KIDS Act

Bill Number: H.R. 7757
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Commerce
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-06-29: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Last Updated: 2026-07-01T08:06:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

# Summary of the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act)

## Purpose The legislation establishes comprehensive federal standards to protect individuals under age 18 from online harms, including sexual exploitation, exposure to harmful content, addictive design features, and privacy risks. It seeks to empower parents with tools and information while imposing obligations on online platforms, video game providers, chatbot operators, and data brokers.

## Key Provisions

Title I (SCREEN Act): Requires platforms where more than one-third of content is sexual material harmful to minors to implement technology verification measures to block minor access, with data security and notice requirements.
Title II (Kids Online Safety Act and SPY Kids Act): Mandates safeguards for minors on covered platforms (e.g., limits on messaging, geolocation sharing, and personalized recommendations), default protective settings, parental tools for account management and time limits, and teen messaging controls. Prohibits market research on minors except for safety or legal compliance. Requires reporting mechanisms, disclosures, and annual independent audits.
Title III (Safer GAMING Act): Requires online video game providers to offer default communication safeguards for minor users, purchase restrictions, time limits, and profile controls accessible to parents.
Title IV (SAFE BOTs Act): Prohibits chatbots from falsely claiming to be licensed professionals when interacting with minors; requires disclosures that the chatbot is AI and provides crisis hotline resources; mandates policies to address exploitation and promote breaks after three hours of use.
Title V: Directs studies on social media effects, fentanyl access via platforms, safety tools, and chatbot mental health impacts; establishes education campaigns and a Kids Internet Safety Partnership for best practices.
Title VI (COPPA 2.0 and Data Broker Disclosures): Expands the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act to cover teens (ages 14–17), adds requirements for verifiable consent, data deletion, security practices, limits on individual-specific advertising, and educational agency agreements. Requires data brokers selling minor personal data to register annually with the FTC.
Title VII: Provides for FTC enforcement, state attorney general actions, exclusive jurisdiction in the D.C. District Court for constitutional challenges, and severability.

## Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends COPPA by raising the child age threshold to 13, adding a teen category, expanding “personal information” to include geolocation, biometrics, and linked data, and introducing new operator obligations for deletion rights, security, and advertising restrictions.
Creates new standalone requirements for age-appropriate safeguards, audits, and disclosures not present in prior law.
Establishes registration for covered data brokers and preemption rules that preserve stronger state protections while superseding conflicting state laws.

## Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Increases FTC enforcement and oversight responsibilities, including audits and reports; requires coordination among HHS, Commerce, and other agencies for studies and education programs.
Citizens: Provides minors and parents with new default protections, tools, and information; may limit certain platform features for users under 17.
International relations: Primarily affects U.S.-based or accessible platforms; no direct provisions on foreign entities or treaties.

## Main Stakeholders Affected

Minors and teens (primary beneficiaries of safeguards).
Parents and guardians (new tools and notices).
Online platform providers, social media companies, video game providers, and chatbot operators (compliance and audit obligations).
Data brokers (annual registration and fee requirements).
Educational agencies and institutions (COPPA agreements and notices).
Federal Trade Commission and other agencies (enforcement and research roles).
State attorneys general (enforcement authority).

## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Includes multiple rules of construction preserving encryption, avoiding mandatory age verification, and protecting First Amendment-related activities such as blocking unlawful content.
Establishes exclusive federal court jurisdiction for constitutional challenges.
Preempts conflicting state laws but explicitly allows states to enact stronger protections.
Contains severability clauses to preserve remaining provisions if any are invalidated.
Emphasizes evidence-based approaches and consultations with experts, parents, and civil society in implementation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

Recent Actions

2026-06-29: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-06-29: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 267 - 117 (Roll no. 228). (text: CR H4280-4292) (Roll call 228)
2026-06-29: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 267 - 117 (Roll no. 228). (text: CR H4280-4292) (Roll call 228)
2026-06-29: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4302)
2026-06-29: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2026-06-29: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7757.
2026-06-29: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4280-4296)
2026-06-29: Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2026-03-03: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-03: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-03: Introduced in House
2026-03-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act — issued 2026-06-29 — PDF (116 pages)
Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (76 pages)