BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1860
89R10745 MLH-D	By: Hughes
	State Affairs
	3/28/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The failure of digital providers to protect the safety of minors online inspired the Texas Legislature to pass the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act. This law requires Internet sources to implement systems that give parents greater control over their child's online activity and prevents obscene material from being easily accessible.

The following are a few of the SCOPE Act's provisions:

• limit the collection and use of personal information associated with the minor;
• prevent the digital service provider from sharing, disclosing, or selling a known minor's personal information;
• prevent collection of precise geolocation data by the digital service;
• prevent the display of targeted advertising to the known minor by the digital service; or
• prevent the minor from making purchases or engaging in other financial transactions through the digital service 

S.B. 1860 updates the list of entities that do not fall under the application of Chapter 509 of the Business & Commerce Code to include private schools.

As proposed, S.B. 1860 amends current law relating to the applicability of laws protecting minors from harmful material on digital services.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 509.002(b), Business & Commerce Code, as added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, to provide that Chapter 509 (Data Brokers) does not apply to certain entities, including a private school, as that term is defined by Section 5.001 (Definitions), Education Code.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.