SB 467: Minors; procedures to validate the age of certain persons using any app; require

This bill creates a new chapter of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 39) covering app stores and app developers. It would require app store providers to verify the age category of every account holder in Georgia, either through a commercially available verification method or, for minors, through a parent's affirmative attestation. Existing accounts would need to be verified by July 1, 2027. Minor accounts would have to be linked to a parent account, and the app store would need fresh parental consent every time a minor downloads an app or makes an in-app purchase. Parents could withdraw consent, and app stores would have to notify parents and get renewed consent after a significant change to an app, such as new data collection or new ads. Developers would receive limited age category data from app stores to enforce their own age restrictions, but could not misuse or share that data. The Attorney General could enforce the law using the same powers as under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act, and the bill spells out liability protections for developers who rely in good faith on the app store's age data.

• Requires app store providers to verify the age category (child, younger teenager, older teenager, or adult) of every Georgia account holder, with existing accounts verified by July 1, 2027.
• Requires minor accounts to be linked to a parent account and requires new parental consent before every app download, app purchase, or in-app purchase by a minor.
• Requires app stores and developers to notify account holders and re-obtain parental consent after a significant change to an app, such as new data sharing, a changed age rating, new in-app purchases, or new ads.
• Limits how age category data can be collected, encrypted, and shared between app stores and developers, and bans app stores and developers from sharing that data beyond what the law allows.
• Gives the Attorney General authority to enforce the new chapter using the same powers available under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.
• Shields developers from liability if they show good-faith reliance on age data or parental consent notifications received from an app store, provided they meet the law's other requirements.

App store providers such as those operating on mobile phones and tablets, software developers who distribute apps through those stores, parents and legal guardians of minors, minor account holders themselves, and the Georgia Attorney General's office, which would enforce the new requirements.

Georgia families would see new age-verification steps and parental consent prompts before minors can download apps or spend money in them. App developers and app stores would face new compliance duties and possible Attorney General enforcement, changing how minors' access to apps and in-app purchases is managed statewide.

• Code Section 39-7-1 defines key terms including 'account holder,' 'age category,' 'minor account,' 'parent account,' and 'significant change,' setting the age bands used throughout the chapter.
• Code Section 39-7-2 requires app store providers to verify age categories, link minor accounts to parent accounts, obtain parental consent before downloads or purchases, and protect age data with encryption; verification of existing accounts is due by July 1, 2027.
• Code Section 39-7-3 requires developers to verify age category data or parental consent at download, purchase, or first launch, and limits how often developers may re-request age data (generally once per 12 months absent suspicion of misuse).
• Code Section 39-7-4 gives the Attorney General enforcement authority equivalent to that under the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.
• Code Section 39-7-5 protects developers from liability if they show good-faith reliance on app store age data or consent notifications and compliance with the chapter's requirements.
• Code Section 39-7-6 clarifies the chapter does not require blocking apps installed before the law takes effect, except when parental consent is revoked or a significant change occurs, and does not require sharing user data beyond age category data.

1. 2026-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-05Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)Primary sponsor
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

• app age verification
• parental consent
• minors online
• app store regulation
• data privacy