Assembly passes A9446 to require transparency on addictive digital design, sponsor says

Assemblymember Norber said the Assembly passed Assembly Bill A9446, a measure supporters described as requiring transparency from digital platforms about design features that can foster addictive use, particularly among young people.

Norber told colleagues the bill is “a common sense and necessary step towards protecting the health, well-being, and autonomy of New Yorkers, especially of our children and the young people.” He argued that “many digital platforms are not neutral tools. They are deliberately designed with addictive features that exploit human psychology,” pointing to infinite scrolling, autoplay and persistent notifications as examples. Norber added the bill “does not ban technology” or “silence speech,” but aims to provide transparency so users can “pause, reflect, and choose for themselves.”

The bill received a recorded roll-call vote after debate and was passed, with the clerk announcing the result as Ayes, 139; Noes, 0. Norber concluded by thanking the bill sponsor and voting in the affirmative.

The measure was presented under the Rules report and advanced to the next step of enactment; the transcript does not include bill text beyond the sponsor and supporters’ descriptions, and it does not record specific implementation steps, agency guidance, or effective-dates for A9446 in the floor remarks.

What happens next: the bill was advanced under the Rules report and is now recorded as passed by the Assembly on this calendar day; further procedural steps such as enrollment, transmission to the Senate (if required), or the governor’s action are not recorded in the floor transcript.