PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Pornographic websites would need to institute age verification under a bill passed Wednesday in a House committee.

The House Judiciary Committee passed HB1257 13 to 0.

The sponsor, Republican Rep. Bethany Soye from Sioux Falls, says the porn industry is “predatory” and “actively works to snare children.”

She said similar bills in other states that require a system to confirm that minors cannot access the site have seen dramatic drops in traffic from those states.

However, Benjamin Sherman, a software developer from Rapid City, said that the decrease was likely due to adults in those states using virtual private networks–VPNs. According to VPNpros.com, a VPN is a technology that allows users to establish a secure and encrypted connection to a private network over the Internet. He said they are often free and easy to use.

Under the bill, if a minor were able to access a pornographic website, the parents would be able to sue on behalf of their child. Furthermore, the state Attorney General could also bring a lawsuit.

The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.