A Summary of Violent Media Legislation in the
Currently most of the laws that have been proposed in relation to violent media fall into eighteen categories. The categories are listed below, followed by the names of jurisdictions having proposed measures since 2000, and a list of those implemented. NOTE: There may be ordinances passed in cities that are not included here.
| 1. Requiring Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, or another governmental body to study media violence or ratings issues. |
4 bills proposed 1 implemented |
| 2. Setting up task forces to study the effects of violent media on children, or education programs for parents. |
Proposed in 5 jurisdictions Passed in 2 jurisdictions |
| 3. Requiring video games retailers to display the ratings (or notice of a ratings system) developed by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board |
Proposed in 12 jurisdictions Passed in 4 jurisdictions. |
| 4. Prohibiting the sale or rental of video games with excessively cruel and realistic violence to minors (some allow sale with parental permission; some prohibit it completely) |
Proposed in 35 jurisdictions Passed in 11 jurisdictions (City of Indianapolis, County of St. Louis, City of North Miami, State of Washington, Illinois, Michigan, California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Louisiana) Implemented in 0 jurisdictions (currently in courts in California, Minnesota, Louisiana, Oklahoma) |
| 5. Requiring that stores renting or selling violent video games display them separately from other video games, away from easy access. NOTE: This is required in almost all bills which prohibit the sale of violent video games (#4, above). Those are not included here. |
Proposed in 4 jurisdictions Implemented in 1 jurisdictions |
| 6. Restricting access to minors of ALL violent media or entertainment. |
Proposed in 1 jurisdictions Passed in 0 jurisdictions |
| 7. Limits on advertising or marketing video games or some movies to minors |
Proposed in 3 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 8. Advisories to the industry or miscellaneous resolutions expressing concern |
Proposed in 6 jurisdictions Implemented in 4 jurisdictions |
| 9. Alternative or more clear media ratings |
Proposed in 3 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 10. Sanctioning wrongful-injury lawsuits, against the manufacturers or retailers of violent video games industry, by victims of violent crimes |
Proposed in 1 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 11. Requiring arcades or other public places to restrict the access of violent games to minors, including games with guns as triggers |
Proposed in 2 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 12. Prohibiting ownership of or access to all video games or violent video games in correctional institutions |
Proposed in 2 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 13. Prohibiting sale or rental to minors of games that are offensive in ways other than overt violence (example racist, profane). |
Proposed in 1 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 14. Adding video games to the possible distribution methods of harmful matter (this does not necessarily cover violence other than sexual violence |
Proposed in 3 jurisdictions Implemented in 3 jurisdictions (Oklahoma, Michigan) |
| 15. Expanding the "harmful matter" definition to include violence |
Proposed in 1 jurisdiction Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 16. Requiring television distributors to provide more children's programming |
Proposed in 1 jurisdictions Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 17. Protecting retailers who act in good faith and follow ratings (Note: Many states have this already included in other bills) |
Proposed in 1 jurisdicion (Michigan) Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 18. Prohibiting sale of video games portraying violence to law enforcement officers. |
Proposed in 1 jurisdiction (South Carolina) Implemented in 0 jurisdictions |
| 19. Prohibiting sale of violent video games to all persons. |
Proposed in 1 jurisdiction (Tennessee) Implemented in 0 jurisdictions
|
| 20. Requiring Ratings symbols to be larger. |
Proposed in 1 jurisdiction (Virginia) Implemented in 0 jurisdictions
|
Many states or jurisdictions have introduced legislation in multiple years. The table below lists the number of states or other jurisdictions introducing legislation each year. Green shading shows states where legislation has passed - whether it has been ruled unconstitutional or not. For details go to detailed information:
| 2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
|
| 1 |
Florida
|
U.S. | California | U.S. | U.S. | U.S. | Arkansas |
| 2 | Hawaii | Alabama | North Miama, FL | Arkansas | California | California | Indiana |
| 3 | Indiana | Arizona | Florida | Delaware | Florida | Connecticut | Missouri |
| 4 | Iowa | Arkansas | Hawaii | Florida | Georgia | Florida | New Jersey |
| 5 | Kansas |
California
|
Chicago, IL | Indiana | Hawaii | Illinois | New York |
| 6 |
Louisiana
|
Connecticut | New Jersey | Louisiana | Mississippi | Minnesota | Tennessee |
| 7 | Maryland | DC | Virginia | Michigan | New Jersey | New Jersey | |
| 8 | Michigan | Delaware | Washington | Minnesota | Oklahoma | New York | |
| 9 |
Minnesota
|
Florida | Missouri | Tennessee | Oklahoma | ||
| 10 | Missouri |
Georgia
|
New Jersey | Washington | Oregon | ||
| 11 |
Oklahoma
|
Illinois | New York | ||||
| 12 |
Pennsylvania
|
Louisiana | Oregon | ||||
| 13 | Tennessee | Maryland | Pennsylvania | ||||
| 14 | Utah |
Michigan
|
South Carolina | ||||
| 15 | Virginia | Minnesota | Texas | ||||
| 16 | Mississippi | Washington | |||||
| 17 | Missouri | ||||||
| 18 | New York | ||||||
| 19 | North Carolina | ||||||
| 20 | Pennsylvania | ||||||
| 21 | Texas | ||||||
| 22 |
Washington
|
||||||
| 23 | Wisconsin |
Below is a list of the laws which have been successfully implemented (laws being challenged in court are not included):
| Pennsylvania | Resolution discouraging adults from letting children play 25 To Life | 2006 |
| Florida (Miami/Dade School Board) | Urging retailers not to sell video game "Bully" to minors | 2006 |
| Michigan | Extends previous legislation outlawing dissemination of sexually explicit material to minors to include video games (not specifically violence, but would include sexual violence) | 2005 |
| Michigan | Requires retailers to display notice of a ratings system | 2005 |
| US (House) | Requests FTC to investigate the Entertainment Software Ratings Board regarding the appropriateness of the Grand Theft Auto/San Andreas rating | 2005 |
| Georgia | Requires retailers to display notice of a ratings system | 2005 |
| Washington | Requires retailers to display notice of a ratings system | 2005 |
| California | Advisory to video game retailers regarding children's access to games | 2004 |
| California | Requires retailers to display ratings | 2002 (arcades) and 2004 (retailers) |
| New York | Establishes advisory council on interactive media and youth violence | 2001 |
| Oklahoma | Establishes task force on media violence | 2001 |
| Oregon | Advisory to video game retailers to restrict children's access | 2001 |
| Tennessee | Restricts display of violent video games | 2000 |