Rep. Ted Eisheide urges committee to back resolution urging Congress to pass Kids Online Safety Act
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Summary
At an April 1 House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Ted Eisheide and witnesses outlined mental-health and safety harms to minors from social media and urged support for a federal Kids Online Safety Act that would impose a duty of care on platforms, limit data collection for children and expand parental controls.
Juneau — Representative Ted Eisheide told the House Judiciary Committee on April 1 that social media platforms contribute to growing rates of teen depression, eating disorders and online predation and urged the committee to support House Joint Resolution 28, which backs federal passage of the Kids Online Safety Act.
"It would require online platforms to exercise a duty of care in which they must prioritize children's safety and mental health," Eisheide said, outlining features he said are in the Senate bill, including restrictions on data collection for children under 13 and parental opt-outs for ages 13 to 16. Michael Busey, staff to Representative Eisheide, told the committee the Senate text authorizes enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and allows states and state attorneys general to seek damages.
The sponsor and staff repeatedly framed the resolution as a request that Congress act rather than a change in state law. "Because social media platforms operate nationally, federal legislation is essential," said Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children's Trust, during invited public testimony. Storrs offered usage and survey figures he said show broad youth exposure and concerns in Alaska.
Committee members pressed the sponsor on constitutional and enforcement questions. Representative Vance suggested adding language to acknowledge constitutional concerns while urging protections for children; Representative Mina and others focused on how "harm" would be interpreted and whether state attorneys general would have enforcement discretion. Busey said the bill text protects First Amendment concerns and includes provisions designed to avoid requiring platforms to block access or to impede legitimate searches by minors.
The committee set an amendment deadline for HJR 28 of April 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. and set the resolution aside for further work. No formal committee vote on the resolution was recorded during the April 1 hearing.
The resolution and the federal Kids Online Safety Act it cites would not themselves change Alaska law but represent a legislative statement urging federal action and clarifying state lawmakers' policy preferences.
