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House adopts age‑verification rules for app stores, links minors’ accounts to parents
Summary
The Louisiana House adopted a conference committee report on House Bill 570 requiring app stores to verify age and obtain parental consent before minors download or purchase apps; the bill returns age‑verification enforcement authority to the attorney general and passed 97‑0 (recorded as 97 yays).
Representative Carver moved for adoption of the conference committee report on House Bill 570, a measure that would require app stores to perform age verification and link a minor’s account to a parent’s account before downloads, in‑app purchases or subscriptions. The House voted to adopt the report; the clerk recorded 97 yays and the report was adopted.
The bill, as presented by Representative Carver, was described as restoring parental controls at the “front porch of the digital world.” Carver said the conference reverted some definitions to the House version, rejected several Senate amendments and “added AG enforcement back in.” He told colleagues the final text was roughly “85 or 90%” of the original House bill and that the conference “bled a little bit” in negotiations.
During questions, Representative Amade asked for a brief summary of the bill’s operative effect. Carver said app stores would be required to provide age verification, link minors’ accounts to a parent’s account and obtain parental consent before a minor could sign a contract, download an app, purchase a subscription or make an in‑app purchase. The bill’s conference report also explicitly covered gaming platforms, headsets and IVR in the amendments that had been discussed on the Senate side.
Representative Carver moved for final adoption of the conference report and the clerk closed the machines after voting. The House adopted the report and the bill will proceed under the conference committee outcome.
The conference report’s text and the House debate show the chamber considered both technical definitions and enforcement authority. Supporters framed the final language as a compromise intended to empower parents; no amendment text changing the enforcement mechanism other than restoring Attorney General enforcement was adopted on the floor.
The House’s action was limited to adoption of the conference committee report; further implementation steps (rulemaking, enforcement guidance) would depend on the statute as enrolled and any guidance from the Attorney General’s office.
Representative Carver asked for favorable passage and the conference committee report was adopted.
