{ "batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c1", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: ANCHOR: official statute site", "summary": "Illinois has no enacted adult-website age-verification statute; the closest enacted law, the harmful-material offense (720 ILCS 5/11-21), sits in Chapter 720 (Criminal Offenses), Act 5, Criminal Code of 2012, published by the Illinois General Assembly.", "body": "Illinois has no enacted adult-website age-verification statute; the closest enacted law, the harmful-material offense (720 ILCS 5/11-21), sits in Chapter 720 (Criminal Offenses), Act 5, Criminal Code of 2012, published by the Illinois General Assembly.\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) actually says:\n\n“Illinois Compiled Statutes - CRIMINAL OFFENSES (720 ILCS 5/) Criminal Code of 2012.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes)", "evidence_quote": "Illinois Compiled Statutes - CRIMINAL OFFENSES (720 ILCS 5/) Criminal Code of 2012.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "ANCHOR: official statute site", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c2", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: 2026 bill (SB3945) - not enacted, status", "summary": "The 2026 Adult Content Age Verification bill, SB3945 (104th General Assembly), was not enacted; its last action was on 5/22/2026, when it was re-referred to the Senate Assignments committee under Rule 3-9(a). This is the change since the earlier batch.", "body": "The 2026 Adult Content Age Verification bill, SB3945 (104th General Assembly), was not enacted; its last action was on 5/22/2026, when it was re-referred to the Senate Assignments committee under Rule 3-9(a). This is the change since the earlier batch.\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status) actually says:\n\n“Last Action 5/22/2026 - Senate: Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3945&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status)", "evidence_quote": "Last Action 5/22/2026 - Senate: Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "2026 bill (SB3945) - not enacted, status", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c3", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Covered entities (as proposed)", "summary": "SB3945, as introduced, would apply to commercial entities that knowingly publish material harmful to minors from a website containing a substantial portion of such material and that fail to use reasonable age verification.", "body": "SB3945, as introduced, would apply to commercial entities that knowingly publish material harmful to minors from a website containing a substantial portion of such material and that fail to use reasonable age verification.\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status) actually says:\n\n“Provides that a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors shall be subject to civil penalties if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3945&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status)", "evidence_quote": "Provides that a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors shall be subject to civil penalties if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Covered entities (as proposed)", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c4", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Enforcement route (as proposed)", "summary": "SB3945 as introduced would be enforced by the Attorney General through civil actions for injunctions and civil penalties, with penalties going to the Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund.", "body": "SB3945 as introduced would be enforced by the Attorney General through civil actions for injunctions and civil penalties, with penalties going to the Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund.\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status) actually says:\n\n“Provides that the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations and initiate a civil action for an injunction and to assess civil penalties.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3945&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status)", "evidence_quote": "Provides that the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations and initiate a civil action for an injunction and to assess civil penalties.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Enforcement route (as proposed)", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c5", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: 2025 bill (SB2082) - stalled in committee", "summary": "The 2025 version, SB2082 (Adult Content Age Verification), was referred to Assignments on 2/06/2025 and was never enacted.", "body": "The 2025 version, SB2082 (Adult Content Age Verification), was referred to Assignments on 2/06/2025 and was never enacted.\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status) actually says:\n\n“ADULT CONTENT AGE VERIFICATION Last Action 2/06/2025 - Senate: Referred to Assignments”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=2082&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Bill Status)", "evidence_quote": "ADULT CONTENT AGE VERIFICATION Last Action 2/06/2025 - Senate: Referred to Assignments", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "2025 bill (SB2082) - stalled in committee", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_c6", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Existing law - reasonable care to ascertain age", "summary": "Under existing 720 ILCS 5/11-21(b)(1), distributing harmful material to a minor includes doing so while failing to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the person's true age (not a website age-verification mandate).", "body": "Under existing 720 ILCS 5/11-21(b)(1), distributing harmful material to a minor includes doing so while failing to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the person's true age (not a website age-verification mandate).\n\nWhat Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) actually says:\n\n“knowingly sells, lends, distributes, exhibits to, depicts to, or gives away to a minor, knowing that the minor is under the age of 18 or failing to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the person's true age:”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes)", "evidence_quote": "knowingly sells, lends, distributes, exhibits to, depicts to, or gives away to a minor, knowing that the minor is under the age of 18 or failing to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the person's true age:", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Existing law - reasonable care to ascertain age", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "IL", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q1", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "The effective date for the official language designation in Illinois is September 4, 1991.", "body": "The effective date for the official language designation in Illinois is September 4, 1991.