The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has refiled an amended complaint against the state of Tennessee in a bid to further restrict an age verification law that imposes severe penalties on violators.

Background on the Protect Tennessee Minors Act

The Protect Tennessee Minors Act (PTMA), enacted in 2024, regulates age verification for adult websites in Tennessee. The law was amended to reflect the legal structure of the Texas age verification law, House Bill (HB) 1181.

According to the FSC, the PTMA imposes asymmetric criminal penalties on noncompliance with or violations of the law, including felony charges and up to 15 years in prison. The law requires adult websites to check ages before providing access to non-obscene material that meets the state's definition of 'harmful to minors.'

Previous Court Rulings and FSC's Response

In November 2024, FSC and co-plaintiffs filed a legal challenge against the PTMA, prompting a Tennessee district court to temporarily block the law. However, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted that preliminary injunction, allowing the law to go into effect.

Following the Supreme Court's June 2025 decision in FSC v. Paxton, FSC reps vowed to retrench in order to define 'sensible limits' on AV laws so that anti-porn legislators cannot keep chipping away at the right of adults to access protected speech.

New Amended Complaint and AG's Response

In response to the new amended complaint, the Tennessee attorney general motioned for dismissal of the case. The FSC and its co-plaintiffs argue that the PTMA violates the First Amendment by imposing a content-based burden on protected speech.

The complaint also asserts that the law's vagueness violates the 14th Amendment's due process clause, and that treating website operators as publishers of material produced by other content providers conflicts with Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act.

Key Facts

  • The Protect Tennessee Minors Act (PTMA) was enacted in 2024 and regulates age verification for adult websites in Tennessee.
  • The law imposes felony charges and up to 15 years in prison on violators.
  • FSC and co-plaintiffs filed a legal challenge against the PTMA in November 2024, prompting a temporary block of the law.
  • The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary injunction, allowing the law to go into effect.
  • The FSC has refiled an amended complaint against the state of Tennessee in a bid to further restrict the age verification law.