Louisiana

Subnational jurisdiction · as of 2026-07-15

Louisiana was the first state to require age verification for adult websites, in effect since 2023. Its 2023 social media age verification and parental consent law, effective July 1, 2025 after a one-year delay, was permanently enjoined by a federal court in December 2025. A 2025 App Store Accountability Act took effect July 1, 2026, putting age-verification and parental-consent duties on app developers. No design code law has been enacted.

01

Instruments on record

Act 481 (HB 570), App Store Accountability Act

In force

La. R.S. 51:1771 et seq., including R.S. 51:1773

Effective 2026-07-01 · Applies to private

Requires app developers, not app store providers, to verify a user's age category through the covered app store's data sharing methods, link a minor's account to a parent account, and obtain verifiable parental consent before the minor can download an app, purchase an app, or make an in-app purchase. Enacted in 2025 as Act 481 (HB 570), effective July 1, 2026.

Age threshold18
Verification methodsdevice signal, parental consent
Enforcement bodyLouisiana Attorney General

Source: Full text of law

Act 456 (SB 162), Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act

Enjoined

La. R.S. 51:1751 to 51:1756

Effective 2025-07-01 · Applies to private

Required social media platforms with 5 million or more worldwide account holders to verify the age of Louisiana users and obtain parental consent for account holders under 16. Its original July 1, 2024 effective date was delayed one year to July 1, 2025 by Act 656 of 2024. A federal court held the act unconstitutional and permanently enjoined enforcement on First Amendment grounds in December 2025, and Louisiana has docketed its appeal at the Fifth Circuit.

Age threshold16
Verification methodsthird party service, parental consent
PenaltiesCivil penalties up to $2,500 per violation after a 45 day cure period.
Enforcement bodyLouisiana Division of Public Protection (enforcement permanently enjoined).
Private suitsno

Litigation: NetChoice v. Murrill, No. 3:25-cv-00231-JWD-RLB (M.D. La.); appeal docketed as NetChoice v. Murrill, Nos. 26-30016 and 26-30223, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit). Summary judgment for NetChoice on December 15, 2025 held Act 456 unconstitutional and permanently enjoined enforcement as to NetChoice member platforms. Louisiana docketed its appeal at the Fifth Circuit on January 14, 2026 as No. 26-30016, with a related notice of appeal docketed April 22, 2026 as No. 26-30223. Louisiana filed its opening brief on March 25, 2026 and NetChoice filed its opposition brief on May 26, 2026. The appeal remains pending, with no oral argument date yet set.

Source: Full text of law

Act 440 (HB 142), age verification for material harmful to minors

In force

La. R.S. 9:2800.28

Effective 2023-01-01 · Applies to private

Commercial entities whose websites contain a substantial portion (one third or more) of material harmful to minors must perform reasonable age verification of Louisiana visitors. A 2024 amendment added Attorney General enforcement alongside the original private right of action.

Age threshold18
Verification methodsgov id, digital id, transactional data
PenaltiesPrivate civil action for damages resulting from a minor's access, plus attorney fees and court costs, with no fixed statutory amount; a 2024 amendment lets the Attorney General fine noncompliant sites up to $5,000 per day and, for a knowing violation, an additional $10,000 per violation, both paid to the state, not the private plaintiff.
Enforcement bodyLouisiana Attorney General, who may investigate and bring a civil penalty action in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court (East Baton Rouge Parish) under a companion statute, La. R.S. 51:2121 (2023 La. Acts No. 216, HB 77); this Section (R.S. 9:2800.28) also arms an individual with a private right of action for damages.
Private suitsyes

Source: Full text of law