HB174 • 2026

Video games; age rating, required; penalties for violations, provided

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Robbins
Last action: 2026-02-24
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies both physical and digital sales, but the summary focuses on physical sales.

Video Game Age Ratings Required

This bill requires video game manufacturers to rate their games for age appropriateness before selling them in Alabama, and it sets penalties for not following this rule.

What This Bill Does

Requires video game makers who sell more than 25 units of a game in Alabama to get an age rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) or another nationally recognized organization.
Ensures that the age rating is printed on the package if sold physically, or displayed prominently at the point of purchase for digital sales.
Requires manufacturers to provide additional information about why the game has its specific rating on a website accessible by consumers in Alabama.

Who It Names or Affects

Video game makers who sell games in Alabama
People buying video games in Alabama

Terms To Know

ESRB: The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which gives age ratings to video games.
Deceptive Trade Practices Act: A law that stops businesses from tricking customers in Alabama.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a game is sold without an age rating.
It does not explain how penalties will be enforced or who will enforce them.
The bill applies to both physical and digital sales of video games, but the summary text focuses on physical sales.

Bill History

2026-02-24 House
Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Children and Senior Advocacy

Official Summary Text

Video games; age rating, required; penalties for violations, provided

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB174 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB174
EJFL42C-1
By Representative Robbins
RFD: Children and Senior Advocacy
First Read: 13-Jan-26
1
2
3
4
5
EJFL42C-1 01/12/2026 CMH (L)CMH 2025-2703
Page 1
First Read: 13-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would require manufacturers of video
games sold in the state to ensure that the games are
rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board or
similar organization for suggested age appropriateness
as a condition of sale in this state.
This bill would also provide that a violation of
this act is a violation of the Deceptive Trade
Practices Act.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to consumer protection; to require video games
sold in this state to be rated for age appropriateness; and to
provide penalties for a violation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) As used in this act, the following terms
have the following meanings:
(1) ESRB. The Entertainment Software Rating Board.
(2) VIDEO GAME. