{
  "batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_statute_absence",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Whether Pennsylvania has an enacted age-verification statute for adult content websites",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania has no enacted statute requiring age verification for websites that publish or distribute adult content, as of September 12, 2026.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania has no enacted statute requiring age verification for websites that publish or distribute adult content, as of September 12, 2026.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Chapter 59.  Public Indecency § 5901.  Open lewdness. § 5902.  Prostitution. § 5903.  Obscene and other sexual materials and performances. § 5904.  Public exhibition of insane or deformed person.”\n\nNote: I searched the full table of contents for Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) on the Pennsylvania General Assembly's official statute site. There is no chapter or section titled 'age verification' or equivalent. The closest provisions are in Chapter 59 (Public Indecency) and Chapter 31 (Sexual Offenses), neither of which contains a website age-verification requirement. I also searched the AVPA's state law tracker (February 2026 edition), which lists 25 states with enacted age-verification laws; Pennsylvania is not among them. Confidence is 'contested' because an absence inferred from an index is a weaker kind of fact than a statute's operative text.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.000.000.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "CREATOR STRATEGY",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "Chapter 59.  Public Indecency § 5901.  Open lewdness. § 5902.  Prostitution. § 5903.  Obscene and other sexual materials and performances. § 5904.  Public exhibition of insane or deformed person.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania",
      "topic": "Whether Pennsylvania has an enacted age-verification statute for adult content websites",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_avpa_pending",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] AVPA classification of Pennsylvania's age-verification status",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] The AVPA lists Pennsylvania as a state with a pending age-verification bill (SB 603) but not as a state with an enacted law.",
      "body": "The AVPA lists Pennsylvania as a state with a pending age-verification bill (SB 603) but not as a state with an enacted law.\n\nWhat AVPA (The Age Verification Providers Association) actually says:\n\n“Pennsylvania SB 603 is a 2025–26 bill \"Requiring Age Verification for Internet Pornography\"”\n\nNote: AVPA page reflects position as of February 2026. Pennsylvania is listed under 'Bills currently under consideration' and not in the 25-state list of enacted laws.",
      "source_type": "research",
      "source_link": "http://avpassociation.com/us-state-age-verification-laws-for-adult-content",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "B",
      "source_publisher": "AVPA (The Age Verification Providers Association)",
      "evidence_quote": "Pennsylvania SB 603 is a 2025–26 bill \"Requiring Age Verification for Internet Pornography\"",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania",
      "topic": "AVPA classification of Pennsylvania's age-verification status",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_sb603_status",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Status of Pennsylvania's pending age-verification bill",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania Senate Bill 603 (2025–2026 session), titled 'Requiring Age Verification for Internet Pornography,' was referred to the Judiciary Committee on April 9, 2025, and has not been enacted as of September 12, 2026.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania Senate Bill 603 (2025–2026 session), titled 'Requiring Age Verification for Internet Pornography,' was referred to the Judiciary Committee on April 9, 2025, and has not been enacted as of September 12, 2026.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Last Action: Referred to Judiciary,  April 9, 2025”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb603",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "Last Action: Referred to Judiciary,  April 9, 2025",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania SB 603",
      "topic": "Status of Pennsylvania's pending age-verification bill",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "failed",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "hollow_body",
          "strong_label_on_weak_content"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_hb1513_status",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "Status of Pennsylvania's pending age-verification bill (House)",
      "summary": "Pennsylvania House Bill 1513 (2025–2026 session), titled 'Requiring Age Verification To Pornographic Websites To Prevent Children From Gaining Access,' was referred to the Communications & Technology Committee on May 29, 2025, and has not been enacted as of September 12, 2026.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania House Bill 1513 (2025–2026 session), titled 'Requiring Age Verification To Pornographic Websites To Prevent Children From Gaining Access,' was referred to the Communications & Technology Committee on May 29, 2025, and has not been enacted as of September 12, 2026.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Last Action: Referred to Communications & Technology,  May 29, 2025”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1513",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "Last Action: Referred to Communications & Technology,  May 29, 2025",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania HB 1513",
      "topic": "Status of Pennsylvania's pending age-verification bill (House)",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_sb1314_failed",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "Pennsylvania SB 1314: Prior failed age-verification bill",
      "summary": "Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1314 (prior session), which would have required age verification for websites containing at least 33.33% content 'harmful to minors,' failed to pass by the end of the legislative session.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1314 (prior session), which would have required age verification for websites containing at least 33.33% content 'harmful to minors,' failed to pass by the end of the legislative session.\n\nWhat Free Speech Coalition actually says:\n\n“Latest Action: Failed to pass by the end of the legislative session on”\n\nNote: The FSC bill tracker page shows this bill did not advance through all stages.",
      "source_type": "research",
      "source_link": "https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/bill/pennsylvania-sb-1314",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "B",
      "source_publisher": "Free Speech Coalition",
      "evidence_quote": "Latest Action: Failed to pass by the end of the legislative session on",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania SB 1314",
