SB 2152
Bettencourt Bill Lets Outside Software Manage A Kid’s Social Media
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 third-party software providers' ability to manage certain users' social media accounts.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Platforms must keep real-time access open. Parents can grant it, and so can the kid.
The bill requires social media platforms to build and keep open real-time application programming interfaces that outside software companies can plug into. Through those connections, a child or the child's parent or guardian can hand a third-party software provider permission to manage the child's online interactions, content, and account settings on the same terms as the child. Platforms covered by Chapter 120 of the Business & Commerce Code must provide this access starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 137 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 137 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2152 · 2025-03-10
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to third-party software providers' ability to manage certain users' social media accounts.
WHAT IT DOES
Platforms must keep real-time access open. Parents can grant it, and so can the kid.
The bill requires social media platforms to build and keep open real-time application programming interfaces that outside software companies can plug into. Through those connections, a child or the child's parent or guardian can hand a third-party software provider permission to manage the child's online interactions, content, and account settings on the same terms as the child. Platforms covered by Chapter 120 of the Business & Commerce Code must provide this access starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“a set of real-time application programming interfaces through which a child or a parent or guardian of a child may delegate permission to a third-party software provider to manage the online interactions, content, and account settings of the child”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill makes platforms open real-time data pipes so outside software vendors can see and manage a child's interactions, content and account settings.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
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 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025
03/24/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--General
Electronic Information Systems
Minors--Health & Safety
COMPUTERS & SOFTWARE
INTERNET
Text
The text as introduced · 137 words
89R15481 BCH-D By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2152 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to third-party software providers' ability to manage certain users' social media accounts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 120, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Section 120.1031 to read as follows: Sec. 120.1031. THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE PROVIDERS. A social media platform shall create, maintain, and make available to third-party software providers a set of real-time application programming interfaces through which a child or a parent or guardian of a child may delegate permission to a third-party software provider to manage the online interactions, content, and account settings of the child on the social media platform on the same terms as the child. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.