Mississippi Republican Introduces Copycat Age Verification Bill

Mississippi Republican Introduces Copycat Age Verification Bill

JACKSON, Miss. — A Republican state senator in Mississippi has introduced a copycat bill patterned after the Louisiana state law that mandates age verification for websites featuring pornographic content.

Sen. Nicole Boyd (R-Oxford) introduced Senate Bill 2346, which was approved by the Mississippi Senate Judiciary B Committee yesterday.

SB 2346 would “hold liable any commercial entity that disseminates pornographic material and doesn’t perform ‘reasonable’ age verification,” conservative news site The Center Square reported.

The bill would “exempt news gathering organizations and internet service providers from liability under the bill,” The Center Square noted.

During the committee hearing, Boyd acknowledged that she had met with Louisiana Senate President Pro Tem Beth Mizell (R-Franklinton) to discuss Louisiana’s recent Act 440, that state’s age verification law championed by religious anti-porn therapist and legislator Laurie Schlegel (R-Matairie).

Boyd explicitly pointed out that she modeled Mississippi’s SB 2346 after the Louisiana legislation. The senator claimed that her bill “would require the sites to delete private information after access has been granted to protect against data breaches,” The Center Square reported.

“We don’t let people get alcohol or cigarettes before the age of 21,” Boyd told the committee. Then, holding up her iPhone, she warned, “Your teenagers and younger children have access to pornography at their fingertips. I was shocked at the prevalence of pornography among our teen population.”

Boyd has built a reputation in Mississippi as a “women, children and families” GOP expert and was recently tasked by the governor with “mapping out what the next chapter of the pro-life agenda should be,” Christian news website the Daily Journal reported.

A Tsunami of Republican Copycat Bills

Last week, Arkansas state senators Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) and Jim Petty (R-Van Buren) introduced another copycat bill, Senate Bill 66, requiring age verification before “entering a website offering pornography.”

The bill includes the senators’ definition of what kinds of material would constitute pornography, and mandates that “any website with over 23.33% of its material meeting the pornography description” institute age verification.

The Mississippi bill is heading to the State Senate floor, where it will have to be approved before Feb. 9 to be sent to the House.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More