      "topic": "Prior failed age-verification bill",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_5903c_dissemination",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c): Existing prohibition on disseminating explicit sexual materials to minors",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's existing obscenity statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c), prohibits knowingly disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor, but does not impose any affirmative age-verification duty on websites or distributors.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's existing obscenity statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c), prohibits knowingly disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor, but does not impose any affirmative age-verification duty on websites or distributors.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“(c)  Dissemination to minors.--No person shall knowingly disseminate by sale, loan or otherwise explicit sexual materials to a minor.”\n\nNote: This provision makes it a crime to knowingly give explicit sexual materials to a minor, but it does not require distributors or website operators to verify the age of recipients or visitors. The prohibition is on the act of dissemination to a known or knowable minor, not on failing to implement an age-verification system.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.059.003.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "(c)  Dissemination to minors.--No person shall knowingly disseminate by sale, loan or otherwise explicit sexual materials to a minor.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c)",
      "topic": "Existing prohibition on disseminating explicit sexual materials to minors",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_5903h_penalty",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(h)(2): Penalty for disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c), violation of the prohibition on disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor is a felony of the third degree, or a felony of the second degree for repeat offenders.",
      "body": "Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(c), violation of the prohibition on disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor is a felony of the third degree, or a felony of the second degree for repeat offenders.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“(h) Criminal prosecution.-- (2) Any person who violates subsection (c) or (d) is guilty of a felony of the third degree. Violation of subsection (c) or (d) is a felony of the second degree if the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of subsection (c) or (d).”",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.059.003.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "(h) Criminal prosecution.-- (2) Any person who violates subsection (c) or (d) is guilty of a felony of the third degree. Violation of subsection (c) or (d) is a felony of the second degree if the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of subsection (c) or (d).",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(h)(2)",
      "topic": "Penalty for disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.enforcement",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "failed",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "hollow_body",
          "strong_label_on_weak_content"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_5903b_knowingly",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(b): Definition of 'knowingly' and age-ascertainment standard",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pennsylvania's existing statute defines 'knowingly' for purposes of the dissemination-to-minors prohibition to include having reason to know or a belief warranting further inquiry about the age of the minor, and an honest mistake is an excuse if a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain age was made.",
      "body": "Pennsylvania's existing statute defines 'knowingly' for purposes of the dissemination-to-minors prohibition to include having reason to know or a belief warranting further inquiry about the age of the minor, and an honest mistake is an excuse if a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain age was made.\n\nWhat Pennsylvania General Assembly actually says:\n\n“\"Knowingly\" means having general knowledge of, or reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both: (i)  the character and content of any material or performance described herein which is reasonably susceptible of examination by the defendant; and (ii)  the age of the minor: Provided, however, That an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability hereunder if the defendant made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.”\n\nNote: This is the closest thing Pennsylvania's existing law has to an age-verification standard, but it applies to the dissemination-to-minors offense under § 5903(c), not to a general website age-verification requirement.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.059.003.000..HTM",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "\"Knowingly\" means having general knowledge of, or reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both: (i)  the character and content of any material or performance described herein which is reasonably susceptible of examination by the defendant; and (ii)  the age of the minor: Provided, however, That an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability hereunder if the defendant made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(b)",
      "topic": "Definition of 'knowingly' and age-ascertainment standard",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r190_pennsylvania_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_pa_hb1513_memo_scope",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "Pennsylvania HB 1513: Proposed scope of the pending age-verification bill",
      "summary": "The co-sponsorship memo for Pennsylvania HB 1513 states the bill would 'require any entity that publishes pornographic or sexual content online to utilize a commercially reasonable method of age verification.'",
      "body": "The co-sponsorship memo for Pennsylvania HB 1513 states the bill would 'require any entity that publishes pornographic or sexual content online to utilize a commercially reasonable method of age verification.'\n\nWhat Pennsylvania House of Representatives actually says:\n\n“this legislation will require any entity that publishes pornographic or sexual content online to utilize a commercially reasonable method of age verification.”\n\nNote: This is from the bill's co-sponsorship memo (not enacted law). The memo was circulated December 2, 2024. The bill is still in committee. The language 'any entity that publishes pornographic or sexual content online' could potentially include individual creators, but this has not been tested in law.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.palegis.us/house/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=43504",
      "last_verified": "2026-09-12",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Pennsylvania House of Representatives",
      "evidence_quote": "this legislation will require any entity that publishes pornographic or sexual content online to utilize a commercially reasonable method of age verification.",
      "volatility": "medium",
      "from_batch": "190-pennsylvania-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "Pennsylvania HB 1513",
      "topic": "Proposed scope of the pending age-verification bill",
      "applies_to_country": "us",
      "applies_to_scope": "Pennsylvania state law — pending, not enacted",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-pa"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.id",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    }
  ]
}