Contributed Article/Courtesy Arizona House of Representatives
PHOENIX – The Arizona House of Representatives today has given final approval to HB2112, a measure requiring commercial pornography websites to verify a user’s age before granting access—a significant step toward protecting children online. The bill received bipartisan support and now heads to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk for her signature.
Sponsored by State Representative Nick Kupper, HB2112 holds adult websites accountable if they fail to implement reasonable age verification procedures, which neither store nor share users’ personal information. It also empowers parents of children who access pornography due to a violation of the law to take civil action against the offending companies.
“There’s no excuse for letting kids have unlimited access to hardcore pornography,” said Representative Kupper, a father of four. “HB2112 puts the responsibility where it belongs—on the companies making money off this material. If they refuse to protect children, they can be held accountable. It’s that simple.”
While the bill does not replace the need for on-device parental controls, it adds another layer of protection, giving parents another tool to help shield their children from harmful online content.
Lawmakers and parents nationwide have raised growing concerns over children’s easy access to explicit online content with no safeguards in place. Under HB2112, companies that violate the law could face steep penalties, including up to $250,000 if a minor accesses sexual content due to a failure to verify the user’s age. The bill also strictly prohibits retaining or transmitting any identifying user data, protecting user privacy.
Eleven other states have enacted similar laws, and the U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to block Texas’s version while legal challenges proceed. If signed into law, HB2112 would make Arizona one of the first states in the West to adopt enforceable online age verification standards.
“Arizona families want action, not excuses,” Representative Kupper added. “The Governor has a chance to do the right thing. This bill defends children’s safety and puts Arizona on the right side of a growing national effort.”
Nick Kupper is a Republican Arizona House of Representatives member serving Legislative District 25, which includes portions of Maricopa, Yuma, and La Paz Counties. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. Follow him on X at @kupper4arizona.