\n\nWhat en.wikipedia.org actually says:\n\n“date=September 4, 1991”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program; tier/confidence conservative - the verify gate decides", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "en.wikipedia.org", "evidence_quote": "date=September 4, 1991", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "any", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q2", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "The official language of Illinois is English.", "body": "The official language of Illinois is English.\n\nWhat en.wikipedia.org actually says:\n\n“Sec. 20. Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English.”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program; tier/confidence conservative - the verify gate decides", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "en.wikipedia.org", "evidence_quote": "Sec. 20. Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "any", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q3", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "The effective date for the obscenity statute (720 ILCS 5/11-20) is July 1, 2011.", "body": "The effective date for the obscenity statute (720 ILCS 5/11-20) is July 1, 2011.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“(Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11.)”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "(Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11.)", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q4", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "The effective date for the child sexual abuse material statute (720 ILCS 5/11-20.1) is January 1, 2025.", "body": "The effective date for the child sexual abuse material statute (720 ILCS 5/11-20.1) is January 1, 2025.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“(Source: P.A. 103-825, eff. 1-1-25; 103-1081, eff. 3-21-25; 104-245, eff. 1-1-26; 104-852, eff. 8-21-26.)”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "(Source: P.A. 103-825, eff. 1-1-25; 103-1081, eff. 3-21-25; 104-245, eff. 1-1-26; 104-852, eff. 8-21-26.)", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q5", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "Obscenity is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, with a second or subsequent offense being a Class 4 felony.", "body": "Obscenity is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, with a second or subsequent offense being a Class 4 felony.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“(d) Sentence. Obscenity is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense is a Class 4 felony.”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "(d) Sentence. Obscenity is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense is a Class 4 felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q6", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "Violations of child sexual abuse material statutes involving moving depictions are classified as Class X felonies.", "body": "Violations of child sexual abuse material statutes involving moving depictions are classified as Class X felonies.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“If the violation involves a film, videotape, or other moving depiction, a violation of paragraph (1), (4), (5), or (7) of subsection (a) is a Class X felony with a mandatory minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $100,000.”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "If the violation involves a film, videotape, or other moving depiction, a violation of paragraph (1), (4), (5), or (7) of subsection (a) is a Class X felony with a mandatory minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $100,000.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q7", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "Failure to report child sexual abuse material by commercial processors or technicians is a business offense with a fine of $1,000.", "body": "Failure to report child sexual abuse material by commercial processors or technicians is a business offense with a fine of $1,000.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“Failure to make such report shall be a business offense with a fine of $1,000.”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "Failure to make such report shall be a business offense with a fine of $1,000.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r7927_illinois_age_verification_laws_illinois_7927_q8", "category": "Safety", "title": "Illinois: Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "summary": "The statute does not specify a mandatory data-retention period for evidence, but requires sealing sexually explicit evidence depicting victims or witnesses upon conclusion of a case.", "body": "The statute does not specify a mandatory data-retention period for evidence, but requires sealing sexually explicit evidence depicting victims or witnesses upon conclusion of a case.\n\nWhat Illinois (official) actually says:\n\n“(e-5) Upon the conclusion of a case brought under this Section, the court shall seal all evidence depicting a victim or witness that is sexually explicit.”\n\nNote: Quinn (local boss on MCG): full page read, quote checked word-for-word on the page by the program", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&ChapAct=720+ILCS+5%2F&SeqStart=19100000&SeqEnd=20300000", "last_verified": "2026-10-24", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Illinois (official)", "evidence_quote": "(e-5) Upon the conclusion of a case brought under this Section, the court shall seal all evidence depicting a victim or witness that is sexually explicit.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "7927-illinois-age-verification-laws", "subject": "Illinois", "topic": "Effective date, verification methods, data-retention period, penalty tier, injunction", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Illinois", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-il" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } } ] }