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Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Ohio law to require adult websites to verify users' ages
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Adult websites will soon be required to confirm that Ohio users are over 18 years old before granting them access to explicit content. A provision in the state's two-year operating budget, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in June, will require pornography platforms and any website that hosts content that is 'obscene or harmful to juveniles' to verify their visitors are adults. How a typo could mean Ohio's state tree isn't the buckeye Users in Ohio will have to prove their age by uploading a copy of a government-issued photo ID or other personal identification, such as proof of a mortgage or employment. Purveyors of online pornography would be required to 'immediately' delete such documents after the verification is complete, unless a user maintains an account or subscription. To ensure Ohio users' ages are verified, adult websites will be responsible for using technology to monitor the location of their visitors. The Ohio Attorney General will hold the sole authority to enforce the new law, which takes effect in late September, by filing civil lawsuits against companies that do not comply. The provision in the state budget follows multiple similar legislative efforts, including a bill introduced in 2024 and another earlier this year called 'The Innocence Act.' 40+ cars in Columbus for car show broken into Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.), who introduced both previous bills, argued at a hearing earlier this year that age-verification measures would protect minors from 'harmful' content. 'In Ohio, businesses that primarily sell or rent adult content are legally required to verify the age of their customers,' Demetriou said. 'The Innocence Act brings this commonsense safeguard into the 21st century.' The lawmaker cited multiple studies, including a 2010 study in the scientific journal Aggressive Behavior, that found exposure to violent X-rated content led to an increase in self-reported sexually aggressive behavior. He also pointed to studies that linked pornography to heightened feelings of social isolation and sexist attitudes toward women. The bill drew support from the Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the Center for Christian Virtue, Catholic Conference of Ohio and Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. While the age-verification bill introduced this year did not progress to the point of receiving opponent testimony before the state's new law was passed as part of the budget, the 2024 bill did. Central Ohio organization on edge after 'big, beautiful bill' passes Gary Daniels, a lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union, was the only person to speak out against the bill. He said historically such laws have been weaponized against movies, magazines, video games, sex education and more. 'There is something to be said about parental control and not involving government, law enforcement, courts, and incarceration,' Daniels said. 'Software that filters and/or blocks online content is widely available and inexpensive, much of it free. This allows parents to limit or block access for their own children without requiring the same be done for all minors and without burdening adults.' Currently, 21 states have laws in effect that require age verification to access online pornography, according to the Free Speech Coalition. Four more states – including Ohio, Missouri, Arizona and North Dakota – have passed laws that are set to go into effect in the future. Some adult websites, including PornHub, have completely blocked access to regions with age-verification laws on the books. While the Free Speech Coalition filed lawsuits against multiple states with age-verification laws, the United States Supreme Court ruled in June that a Texas age-verification law could stand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Arabian Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Ohio legislature backs mining, self‑custody and tax relief
Lawmakers in Ohio's House Technology and Innovation Committee have approved House Bill 116 — dubbed the 'Bitcoin Rights' measure — with a unanimous 13‑0 vote. The legislation safeguards personal control over encrypted digital assets, explicitly legalises individual and corporate mining and node operation, and provides a state income‑tax break of up to US $200 per transaction in capital gains from digital assets. The bill, formally titled the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act, moves to the full House for a vote as part of an initiative to position the state as a hub for blockchain and cryptocurrency operations. At the heart of the measure is the protection of self‑custody rights, allowing citizens to keep their crypto in hardware or self‑hosted wallets without interference from state or local authorities. It also shields miners and node operators from regulatory burdens. Individuals may mine at home, in residential zones, and businesses may operate industrial‑scale mining farms where zoning rules permit. Additionally, digital‑asset activities such as mining, staking, token swaps and node‑running would not trigger money‑transmitter or investment licensing requirements. ADVERTISEMENT Another key component is the $200 per transaction exclusion from Ohio state income tax on capital gains from digital assets used as payment. That threshold is set to rise annually with inflation, offering relief to small‑scale users and encouraging routine use of cryptocurrency in commerce. Local governments, including municipalities and charter counties, would also be barred from imposing their own taxes or fees on such transactions. The legislative analysis explains that the bill prevents state or locality from prohibiting acceptance of crypto as payment or from confiscating hardware or wallets. In industrial zones, mining operations enjoy protections from discriminatory rezoning, though noise and zoning regulations still apply. Proponents, including the bill's primary sponsor, Representative Steve Demetriou, have framed the bill as a foundational move to foster technology innovation, champion financial autonomy and attract blockchain businesses to Ohio. The bipartisan, unanimous committee vote reflects broad political willingness to embed crypto‑friendly measures at state level. Supporters argue Ohio will benefit economically by drawing in infrastructure investment and fostering public familiarity with digital assets — especially with enhanced legal certainty and tax incentives in place. However, critics caution that the bill may leave regulatory gaps, presenting consumer‑protection and environmental challenges. Concerns have been raised over potential disregard for energy‑intensive mining's impact on local power grids and