Age Verification Bills Progress in Oklahoma and Tennessee

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla./NASHVILLE, Tenn.—As age verification legislation continues to be debated across the country, bills proposed in Oklahoma and Tennessee are seeing progress through friendly state legislatures that are controlled by Republican majorities. Both of these bills propose "reasonable" age verification measures. In Oklahoma, Senate Bill (SB) 1959 was advanced through the House Rules Committee and continues on to the next steps to potentially become law. SB 1959 was first introduced by Republican state Sen. Jerry Alvord. Alvord shepherded SB 1959 through the state Senate last month with bipartisan support, 41-5.  Rep. Toni Hasenbeck is the bill carrier in the House. Thursday, she testified before the House Rules Committee that the bill is constitutional, citing the "reasonable" claims. Rep. Andy Fugate, a Democrat of Oklahoma City, disagreed with Hasenbeck by saying that SB 1959 is an "unconstitutional restraint on adult behavior” via reporting by Tulsa World. Nevertheless, it passed out of committee on a 6-2 vote. AVN reported on Senate Bill 1959 earlier this year, noting that the bill features an "opt-out" option to prevent access to age-restricted materials. If adopted, an internet service provider would be required by law to block access to such materials on any device linked to the internet and cell services belonging to the person and family. A pair of Tennessee proposals that would make violating the potential age verification law a criminal act is advancing with considerable steam. On the Senate side, Senate Bill (SB) 1792, sponsored by Republican Sen. Becky Massey, was unanimously adopted by the Senate on Tuesday. SB 1792 has now been transmitted to the House of Representatives for consideration. Note that the other measure, House Bill (HB) 1614, is being considered as a budget bill item currently before a finance subcommittee. HB 1614, sponsored by Republican Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, is technically a companion to the Massey proposal.  If passed, this means that both bills will be resolved in a conference committee to agree on their nature before being sent to Gov. Bill Lee for ratification or veto. Both bills contain language that charges violators with a felony. Other penalties adult site operators would be liable for include damages, attorney's costs, and court fees.  SB 1792 was amended earlier this month to transfer its enforcement from the Department of Homeland Security to the office of Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. The move was meant to reduce financial costs. Tennessee's age verification legislation is among the most extreme yet seen, given the felony charges.