---
title: SB 467. Minors; procedures to validate the age of certain persons using any app; require
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb467
cite_as: SB 467, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb467
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb467.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb467/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72920
date: 2026-02-06
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb467.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 467
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-05
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Bill Cowsert
- Steve Gooch
- Bo Hatchett
- Randy Robertson
- Sam Watson
- Marty Harbin
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Chuck Payne
- Kay Kirkpatrick
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB467/2025
upstream_id: 2110035
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- app age verification
- parental consent
- minors online
- app store regulation
- data privacy
---
# SB 467. Minors; procedures to validate the age of certain persons using any app; require
## Text
Senate Bill 467
By: Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th, Robertson of the
29th, Watson of the 11th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minors, so as to
require procedures to validate the age of certain persons using any app; to require app store
providers to verify the age of each person with an account; to provide methods for age
verification; to require parental consent before minor account holders download an app or
make an in-app purchase; to provide for the withdrawal of parental consent; to provide for
the renewal of parental consent in certain circumstances; to provide for data sharing
regarding age category data and parental consent; to provide for limitations on data sharing;
to provide for deceptive business practices; to provide the Attorney General with the
authority to enforce provisions of this chapter; to provide for exceptions; to provide for
definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minors, is amended by adding
a new chapter to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 7
39-7-1.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Account holder' means the individual who is associated with a certain mobile device.
(2) 'Adult' means an individual who is at least 18 years of age.
(3) 'Age category' means one of the categories of child, younger teenager, older teenager,
or adult.
(4) 'Age category data' means information about an account holder's age category that
is collected by an app store provider and is shared with a developer.
(5) 'Age rating' means one or more classifications that assess the suitability of an app's
content and function for different age groups.
(6) 'App' means a software application or electronic service that a user may run or direct
on a mobile device, including preinstalled applications.
(7) 'App store' means a publicly available website, software application, or electronic
service that allows account holders to download apps from third-party developers onto
a mobile device.
(8) 'App store provider' means a person that owns, operates, or controls an app store that
allows account holders in the state to download apps onto a mobile device.
(9) 'Child' means an individual who is under 13 years of age.
(10) 'Content description' means a description of the specific content elements or
functions that informed an app's age rating.
(11) 'Developer' means a person that owns or controls an app made available through an
app store or a preinstalled application.
(12) 'Minor' means an individual who is under 18 years of age and who is not
emancipated.
(13) 'Minor account' means an account with an app store provider which has a minor
account holder.
(14) 'Mobile device' means a phone or general-purpose tablet that:
(A) Provides cellular or wireless connectivity;
(B) Is capable of connecting to the internet;
(C) Runs a mobile operating system; and
(D) Is capable of running apps through a mobile operating system.
(15) 'Mobile operating system' means software that:
(A) Manages mobile device hardware resources;
(B) Provide common services for mobile device programs;
(C) Controls memory allocation; and
(D) Provides interfaces for apps to access device functionality.
(16) 'Older teenager' means an individual who is at least 16 years of age but not 18 years
of age or older.
(17) 'Parent' means, with respect to a minor, an individual who is reasonably believed to
be a parent, a legal guardian, an individual with legal custody, or any other individual
who has the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of the minor under applicable
state law.
(18) 'Parent account' means an account with an app store provider that:
(A) Is verified to be established by an individual who the app store provider has
determined is at least 18 years old or emancipated through the app store provider's age
verification methods;
(B) Is reasonably believed to be the parent of a minor account holder; and
(C) Is affiliated with one or more such minor's accounts.
(19) 'Parental consent' means authorization that:
(A) Is provided by a parent account on behalf of an associated minor account;
(B) Is given after the app store provider has clearly and conspicuously provided the
parental consent disclosure as part of the app download, purchase, or in-app purchase
process; and
(C) Requires the parent to make an affirmative choice to grant or decline consent.
(20) 'Parental consent disclosure' means a disclosure containing:
(A) The app's or in-app purchase's age rating if the app store provider has an age rating
for the app or in-app purchase;
(B) The app's or in-app purchase's content description if the app store provider has a
content description for the app or in-app purchase;
(C) A description of the personal data collected by the app from the account holder;
(D) A description of the personal data shared by the app with any third party; and
(E) The methods implemented by the developer to protect personal data if any is
collected.
(21) 'Preinstalled application' means any app, or portion thereof, that is present on a
mobile device at the time of purchase, initial activation, or first use by the consumer,
including browsers, search engines, and messaging, but excluding core operating system
functions, essential device drivers, and applications necessary for basic device operation
such as phone, settings, and emergency services applications. Preinstalled applications
include apps, or portions thereof, installed or partially installed by the device
manufacturer, wireless service provider, retailer, or any other party prior to purchase,
initial activation, or first use by the account holder and which may be updated thereafter.
(22) 'Significant change' means a modification to an app's terms of service or privacy
policy that materially:
(A) Changes the categories of data collected, stored, or shared;
(B) Alters the app's age rating or content descriptions;
(C) Introduces in-app purchases where no in-app purchases were previously present;
or
(D) Introduces advertisements where no advertisements were previously present.