carbon emissions. Others warn that dubbing activities like mining and staking as outside the scope of money‑transmitter laws could allow for unmonitored financial operations. Industry experts and legal analysts note that the bill's nuanced definitions — covering digital assets, hardware wallets, self‑hosted wallets, nodes and mining operations — constitute one of the more comprehensive legal frameworks for crypto in the US. Its allowance for pension funds to study digital‑asset ETF investment is also seen as a significant institutional development. Under the bill, each state retirement system must submit a report within a year assessing the viability, advantages and risks of investing in digital‑asset ETFs, and offer recommendations to reduce exposure in case of such investments. Should the full House and Senate pass the bill and the governor sign it, Ohio will rank among the most crypto‑welcoming states. Observers suggest that its balanced approach — mixing legal clarity, tax relief and targeted environmental zoning controls — may serve as a model for other jurisdictions exploring blockchain policy frameworks. With the committee stage complete, attention now turns to the legislature's upper chamber, where further amendments or debates may arise. Policy‑wonks will be watching for potential changes on environmental stipulations and consumer protections, as well as alterations to the tax‑exemption levels.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How to submit a public comment on Ohio's E-Check Ease Act
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — A plan to make Ohio's biannual vehicle emissions testing easier will soon go before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval, and state regulators want to hear from Ohio drivers. The E-Check Ease Act, introduced by state Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township), was incorporated into the state's biennial transportation budget bill signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine at the end of March. PHOTOS: Truck goes off road, US 422 ramp closed Under Ohio's E-Check program, residents in seven counties — Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit — who own cars that are between 4 and 25 years old are required to have their emissions inspected every two years. A passing inspection is required for vehicle registration in those seven counties. The proposed change would expand the exemption for newer cars from four years old to six years old. Hybrid vehicles that are seven years old or newer would also be exempt. The bill also allows vehicle owners to forego inspections entirely and obtain an 'alternative emissions certificate' from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, attesting that their car meets state emissions laws 'to the best of their knowledge.' That attestation could be rejected if the EPA determines it was falsified or if the driver was cited in the past two years for excessive exhaust or a noisy muffler, or if their vehicle was in a collision in the prior two years which caused 'substantial' internal damage. Rejected owners would then have to get the car inspected. The Ohio EPA is required to submit the new certification process to the U.S. EPA, which must decide whether it complies with the federal Clean Air Act before it can move ahead. If approved, the Ohio EPA would then implement the state-level changes. The public comment period for the bill opened earlier this month and runs through June 2. Public comments can be emailed to DAPC-Comments@ through then. The Ohio EPA is then expected to respond to the public comments and submit the changes to the U.S. EPA. 'For 30 years, Northeast Ohio has been unfairly burdened by E-Check,' Roemer is quoted in a Wednesday news release. 'It is far past time to address this problem, and I encourage citizens to reach out to eviscerate this burden.' Bond set at $2 million as Aliza Sherman's alleged killer appears in court: I-Team State Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) in a Wednesday news release said the E-Check program 'may have been well-intentioned' when it was created in 1996, but there's no evidence it has actually reduced vehicle emissions since then. He said drivers actually burn about 600,000 gallons of gas per year just to comply with the mandate. 'The $11 million the state spends would be better spent on conservation education and public transit,' he is quoted in the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Just a burden': New Ohio bill looks to eliminate E-Checks
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – State lawmakers are making a strong push to eliminate the federal requirement for E-Checks for cars four years old or older in seven northeast Ohio counties. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) recently re-introduced House Bill 115. It calls for drivers to be able to fill out a personal attestation form to confirm their vehicle is in good condition, rather than having to go to an E-check station. 'Tragic loss of life': Cause determined after man, woman, 3 kids found dead in Ohio home The two lawmakers will be continuing on with that standalone bill, which hasn't had a hearing yet, regardless of what happens with House Bill 54. House Bill 54, recently signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine, has the state's transportation budget in it, and part of that budget includes language from HB 115. Rep. Demetriou told Fox 8 that everything that he wanted to accomplish with the bill is also in HB 54, but HB 54 also requires approval from the federal government. If the Environmental Protection Agency deems the personal attestation forms as still meeting its clean air mandate for northeast Ohio, then the E-checks would no longer be required. Either way, Demetriou told Fox 8 they're going to continue to try and find a way to make the E-Check process easier or have it be eliminated it altogether. 'It's just a burden on [people]. It's really not making our air any cleaner or our lives any better, and people generally don't like it when the federal government tells them what to do, especially when it's not making a dent in their lives,' Demetriou said. 'I think between Sen. Bernie Moreno, Sen. Jon Husted, I think with the new administration, this is on people's radars in D.C., and that's really what it's going to take to end E-Check.' Erie County peace officers now allowed to use EpiPens Demetriou added that they asked the Ohio EPA to conduct a study on the effectiveness of E-Checks, but he would argue that making people drive to and from E-Check stations isn't doing anything to help the environment. He's not sure on the timing of when the federal EPA will look into the proposal to end E-Checks in Northeast Ohio. Fox 8 did request comments from the Ohio EPA. In a statement, a spokesperson directed us to their website and said: 'The E-Check program was developed in 1996 to help improve air quality by identifying cars and trucks with high emissions that might need repairs. Ohio EPA will implement and enforce any final changes that are signed into law.' In a statement sent to Fox 8, the director of Case Western Reserve University's School of Law's Environmental Law Clinic, Miranda Leppla, said eliminating E-Check would likely not have a major impact on the environment: 'Eliminating Ohio's E-Check program likely won't have a meaningful environmental impact, one way or the other. While vehicle emissions are a concern, the state's air quality issues are largely driven by coal-fired power plants and industrial pollution. E-check was a costly and inefficient program that placed the burden on individuals, particularly low-income residents, rather than addressing the major sources of pollution. Its removal is unlikely to change much.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers want to require state ID to watch porn
