PRIA Logo™
AlabamaHB1612026 Regular SessionHouse

Consumer protection, app store providers and developers required to take certain actions related to age verification and parental consent, Attorney General authorized to bring action for violations as deceptive trade practice, parents authorized to bring civil action

Sponsored By: Chris Sells (Republican)

Enacted

Consumer Protection

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Alabama can penalize app protection violations

Beginning January 1, 2027, knowing or reckless violations count as deceptive trade practices. The Alabama Attorney General alone can bring these enforcement cases and seek up to $7,500 per violation, attorney fees, and court costs. A consistent pattern of knowing or reckless conduct can also lead to punitive damages. Cases must start within one year after the Attorney General knows or reasonably should know about a violation. The Attorney General can adopt implementing rules, and other legal remedies remain available.

Minors gain protections against app contracts

Beginning January 1, 2027, app stores cannot enforce contracts or terms against minors without verified parental consent. Developers must verify that consent through the app store before enforcing their contracts or terms against minors. Neither stores nor developers may knowingly mislead parents in consent notices. Stores cannot share age categories or associated data with developers except as required by law or this act. Developers cannot share age-category data with anyone.

Privacy limits protect app users’ age data

Beginning January 1, 2027, stores must limit age-check data collection and processing to age checks, parental consent, and compliance records. They must use industry-standard encryption when sending that data. Developers may use store-provided age categories only for age restrictions, protections or defaults, legal duties, or safety features. For age restrictions and safety settings, developers must use the lowest age category shown by store data or independently collected data.

Age checks for Alabama app accounts

Beginning January 1, 2027, app stores must request and verify age categories for new accounts held by people in Alabama. Accounts existing on October 2, 2026, must be checked before October 1, 2027. Checks must use a reasonably accurate commercial method or a system meeting Alabama Attorney General rules. Commercial checks must include an age statement from someone reasonably believed to be the minor’s parent or guardian, plus ordinary account information. These checks support age-based protections but require users’ age information.

App changes require renewed parental approval

Beginning January 1, 2027, developers must report significant app changes, and app stores must then notify users. Covered changes include material terms or privacy changes involving data categories, new money-making features, age ratings, or content descriptions. For minor accounts, stores must also notify parents and get renewed verified consent before allowing access to the changed version. The law generally does not require blocking apps downloaded or installed before October 1, 2026. That exception does not apply when a parent withdraws consent for a minor or the app changes significantly.

Developers receive age and consent checks

Beginning January 1, 2027, app stores must give developers real-time age categories for Alabama users and parental-consent status for minors. Developers must use those tools to verify age and consent. Required checks cover downloads or purchases, first use of pre-installed apps, significant app changes, and compliance with law. Routine requests to check age accuracy or continued use within an age category are limited to once every 12 months. Extra requests are allowed for reasonably suspected account transfers or misuse outside the age category, or new accounts with the developer.

Parents control children’s app spending

Beginning January 1, 2027, app stores must link minor accounts to parent accounts and get verified consent for downloads, app purchases, and in-app purchases. A minor is under 18 unless married or legally emancipated. Consent requires checking that the parent is at least 18, providing a notice, and recording a choice to grant or decline consent. Parents can withdraw consent, and stores must tell developers when they do. When a pre-installed app’s developer asks, stores must provide available age-category information and take reasonable steps to help obtain consent.

App companies gain limited liability protections

Beginning January 1, 2027, developers avoid liability under this act when they rely in good faith on store-provided age data and consent notices and comply with the act. A separate protection covers consent-disclosure misrepresentation claims when developers consistently and in good faith use widely adopted standards for age categories and content descriptions. These developer protections do not remove liability under other laws. Stores avoid liability under this act for wrong age signals if they use commercially reasonable checks, exercise due care, and reasonably try to resolve conflicting parental statements and account information.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Chris Sells

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Arnold Mooney

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 588 • No: 3

House vote • 2/10/2026

Sells Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 367

Yes: 103 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 244

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

Singleton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 243

Yes: 32 • No: 3

House vote • 1/22/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 94 • No: 0 • Other: 3

House vote • 1/22/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 126

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 1/22/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 125

Yes: 102 • No: 0

House vote • 1/22/2026

Motion to Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 127

Yes: 86 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    2/17/2026House

  2. Sells Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 367

    2/10/2026House

  3. Ready to Enroll

    2/10/2026House

  4. Enrolled

    2/10/2026House

  5. Signature Requested

    2/10/2026Senate

  6. Delivered to Governor

    2/10/2026House

  7. Third Reading in Second House

    2/5/2026Senate

  8. Singleton 1st Amendment Offered

    2/5/2026Senate

  9. Singleton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 243

    2/5/2026Senate

  10. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 244

    2/5/2026Senate

  11. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    1/29/2026Senate

  12. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    1/28/2026Senate

  13. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    1/23/2026Senate

  14. Third Reading in House of Origin

    1/22/2026House

  15. Chestnut 1st Amendment Offered

    1/22/2026House

  16. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 125

    1/22/2026House

  17. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 126

    1/22/2026House

  18. Motion to Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 127

    1/22/2026House

  19. Engrossed

    1/22/2026House

  20. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Children and Youth Health

    1/22/2026Senate

  21. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    1/14/2026House

  22. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    1/14/2026House

  23. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government

    1/13/2026House

  24. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation