HB 4976
Schatzline Bill Makes Adults Verify Age Before Opening Accounts
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to age verification requirements for digital service providers.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Register as under 18 and you stay a known minor until 18 and verified.
The bill changes the state's existing digital service rule so a provider may not open an account for anyone unless the person registers their age, and anyone 18 or older must also have that age verified by a commercially reasonable method. It touches every Texan who signs up for an account on a covered digital service, and the companies that run those services. A user who registers as under 18 stays a known minor until they turn 18 and the provider verifies their age, and the rules apply only to accounts opened on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4976 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to age verification requirements for digital service providers.
WHAT IT DOES
Register as under 18 and you stay a known minor until 18 and verified.
The bill changes the state's existing digital service rule so a provider may not open an account for anyone unless the person registers their age, and anyone 18 or older must also have that age verified by a commercially reasonable method. It touches every Texan who signs up for an account on a covered digital service, and the companies that run those services. A user who registers as under 18 stays a known minor until they turn 18 and the provider verifies their age, and the rules apply only to accounts opened on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“digital service provider has verified the person's age using a”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill makes adults prove their age before they can open an account on a digital service, which puts a check in front of access to online platforms where Texans post and speak.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$113,206 raised in 4 of 4 reports since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure. Partial total. Regular reports do not cover Jul 9, 2025 to Aug 15, 2025, Aug 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2025.
$220,212 spent since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$54,238 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--General
Electronic Information Systems
Minors--Health & Safety
Text
The text as introduced · 305 words
89R5079 SCR-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 4976 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to age verification requirements for digital service providers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 509.051, Business & Commerce Code, as added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 509.051. DIGITAL SERVICE PROVIDER DUTY TO REGISTER AND VERIFY AGE OF USER. SECTION 2. Sections 509.051(a) and (b), Business & Commerce Code, as added by Chapter 795 (H.B. 18), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, are amended to read as follows: (a) A digital service provider may not enter into an agreement with a person to create an account with a digital service unless : (1) the person has registered the person's age with the digital service provider ; and (2) if the person is 18 years of age or older, the digital service provider has verified the person's age using a commercially reasonable age verification method . (b) A person who registers the person's age as younger than 18 years of age is considered to be a known minor to the digital service provider until : (1) on or after the person's 18th birthday ; and (2) the digital service provider verifies the person's age using a commercially reasonable age verification method . SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an agreement entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. An agreement entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.