May 2023 |
| Virginia | SB 1515 | July 2023 |
| West Virginia | HB 4412 | June 2026 |
| Wyoming | HB 43 | July 2025 |
Not on the list: Wisconsin passed a bill in 2026, but it was vetoed and the override failed. Bills in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and a few other states were pending or stalled at last check. Laws change quickly, so check your state's current status before relying on this list.
What the laws require
The details vary by state, but most follow the same model, first used in Louisiana:
- Who it covers. Commercial websites where a large share of the content is sexual material harmful to minors, usually a third or more of the site. Kansas sets the bar at a quarter. A few states, including Indiana, Tennessee, South Dakota and Missouri, apply more broadly.
- How age is checked. Sites must use a "reasonable" age-verification method: a government ID, a state digital driver's license, a third-party age-check service, or checks against transactional or commercial data. Florida also requires sites to offer at least one anonymous option.
- Data rules. Most laws ban sites and verification companies from keeping your ID data after the check.
- Stricter states. Tennessee requires a liveness check and re-verification every 60 minutes. Ohio requires re-verification every two years.
Penalties for sites
The penalties fall on websites, not visitors. Depending on the state, sites face attorney-general fines, often thousands of dollars per violation or per day, and in most states parents can sue a site that let a minor in. Tennessee goes furthest: violations there are a felony.
The Supreme Court ruling
The laws were challenged as a violation of free speech for adults. On June 27, 2025, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the Supreme Court upheld Texas's law 6–3, ruling that states can require age checks for sexual content. Since then, no court has blocked a state's core age-verification requirement, though a few states have had smaller parts of their laws paused.
Why is Pornhub blocked in my state?
Pornhub's owner, Aylo, chose not to collect ID from visitors in most states with these laws. Instead it blocks those states entirely and shows a message explaining why. Its sister sites, including YouPorn, RedTube and Tube8, do the same. It's a business decision, not a government ban on Pornhub. In Louisiana, which has its own state digital ID app, Pornhub used that app for verification instead of blocking.
Other sites handle it differently. Some ask for an age check, some block, and some ignore the laws and risk penalties. Our Pornhub review has more on how it works today.
What it means for you
- Your options depend on the site. Some sites in your state may ask you to verify, others may be unavailable, and paid sites usually verify through your payment.
- Be careful who gets your ID. Only verify through the official site or a well-known age-check provider. Never upload ID to a site that looks unofficial, and avoid "free premium" or leaked-content sites, which are where most scams and malware are.
- Paid sites are a straightforward option. A premium porn site membership involves a payment check anyway, and there are no ads.
- Keep it private. Our guide to watching porn privately covers private browsing, separate accounts and discreet payments.
Outside the US
The US isn't alone. The UK's Online Safety Act has required porn sites to use "highly effective" age checks since July 2025, and France also requires age checks. Aylo suspended access to its sites in France in 2025 rather than comply with the French rules. Expect more countries to follow.
FAQ
Which states require ID for porn sites?
27 states as of late 2026: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Why is Pornhub not working in my state?
Pornhub's owner blocks most states with age-verification laws instead of collecting ID from visitors. If your state is on the list above, you'll likely see a block message instead of videos.
Are porn age-verification laws legal?
Yes. In June 2025, the US Supreme Court upheld Texas's law in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which confirmed that states can require age checks for adult websites.
Do I get in trouble for visiting a porn site?
No. The laws put the duty and the penalties on websites, not on adult visitors.
What counts as age verification?
Usually a government ID, a state digital driver's license, a third-party age-check service, or a check against financial or commercial records. The exact options depend on the state.
Which state was first to pass a porn age-verification law?
Louisiana. Its law took effect on January 1, 2023, and most later laws copied its approach.
This guide explains the law in general terms and isn't legal advice. Laws checked October 2026.
