Monitoring the Session

HB 186

Patterson Social Media Bill Makes Adults Prove They’re 18 Too

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review
Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106
All 3 charges, and why
Carve-out

THE TEXT

“(D) an online service, application, or website used primarily for the purpose of interactive gaming .”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill rewrites the chapter-wide definition of social media platform to exclude gaming services, so gaming platforms escape this ban and every other rule in Chapter 120 that uses the same definition, though the caption mentions only children and social media.

Carve-out
Dragnet

THE CAPTION

“relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.”

Caption, engrossed version (E)

THE TEXT

“verify that a person seeking to become an account holder is 18 years of age or older before accepting the person as an account holder.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The caption targets children, but the verification duty reaches every adult Texan who opens an account and forces them to prove their age through transaction data. The bill does require that data to be deleted afterward.

Dragnet
The hole

THE TEXT

“To the extent permitted by federal law, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (15 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.), a child may not use a social media platform.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The core ban is made conditional on federal law, which could narrow it. The separate account and verification duties still apply on their own terms, so the main case stays covered.

The hole

Needs review · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.

Caption from analyzed text · version E.

Summary

Proof comes from transaction data, deleted after. Gaming sites don’t count as social media!

The bill bars anyone under 18 from using social media in Texas and requires platforms to refuse accounts to minors. Every person who wants a social media account, adult or child, must have their age checked through public or private transaction data, which the platform must delete right after the check, and platforms must delete a child's account within 10 days of a verified parent's request. Starting with access on or after January 1, 2026, a platform that knowingly lets a child on or breaks these rules can face deceptive trade practice action by the attorney general, while gaming sites and apps are written out of the definition of social media.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on Apr 30, 2025. Died in the Senate: voted out of the State Affairs committee 8-3, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB186 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Rep. Caroline FairlyRHouse 87 Rep. Mary E. GonzálezDHouse 75

+ 1 more author, 13 coauthors

ITEM

relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.

WHAT IT DOES

Proof comes from transaction data, deleted after. Gaming sites don’t count as social media!

The bill bars anyone under 18 from using social media in Texas and requires platforms to refuse accounts to minors. Every person who wants a social media account, adult or child, must have their age checked through public or private transaction data, which the platform must delete right after the check, and platforms must delete a child's account within 10 days of a verified parent's request. Starting with access on or after January 1, 2026, a platform that knowingly lets a child on or breaks these rules can face deceptive trade practice action by the attorney general, while gaming sites and apps are written out of the definition of social media.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“(D) an online service, application, or website used primarily for the purpose of interactive gaming .”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill rewrites the chapter-wide definition of social media platform to exclude gaming services, so gaming platforms escape this ban and every other rule in Chapter 120 that uses the same definition, though the caption mentions only children and social media.

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 40%

THE CAPTION

“relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.”

Caption, engrossed version (E)

THE TEXT

“verify that a person seeking to become an account holder is 18 years of age or older before accepting the person as an account holder.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The caption targets children, but the verification duty reaches every adult Texan who opens an account and forces them to prove their age through transaction data. The bill does require that data to be deleted afterward.

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 30%

THE TEXT

“To the extent permitted by federal law, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (15 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.), a child may not use a social media platform.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The core ban is made conditional on federal law, which could narrow it. The separate account and verification duties still apply on their own terms, so the main case stays covered.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Passed to engrossment
  18. Record vote RV#824
  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#972
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to State Affairs
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken in committee
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Vote taken in committee
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Placed on intent calendar
  38. Co-sponsor authorized
FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“a child may not use a social media platform.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill bars every Texan under 18 from using social media platforms to post or communicate.

