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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the access and communications settings for accounts of |
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minor users of digital services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 509, Business & Commerce |
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Code, as added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended by adding Section |
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509.0525 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 509.0525. ACCESS AND COMMUNICATIONS SETTINGS FOR |
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ACCOUNTS OF KNOWN MINORS. (a) A digital service provider shall |
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create access and communications controls for user accounts of |
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known minor users of the digital service in accordance with this |
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section. |
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(b) The initial default settings for the account of a known |
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minor user of a digital service must be set to: |
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(1) limit the amount of time spent using the service to |
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one hour each day; |
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(2) prohibit unsolicited messages or communications |
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from unknown users; |
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(3) prohibit any comments, likes, or reactions to |
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content posted by a known minor user; |
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(4) prohibit the public display of a known minor user's |
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list of friends, contacts, or followers; and |
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(5) prohibit the use of algorithms to automate the |
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suggestion, promotion, or ranking of information or content on the |
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digital service. |
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(c) A verified parent of a known minor may use parental |
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tools created under Section 509.054 to change the access and |
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communications settings on the minor's user account at any time. |
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SECTION 2. Section 509.054(b), Business & Commerce Code, as |
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added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Parental tools under this section must allow a verified |
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parent to: |
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(1) control the known minor's privacy and account |
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settings, including changing the default access and communications |
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settings on the account under Section 509.0525; |
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(2) alter the duties of a digital service provider |
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under Section 509.052 with regard to the verified parent's known |
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minor; |
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(3) if the verified parent alters the duty of a digital |
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service provider under Section 509.052(2)(A), restrict the ability |
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of the verified parent's known minor to make purchases or engage in |
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financial transactions; and |
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(4) monitor and limit the amount of time the verified |
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parent's known minor spends using the digital service. |
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SECTION 3. Section 509.056, Business & Commerce Code, as |
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added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 509.056. USE OF ALGORITHMS. Except where the use of |
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algorithms is prohibited under Section 509.0525, a [A] digital |
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service provider that uses algorithms to automate the suggestion, |
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promotion, or ranking of information to known minors on the digital |
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service shall: |
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(1) make a commercially reasonable effort to ensure |
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that the algorithm does not interfere with the digital service |
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provider's duties under Section 509.053; and |
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(2) disclose in the digital service provider's terms |
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of service, privacy policy, or similar document, in a clear and |
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accessible manner, an overview of: |
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(A) the manner in which the digital service uses |
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algorithms to provide information or content; |
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(B) the manner in which algorithms promote, rank, |
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or filter information or content; and |
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(C) the personal identifying information used as |
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inputs to provide information or content. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, Section 509.0525, Business & Commerce Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to accounts created on digital services on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) Digital service providers shall ensure accounts created |
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on digital services before the effective date of this Act comply |
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with Section 509.0525, Business & Commerce Code, as added by this |
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Act, not later than January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |