This bill aims to enhance consumer protection by mandating age verification for websites that host material deemed harmful to minors. It introduces a new section, [325F.1791], in Minnesota Statutes, which defines key terms such as "commercial entity," "material harmful to minors," and "age verification." Under the proposed law, commercial entities that share or host such material must verify that users are at least 18 years old. The verification process can utilize commercially available databases or other approved methods, and the commissioner of commerce is tasked with reviewing and approving these methods.

Additionally, the bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, allowing the attorney general to investigate violations reported by users and to pursue civil actions against non-compliant entities. Parents or legal guardians of minors can also initiate civil actions against commercial entities that fail to verify age, with potential damages and penalties reaching up to $25,000 per violation. Importantly, the bill stipulates that Internet service providers and users of interactive computer services are not held liable under this new law.