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“A social media platform must use a commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify the age of an individual”…

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

Every would-be account holder must have their age checked against transaction data, though the bill requires that data to be deleted right after the check.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 116 yea · 25 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jared Patterson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$133KTexas Sands PAC$85KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$58K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$132,750.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

Texas Sands PAC$84,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$57,950.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

Votes2

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
116
Nay
25
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 972

HB 186 was passed by (Record 972): 116 Yeas, 25 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 116 (published)
  • Nay: 25 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
125
Nay
20
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 824

CSHB 186 was passed to engrossment by (Record 824): 125 Yeas, 20 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 125 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses390
For
15
Against
371
On
4
Names

For

  • David’s Legacy Foundation2 registrations
  • NAMI Texas2 registrations
  • Self4 registrations
  • Self; Protecting texas children1 registration
  • Self; Texas Values Action1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation2 registrations
  • Texas Values3 registrations

Against

  • ACLU of Texas2 registrations
  • CCIA1 registration
  • Meta1 registration
  • Self358 registrations
  • Self; 50501 - San Antonio1 registration
  • Self; ACC/AFT1 registration
  • Self; Equality Texas1 registration
  • Self; NetChoice1 registration
  • Self; Students Engaged in Advancing Texas1 registration
  • Self; Transgender Education Network of Texas1 registration
  • Students Engaged in Advancing Texas1 registration
  • TechNet2 registrations

On

  • Self3 registrations
  • Texas PTA1 registration
Sources

390 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version E by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/27/2025 S Co-sponsor authorized

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:38 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Trent AshbyRHouse 9 Brad BuckleyRHouse 54 Josey GarciaDHouse 124 Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Richard HayesRHouse 57 Cole HefnerRHouse 5 Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23 Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148 Angelia OrrRHouse 13 David SpillerRHouse 68 Steve TothRHouse 15
Sponsors
Adam HinojosaRSenate 27
Cosponsors
Bryan HughesRSenate 1 Phil KingRSenate 10 Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18 Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11 Kevin SparksRSenate 31

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 3 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Business & Commerce--Trade Practices

Consumer Protection

Minors--Health & Safety

Protection of Personal Information

INTERNET

Text

The text as introduced · 523 words

89R566 ATP-F

By: Patterson
H.B. No. 186

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 120, Business & Commerce Code, is

amended by adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C-1. USER AGE LIMITATION

Sec. 120.111. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Account holder" means a resident of this state

who opens an account or creates a profile or is identified by the

social media platform by a unique identifier while using or

accessing a social media platform.

(2) "Child" means an individual who is younger than 18

years of age.

Sec. 120.112. USE BY CHILDREN PROHIBITED. To the extent

permitted by federal law, including the Children's Online Privacy

Protection Act (15 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.), a child may not use

a social media platform.

Sec. 120.113. ACCOUNT AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a)

A social media platform shall:

(1) prohibit a child from entering into a contract

with the social media platform to become an account holder; and

(2) verify that a person seeking to become an account

holder is 18 years of age or older before accepting the person as an

account holder.

(b) A social media platform must use a commercially

reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional

data to verify the age of an individual as required under Subsection

(a).

(c) Personal information obtained under Subsection (b) may

only be used for age verification purposes and may not be retained,

used, transmitted, or otherwise conveyed, regardless of whether

consideration is given for the information. The social media

company must delete personal information immediately upon

completion of the age verification process.

Sec. 120.114. REQUIRED REMOVAL OF ACCOUNT. (a) Not later

than the 10th day after receiving a request from a parent or

guardian verified by a social media company under Section 509.101,

the company shall delete the account of the parent's or guardian's

child and cease the further use or maintenance in retrievable form,

or future online collection, of personal information collected from

the child's account, on all of its platforms.

(b) A social media company must provide a reasonable,

accessible, and verifiable means by which a parent or guardian may

make a request under Subsection (a).

Sec. 120.115. ENFORCEMENT. (a) A social media company

violates this subchapter if the company knowingly:

(1) fails to verify a person's age before accepting the

person as an account holder;

(2) allows a child to use its platform;

(3) misuses personal information in violation of

Section 120.113(c); or

(4) fails to remove an account as required by Section

120.114.

(b) A violation of this subchapter by a social media

platform is considered a deceptive trade practice under Chapter 17

and subject to action by the consumer protection division of the

attorney general's office under Sections 17.47, 17.58, 17.60, and

17.61.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C-1, Chapter 120, Business & Commerce

Code, as added by this Act, applies only to access to a social media

platform on or after January 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.