Age Verification LawsUS states
Utah age verification laws
Adult sites have had to check ages in Utah since 3 May 2023.1 A 2026 amendment, SB 73, added a tax, state enforcement and a location rule, which a federal judge blocked on 24 September 2026.2, 3
Checked 28 October 2026 against the sources.
Utah's laws at a glance
| Law | Covers | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 287 (2023) | Adult sites | In force | 3 May 20231 |
| SB 73 (2026) | Adult sites: tax, enforcement, location ruleThe location rule is blocked. | Partly blocked | 6 May 20262, 3 |
| SB 142 (2025), amended by HB 498 (2026) | App stores | Passed | 6 May 20274 |
| SB 194 (2024) | Social media | Blocked | Injunction 10 Sep 20245 |
Adult sites: SB 287 and SB 73
The law covers websites where more than a third of the material is harmful to minors.2 SB 287 was signed on 14 March 2023; SB 73, signed on 19 March 2026, mostly took effect on 6 May 2026.1, 2, 6
Methods a site may use
A digitized ID card, an independent third-party service that checks against commercial databases, a method based on public or private transactional data, or a method the Division of Consumer Protection sets by rule.2
App stores: SB 142 and HB 498
Under the 2026 amendment, signed on 18 March 2026, the duties begin on 6 May 2027.4
What app stores must do
From 6 May 2027, check the age of anyone in Utah who creates an account, and of existing account holders within 12 months, and get a parent's consent for minors.4
What app stores may not do
Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor without verifiable parental consent, or misrepresent the consent disclosures.4
Questions people ask
Is Utah's SB 73 location rule in effect?
No. A federal judge blocked it on 24 September 2026, and it stays blocked until a judge rules on whether it is constitutional.3
When does Utah's app store law start?
On 6 May 2027, under HB 498.4
Does Utah tax adult sites?
Yes. SB 73 imposes a 2% excise tax on covered transactions from 1 October 2026, with the money going to mental health programs and enforcement.2
Sources 6
- S.B. 287 (2023), bill status (signed 14 March 2023, effective 3 May 2023), Utah State Legislature. Read 28 October 2026.
- S.B. 73, Online Age Verification Amendments (2026), enrolled copy, Utah State Legislature. Read 28 October 2026.
- Federal judge blocks Utah's VPN update to its online porn age verification law, Sean Higgins, KUER, published by KPCW, 25 September 2026 (news; we did not find the order itself). Read 28 October 2026.
- H.B. 498, Utah App Store Accountability Act Amendments (2026), enrolled copy; the bill record shows it signed by the Governor on 18 March 2026, Utah State Legislature. Read 28 October 2026.
- NetChoice v. Brown (Utah), case timeline, NetChoice (the challenger). Read 28 October 2026.
- S.B. 73 (2026), bill status data (Governor signed 19 March 2026), Utah State Legislature. Read 28 October 2026.
Every fact here comes from the law or the court record, checked again and dated, except the 24 September ruling, which comes from news. How we check
Social media: SB 194
NetChoice, a tech industry group, sued over Utah's social media laws in December 2023. The district court blocked SB 194 on 10 September 2024. Utah appealed on 10 October 2024, and the Tenth Circuit heard the appeal on 20 November 2025. We found no decision as of 28 October 2026.5