HB 8, Pornography Age Verification Enforcement (PAVE) Act
In force
N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 66, art. 51, sections 66-500 to 66-501 (Session Law 2023-132)
Effective 2024-01-01 · Applies to private
Commercial entities that knowingly publish or distribute material harmful to minors from a website where more than one third of the content meets that definition must verify that visitors are 18 or older using a commercial database or another commercially reasonable method. Providers may not retain identifying information after access is granted, and enforcement is solely through private civil suits by parents, guardians, or affected individuals.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | third party service, transactional data |
| Penalties | Civil injunctions, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, sought by private plaintiffs. |
| Enforcement body | None (private civil action only); no designated state enforcement agency |
| Private suits | yes |
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 66, art. 51, sections 66-500 to 66-501 (Session Law 2023-132)
HB 805, Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act
In force
N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 66, art. 51A, sections 66-505 to 66-510 (Session Law 2025-84)
Effective 2025-12-01 · Applies to private
Operators of websites and apps that publish pornographic images must verify, before publication, that every individual depicted was at least 18 when the image was created and gave explicit written consent to each act and to distribution, backed by a signed consent form and matching government-issued identification. Operators must display removal instructions, remove images within 72 hours of a request from a depicted individual or law enforcement, and block removed images from re-publication; this regulates verification of people appearing in content rather than website visitors. The act was enacted over the Governor's veto on July 29, 2025.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | gov id |
| Penalties | Attorney General civil penalties up to $10,000 per day per image after notice; private civil actions for $10,000 per day per image or actual damages, plus attorney fees. |
| Enforcement body | North Carolina Attorney General, plus private civil actions by depicted individuals or their representatives |
| Private suits | yes |
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 66, art. 51A, sections 66-505 to 66-510 (Session Law 2025-84)
HB 301, social media and minors safety act
Proposed
H.B. 301, 2025-2026 Session (General Assembly, as passed by both chambers in differing forms)
Applies to private
As passed by the House 106-6 in May 2025, the bill would bar children under 14 from holding social media accounts and require parental consent for 14 and 15 year olds, with age verification duties on platforms. The Senate passed a revised committee substitute 48-0 on June 10, 2026, the House voted not to concur on June 23, 2026, and a conference committee was appointed the next day to reconcile the versions.
| Age threshold | 16 |
| Verification methods | parental consent |
| Penalties | Proposed civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation, plus up to $10,000 in damages for an affected minor. |
| Enforcement body | North Carolina Department of Justice (proposed) |
| Private suits | yes |
Source: H.B. 301, 2025-2026 Session (General Assembly, as passed by both chambers in differing forms)