Parents Decide Act

Josh Gottheimer

Democrat · NJ · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY-21)Original· 2026-04-13
• Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)· 2026-04-22

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2026-04-13

Source: Congress.gov

Parents Decide Act This bill establishes age-verification requirements for providers of operating systems, which includes software that supports the basic functions of a computer, mobile device, or other general purpose computing device. First, operating system providers must require users to provide their date of birth to set up an account on, and use, the operating system. If the user is under 18 years old, the operating system must require a parent or legal guardian to verify the user's date of birth. Additionally, operating system providers must develop a system to allow app developers to access information necessary to verify the date of birth of a user of the developer's app. The bill provides for enforcement of these requirements by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC also must issue regulations on how operating system providers can (1) verify the date of birth of a parent or legal guardian and carry out requirements for verifying the ages of users, (2) secure data collected through the verification process, and (3) ensure parents or legal guardians have control over what users who are under 18 years old are able to access on a device. The FTC must brief Congress on the rulemaking process and report on how operating system providers carry out the requirements of the bill.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8250 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8250 To require operating system providers to verify the age of any user of an operating system, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 13, 2026 Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Ms. Stefanik) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require operating system providers to verify the age of any user of an operating system, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Parents Decide Act''. SEC. 2. REQUIRED AGE VERIFICATION FOR USERS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS. (a) Requirements.--An operating system provider, with respect to any operating system of such provider, shall carry out the following: (1) Require any user of the operating system to provide the date of birth of the user in order to-- (A) set up an account on the operating system; and (B) use the operating system. (2) If the relevant user of the operating system is under 18 years of age, require a parent or legal guardian of the user to verify the date of birth of the user. (3) Develop a system to allow an app developer to access any information as is necessary, collected by the operating system to carry out this section and any regulation promulgated under this section, to verify the date of birth of a user of an app of the app developer. (b) Safe Harbor.--An operating system provider may not be held liable for a violation of a provision of this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act if the provider follows the requirements described in such provision or regulation. (c) Enforcement by Commission.-- (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices. (2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall enforce this section and any regulation promulgated under this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. Any person who violates this section or a regulation promulgated under this section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act. (d) Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, regulations to carry out this section, including regulations relating to the following: (A) How an operating system provider can-- (i) verify the date of birth of a parent or legal guardian described in subsection (a)(2); and (ii) carry out the requirements described in subsection (a) with respect to an operating system of such provider that may be shared by individuals of varying ages. (B) Data protection standards related to how an operating system provider shall ensure a date of birth collected by the operating system provider from a user, or the parent or legal guardian of the user, to carry out this section and any regulation promulgated under this section-- (i)…

is collected in a secure manner to maintain the privacy of the user or the parent or legal guardian of the user; and (ii) is not stolen or breached. (C) How an operating system provider shall-- (i) ensure an app developer can access information collected by the operating system provider to carry out this section and any regulation promulgated under this section, subject to the data protection standards under subparagraph (B), to verify the date of birth of a user of an app of the app developer; and (ii) ensure the parent or legal guardian of a user of an operating system who is under 18 years of age is allowed to control what such user is allowed to access on a device. (2) Briefing to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall brief Congress on the following information: (A) The rulemaking process of the Commission with respect to such regulations. (B) Any considerations of the Commission with respect to implementing such regulations. (e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on-- (1) how operating system providers carry out the requirements described in subsection (a); and (2) any recommendation for legislative action related to updating such requirements. (f) Effective Date.--This section, and any regulation promulgated pursuant to subsection (d)(1), shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (g) Definitions.--In this section: (1) App.--The term ``app'' means a software application or electronic service that may be run or directed by a user on a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device. (2) App developer.--The term ``app developer'' means a person that owns or controls an app that is available for use in the United States. (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Trade Commission. (4) Operating system.--The term ``operating system'' means software that supports the basic functions of a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device. (5) Operating system provider.--The term ``operating system provider'' means a person that develops, licenses, or controls the operating system on a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device. <all>

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