CHARLESTON, W.V.—The state of West Virginia now has an age verification law on the books.
Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill (HB) 4412 into law on Wednesday, requiring all adult entertainment industry and mainstream platforms with more than 33 percent, or one third, of material deemed harmful to minors to verify the ages of users.
The West Virginia Office of Technology will be the entity tasked with promulgating regulations and policies on how to implement age verification laws via government-issued identity cards and transactional data. The new law creates a private right of action to pursue actual damages, with upward of $10,000 per violation.
Under the new law, Attorney General John McCuskey, a conservative Republican, will bring civil actions against alleged violators at the $10,000 per violation rate, including a fine up to $250,000 if a minor accesses content. According to the legislature, June 12, 2026, is the effective date.
