Georgia CommonsSenate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 467: Minors; procedures to validate the age of certain persons using any app; require
Last action February 6, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia Senate bill would require app store providers like Apple's App Store and Google Play to verify users' ages and get parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
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.
What the bill does
- 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.
Who it affects
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.
Why it matters
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.
Key provisions
- 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.
From the bill
“Obtain parental consent from the holder of any affiliated parent account each time before allowing the minor account to download an app, purchase an app, or make any in-app purchase”
“A developer shall not: (1) Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor unless the developer has verified through an app store's data sharing methods that relevant parental consent has been obtained”
Discussed in meetings (2)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Children and Families Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:18:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would require smartphone app stores to verify ages, obtain parental consent for minors’ downloads and in-app purchases, and renew consent after significant changes. The sponsor said it required confidentiality, not photo identification, and provided attorney general enforcement rather than new private lawsuits. Asked whether consent excused harmful content or advertising, the sponsor said parents could permit age-inappropriate access and expressed uncertainty about some account-data sharing. Another member said a bipartisan study committee recommended this approach after hearing parents’ difficulties with controls. A Reason Foundation witness proposed parental age declarations instead of verification. Witnesses for CCIA and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance favored existing controls and education, warning of data breaches. An ACT, the App Association, witness warned of compliance costs for small developers. A NetChoice witness, questioned about acceptable regulation, supported education and targeting harmful content but raised constitutional objections. ACLU of Georgia and Chamber of Progress witnesses warned of restrictions on lawful information. Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Fraternal Order of Police and Frontline Policy Council witnesses supported stronger parental involvement. A Digital Childhood Alliance witness disputed that identification documents were necessary and said Georgia’s proposal differed from Texas’s blocked law. A parent describing a child’s suicide supported complementary protections and privacy-preserving age checks. The sponsor acknowledged gaps for laptops and other devices and invited suggestions. No amendment or vote occurred.
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
Topics
- app age verification
- parental consent
- minors online
- app store regulation
- data privacy