Alaska 33rd Legislature (2023-2024) Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 2 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 254 — An Act relating to minors and the Internet; and relating to use of social media by minors.

Last action — (S) REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 33rd Legislature (2023-2024). It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

61 added · 84 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to HB 254 remove specific provisions that allowed the attorney general to investigate and take legal action against companies for violations related to pornography access. They also eliminated penalties for organizations that fail to comply, including daily fines and additional penalties if minors access inappropriate content. These changes could make it harder to hold companies accountable, which matters because it may impact the protection of minors from harmful online material.

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33-LS0990\U CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
33-LS0990\S HOUSE BILL NO.
254(JUD) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Referred:
254 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES VANCE, Carpenter, Rauscher, Gray Introduced:
Rules4 Sponsor(s):
1/16/24 Referred:
REPRESENTATIVES VANCE, Carpenter, Rauscher, Gray A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to liability for publishing or distributing pornography to minors on the Internet." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Labor and Commerce, Judiciary A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to liability for publishing or distributing pornography to minors on the Internet." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
In this subsection, "commercially reasonable age verification method" includes requiring the person attempting to access the pornography to provide a digitized identification card, requiring the person to comply with a commercial age verification system that verifies HB0254b -1- CSHB 254(JUD) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0990\U age using government-issued identification, or another method that relies on public or private transactional data.
In this subsection, "commercially reasonable age verification method" includes requiring the person attempting to access the pornography to provide a digitized identification card, requiring the person to comply with a commercial age verification system that verifies HB0254a -1- HB 254 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0990\S age using government-issued identification, or another method that relies on public or private transactional data.
(c) The attorney general may investigate an alleged violation of (a) or (b) of this section and may bring a civil action in superior court.
(c) This section does not apply to a news or public interest broadcast, Internet website video, report, or event.
(d) In addition to damages under (a) or (b) of this section, a commercial entity that knowingly violates (a) or (b) of this section is liable to the state in a civil action for (1) a civil penalty of $10,000 for each day that the commercial entity is in violation of (a) or (b) of this section;
This section may not be construed to affect the rights of a (1) printed, online, or mobile platform newspaper, news publication, or news source of current news;
(2) an additional civil penalty of not more than $250,000 if, as a result of the commercial entity's violation of (a) of this section, a minor accesses pornography that the entity published or distributed;
and (3) full reasonable attorney fees and costs.
(e) When determining the amount of a civil penalty under (d)(2) of this section, the superior court shall consider (1) the seriousness of the violation, including the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
(2) the commercial entity's history of prior violations;
(3) the deterrent effect of the civil penalty;
(4) the economic effect of the civil penalty on the commercial entity;
(5) the commercial entity's knowledge of the requirements of this section;
and (6) any other information that justice requires.
(f) This section does not apply to a news or public interest broadcast, Internet website video, report, or event.
This section may not be construed to affect the rights of a CSHB 254(JUD) -2- HB0254b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0990\U (1) printed, online, or mobile platform newspaper, news publication, or news source of current news;
(g) A commercial entity that is an Internet service provider, search engine, cloud service provider, or affiliate or subsidiary of an Internet service provider is not liable under this section if the entity (1) is not responsible for the creation of the pornography;
(d) A commercial entity that is an Internet service provider, search engine, cloud service provider, or affiliate or subsidiary of an Internet service provider is not liable under this section if the entity (1) is not responsible for the creation of the pornography;
(h) In this section, (1) "commercial entity" includes a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity recognized by law;
(e) In this section, (1) "commercial entity" includes a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity recognized by law;
(3) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks;
HB 254 -2- HB0254a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0990\S (3) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks;
(B) in a manner patently offensive with respect to minors, exploits, is devoted to, or principally consists of a description or an actual, HB0254b -3- CSHB 254(JUD) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0990\U simulated, or animated display or depiction of (i) pubic hair, anuses, vulvas, genitals, or nipples of a female breast;
(B) in a manner patently offensive with respect to minors, exploits, is devoted to, or principally consists of a description or an actual, simulated, or animated display or depiction of (i) pubic hair, anuses, vulvas, genitals, or nipples of a female breast;
CSHB 254(JUD) -4- HB0254b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
HB0254a -3- HB 254 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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Action History

  1. (S) REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

  2. (S) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  3. (S) NR: BISHOP, GRAY-JACKSON

  4. (S) DP: BJORKMAN

  5. (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 16

  6. (S) L&C RPT SCS 1DP 2NR NEW TITLE

  7. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  8. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 254(L&C) Out of Committee

  9. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  10. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  11. (S) Heard & Held

  12. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  13. (S) L&C, JUD, FIN

  14. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  15. (H) VERSION: CSHB 254(JUD) AM

  16. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  17. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY

  18. (H) PASSED Y33 N6 E1

  19. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 254(JUD) AM

  20. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/26 CALENDAR

  21. (H) AM NO 9 FAILED Y16 N22 E2

  22. (H) AM NO 8 FAILED Y18 N20 E2

  23. (H) AM NO 7 FAILED Y7 N31 E2

  24. (H) AM NO 6 FAILED Y9 N28 E2 A1

  25. (H) AM NO 5 NOT OFFERED

  26. (H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y6 N32 E2

  27. (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION

  28. (H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED Y27 N11 E2

  29. (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION

  30. (H) AM NO 2 ADOPTED Y21 N17 E2

  31. (H) AM NO 1 AS AMD WITHDRAWN

  32. (H) AM 1 TO AM 1 ADOPTED Y21 N17 E2

  33. (H) AM NO 1 OFFERED

  34. (H) JUD CS ADOPTED UC

  35. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  36. (H) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER

  37. (H) HELD TO 4/24 CALENDAR

  38. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2024

  39. (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  40. (H) NR: GROH

  41. (H) DNP: GRAY

  42. (H) DP: C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, ALLARD, VANCE

  43. (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 1DNP 1NR

  44. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  45. (H) Moved CSHB 254(JUD) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 4:30 PM --

  46. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  47. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  48. (H) Heard & Held

  49. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  50. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  51. (H) Heard & Held

  52. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  53. (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  54. (H) AM: FIELDS

  55. (H) NR: PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE

  56. (H) DNP: CARRICK

  57. (H) DP: SADDLER

  58. (H) L&C RPT 1DP 1DNP 3NR 1AM

  59. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  60. (H) Moved HB 254 Out of Committee

  61. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  62. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  63. (H) Heard & Held

  64. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  65. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARPENTER

  66. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  67. (H) Heard & Held

  68. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  69. (H) L&C, JUD

  70. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  71. (H) Prefile released 1/12/24

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 61 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (61)

61 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 61 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

civil-rights technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 254?
HB 254 is sponsored by Andrew Gray (D), George Rauscher (R), Carpenter, and Sarah Vance (R).
What is the current status of HB 254?
This bill died with 33rd Legislature (2023-2024). It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 254?
Track HB 254 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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