Republican state Rep. Steve Demetriou, R-Bainbridge Twp. (Photo from Ohio House website.) Ohio lawmakers are getting closer to requiring all porn watchers to submit their state ID and other personal information before accessing explicit content. Expressing sexual urges by watching pornography is a good thing, said Clevelander Mallory McMaster. 'I think sexuality is something that is important for human well-being,' she said. But a new bill introduced by Ohio Republicans would prevent her from going on explicit websites because it would require a state ID. In an effort to crack down on kids and teens accessing porn, state Reps. Steve Demetriou, R-Bainbridge Twp., and Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, have proposed Ohio House Bill 84, which would require every porn watcher to provide age verification. 'I just want to help protect kids here in Ohio from this harmful content online,' Demetriou said. Verification would be done by submitting a photo of your state ID or by entering your personal information into a third-party system that will then run your details through other online databases — it could also use facial recognition technology, capturing photos of users. Companies would be penalized if they don't comply. 'Clicking a box that says 'Yes I am 18′ is not gonna prevent a 15-year-old boy from going on that website,' the lawmaker said. 'Any reasonable person understands that.' This is simply like walking into an old video rental store, the Republican added, noting that consumers would have been ID'd at the door or cash register. 'We're simply taking those same sort of measures from the Ohio Revised Code into the 21st century,' he said. This bill has mainly GOP cosponsors but does have support from at least three Democrats. McMaster believes H.B. 84 might as well be H.B. 1984, referencing the classic dystopian novel about government control by George Orwell, where society members were monitored at all times. 'I would not be watching pornography on a website that required me to upload a photo of my driver's license,' she added. 'I'm not sure where it would end up.' Numerous porn watchers have reached out, sharing concerns that data could be leaked, hacked, or sold for profit. 'We're creating a log of porn that every individual watches, and it's tracked with our driver's license and a photo of our faces,' McMaster argued. 'Whether it's hacked by someone who wants to blackmail and extort us or, ICE agents who question our citizenship, or local police investigating an alleged crime of some sort, they will all have access to this information.' She referenced cases where companies secretly provide facial recognition data to police — or law enforcement buys it from data aggregators, according to The Brookings Institution. Demetriou argued that companies would be required to have a system that protects sensitive information. 'It's not like that's stored for a long period of time, it's immediately deleted,' he said. PornHub, the most visited explicit content provider in the country, and their parent company Aylo gave us a statement about states that have implemented these requirements, saying in part: 'People did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content.' Aylo explained that they have always been a supporter of age verification of users but that parents can add parental controls to their kids' devices. The bill also makes it a crime to use artificial intelligence to create porn of children or nonconsenting adults. Aylo said that they have protocols in place to moderate and remove child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual videos, such as revenge porn. The company also raised a red flag about data safety. 'Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy,' Aylo said. We asked Demetriou if his bill could push people to utilize under-moderated, obscure websites. 'We're not trying to push adults into the black market of porn, we're just simply trying to create common sense age verification procedures similar to what online gambling operations already have to do in Ohio,' he responded. McMaster said all the lawmakers are going to do is increase the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, which mask your IP address and let you bypass firewalls. The lawmakers said they did think about that and are working with organizations to geofence, which would be making a virtual perimeter around a location. 'I wouldn't want my local law enforcement agencies watching what pornography I'm watching, even though that would probably really entertain them,' McMaster said. The bill will continue to be debated in the coming weeks. McMaster said the lawmakers are amateurs and clearly should be working on bigger issues. Other online users agree, arguing that they should be dealing with sky-high property taxes, inflation, or child care costs. First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults. Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws. This is not speculation. We have seen how this scenario plays out in the United States. In Louisiana, Pornhub was one of the few sites to comply with the new law. Since then, our traffic in Louisiana dropped approximately 80 percent. These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children. The best solution to make the internet safer, preserve user privacy, and prevent children from accessing adult content is performing age verification at the source: on the device. The technology to accomplish this exists today. What is required is the political and social will to make it happen. We are eager to be part of this solution and are happy to collaborate with government, civil society and tech partners to arrive at an effective device-based age verification solution. In addition, many devices already offer free and easy-to-use parental control features that can prevent children from accessing adult content without risking the disclosure of sensitive user WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
