If you thought they’d stop at porn, today’s story proves that isn’t the case.

The Alabama Senate approved legislation that would require app store providers to verify the age of users and impose new parental consent requirements for minors, advancing a measure supporters say is aimed at protecting children from inappropriate online content.

House Bill 161, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, cleared the Senate after being amended and will now return to the House for further consideration. If ultimately signed into law, the bill would take effect on October 1, 2026, with full implementation required by the start of 2027.

The legislation would require app store providers to verify the age category of users before allowing app downloads, purchases, or in-app transactions. Accounts identified as belonging to minors would be required to be linked to a verified parent or guardian account, and verifiable parental consent would be needed before a minor could download or purchase an app. App store providers would also be required to notify users and parents when an app undergoes a significant change, such as modifications to data collection practices, monetization features, or age ratings.

Under the bill, app store providers would be required to give developers real-time access to a user’s age category and the consent status of minor accounts, while limiting the use and sharing of that data. Personal age-verification information would be required to be protected through limited collection and industry-standard encryption. The measure would also prohibit app stores and developers from enforcing contracts against minors without parental consent or misrepresenting disclosures related to data collection.

State Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, said the bill addresses repeated instances in which children have been exposed to content they were not prepared to process.

“It’s unfortunate, but we have had numerous situations in our state and others where children have come across content that their mind was not ready to receive, and it has created chaos and created problems in those children’s lives,” Chambliss said during Senate consideration.

The bill advanced earlier this week after receiving unanimous approval from the Senate Children and Youth Health Committee following a lengthy public hearing. Supporters included representatives from conservative advocacy organizations and Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Theresa Garcia Robertson, a public policy manager for Meta, told lawmakers the company supports the bill because it would allow platforms to place younger users into age-appropriate experiences, noting that Apple and Google already collect age information and use parental approval systems for paid apps.

Becky Gerritson, executive director of Eagle Forum of Alabama, described the bill as a commonsense measure that restores parental control, while Stephanie Smith, president of the Alabama Policy Institute, cited polling showing broad voter support for parental approval systems. Melea Stephens, a Birmingham-based marriage and family therapist and board member of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, argued the bill would help protect minors from online grooming and exploitation by giving parents clearer oversight.

Opposition testimony came from John Tamny, president of the Parkview Institute, who argued the legislation was unnecessary and could create a false sense of security for parents. Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, echoed concerns that parents must remain accountable for monitoring their children’s devices, though she ultimately voted to advance the bill out of committee with the understanding that further discussion would occur.

If enacted, violations of the law could be prosecuted by the Alabama attorney general as deceptive trade practices, with civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation and the possibility of additional damages for repeated offenses. The bill would also require the attorney general to adopt rules governing age-verification processes.