MONTGOMERY, Ala.—A controversial age verification law is about to partially enter force in the state of Alabama.
Starting October 1, the majority of House Bil (HB) 164 enters force, establishing the requirement for adult entertainment platforms on the internet to verify the age of users through "reasonable" age-gating measures.
However, what makes HB 164 unique is that it levies a 10 percent tax that specifically targets adult entertainment platforms and other "adult-only" websites. Unlike the other portions of the bill that enter force next week, the tax provisions will be levied starting September 1, 2025.
Funds collected by the levy would fund mental health programs, per AVN's previous reporting on HB 164.
The bill also includes language that would require adult content producers to participate in record-keeping regulations at the state level.
Alabama would be overstepping federal authority if this were the case, given that the U.S. Department of Justice regulates the age and record-keeping requirements for all pornography platforms, foreign and domestic, through 18 U.S. Code Section 2257.
Initially introduced by Republican state Rep. Ben Robbins, a social conservative representing the community of Sylacauga, the sponsor was able to capitalize on the GOP supermajority and the tenure of far-right Republican Gov. Kay Ivey to advance the sweeping measure.
Rep. Robbins recently appeared on far-right local talk radio claiming victory, with the host, a man named Dale Jackson, falsely claiming porn targets teenagers.
The appearance of Robbins on "The Dale Jackson Show" at WVNN was queued up by the fact that Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, is now warning local users to be prepared for a geo-block covering the entire digital space regulated by the state of Alabama. A spokesperson for Aylo confirmed to AVN a geo-block is set for when the age verification measures enter force. The spokesperson provided no other comments about the new tax levy specifically targeting pornography websites.
Aylo has geo-blocked most U.S. states with age verification laws that specifically target pornography websites. Aylo joined the Free Speech Coalition and other adult industry companies to sue the state of Texas to block a similar age verification law in federal court. That case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
