House Judiciary advances Social Media Youth Protection Act after hours of testimony

Representative Amy Regier, sponsor of House Bill 925, opened the Judiciary Committee hearing by saying Montana must "prioritize children’s safety online" and described the bill’s core requirements: an age-assurance system, default privacy settings for minor accounts, supervisory tools for parents, and limits on autoplay and push notifications. "This legislation requires social media platforms to implement safeguards for minor account holders and provide parents with tools to regulate their children's social media use," Regier said (Representative Amy Regier, sponsor).

Supporters, including Rachel Green, the governor’s policy director, and Anita Milanovich, the governor’s general counsel, urged lawmakers to pass the bill as a public-health measure. Green cited research on widespread youth social media use and said voluntary industry efforts are insufficient. "Up to 95 percent of kids ages 13 to 17 report…