(23) 'Younger teenager' means an individual who is at least 13 years of age but not 16
years of age or older.
39-7-2.
(a) An app store provider shall:
(1) For each account, at the time an account holder who is located in this state creates the
account with the app store provider or, for existing accounts, no later than July 1, 2027,
verify the account holder's age category using either:
(A) A commercially available method that is reasonably designed to ensure accuracy;
or
(B) For minors, a method which includes affirmative age attestation by someone who
is reasonably believed to be the parent or legal guardian;
(2) For each minor account:
(A) Require such minor's account to be affiliated with a parent account; and
(B) 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;
(3) After receiving notice of a significant change from a developer:
(A) Notify the account holder of the significant change; and
(B) For a minor account, notify any associated parent accounts and obtain new parental
consent before allowing the minor account access to the significantly changed version
of the app;
(4) Provide to a developer, in response to a request authorized under Code
Section 39-7-3, age category data for an account holder located in this state and the status
of parental consent for a minor account;
(5) Provide a mechanism for a parent account to withdraw consent and notify a
developer of such withdrawal; and
(6) Protect age category data and any associated verification data by:
(A) Limiting collection and processing of data to that which is necessary for verifying
an account holder's age category, obtaining parental consent, and maintaining legally
required compliance records; and
(B) Transmitting age category data using industry standard encryption protocols that
ensure data integrity and data confidentiality.
(b) An app store provider shall not:
(1) Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor unless the app store provider
has obtained parental consent;
(2) Knowingly misrepresent the information in the parental consent disclosure; or
(3) Share age category data or any associated data except as required by this chapter or
other provision of law.
39-7-3.
(a) A developer shall:
(1) Verify through the app store's data sharing methods age category data or parental
consent, as required by the provisions of this chapter:
(A) At the time an account holder downloads an app, purchases an app, or launches a
preinstalled app for the first time;
(B) When implementing a significant change to the app; or
(C) To comply with applicable law;
(2) Notify app store providers of a significant change to an app; and
(3) Use age category data received through the app store's data sharing methods to
enforce any developer created age related restrictions, safety related features, or default
settings and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
(b) In addition to any requests regarding age category data provided for in subsection (a)
of this Code section, a developer may request age category data:
(1) No more than once during any 12 month period to verify:
(A) The accuracy of age category data associated with an account holder; or
(B) Continued account use within the age category;
(2) When there is reasonable suspicion of:
(A) Account transfer; or
(B) Misuse outside of the age category; or
(3) At the time an account holder creates a new account with the developer.
(c) When implementing any developer created age related restrictions, safety related
features, or default settings, a developer shall use the lowest age category indicated by age
category data received through the app store's data sharing methods or any age data
independently collected by the developer.
(d) 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;
(2) Knowingly misrepresent any information in the parental consent disclosure; or
(3) Share age category data with any other person or entity.
39-7-4.
The Attorney General shall have authority to initiate any proceedings and to exercise any
power or authority in the same manner as if he or she were acting under Part 2 of Article 15
of Chapter 1 of Title 10, the 'Fair Business Practices Act of 1975,' in regards to violations
or potential violations of this chapter.
39-7-5.
(a) A developer is not liable for a violation of this chapter if the developer demonstrates:
(1) Reliance in good faith on applicable age category data received through an app store's
data sharing methods;
(2) Reliance in good faith on notification from an app store provider that parental
consent was obtained if the account holder was a minor; and
(3) Compliance with all requirements provided for in Code Section 39-7-2.
(b) In determining an app's age rating and content description for purposes of Code
Section 39-7-2, a developer is not liable for a violation of this chapter if the developer:
(1) Uses widely adopted industry standards to determine the app's age category and
content description; and
(2) Applies those standards consistently and in good faith.
(c) The provisions of this Code section shall limit only actions brought pursuant to this
chapter and shall not be construed to limit any person's right to pursue any additional civil
remedy otherwise allowed by law.
39-7-6.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent an app store provider or developer
from:
(1) Taking reasonable measures to prevent criminal activity or block, detect, or prevent
distribution to minors of unlawful, obscene, or otherwise harmful material;
(2) Requiring an app store provider to disclose user information to a developer beyond
age category data or status of relevant parental consent;
(3) Allowing an app store provider or developer to implement measures required by this
chapter in a manner that is arbitrary, capricious, anticompetitive, or unlawful;
(4) Requiring a developer to collect, retain, reidentify, or link any information beyond
what is necessary to verify age category data as required by this chapter and that which
is collected, retained, reidentified, or linked in the developer's ordinary course of
business; or
(5) Requiring an app store provider or developer to block access to an application that
an account holder has downloaded or installed onto a mobile device prior to the effective
date of this chapter, except to the extent that:
(A) A parent account revokes consent for an affiliated minor account; or
(B) There has been a significant change to the application."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
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.
### Plain-language summary
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 it 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-05)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-06)
- Sponsors: Bill Cowsert, Steve Gooch, Bo Hatchett, Randy Robertson, Sam Watson, Marty Harbin, Chuck Hufstetler, Chuck Payne, Kay Kirkpatrick
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72920
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb467.md?full=1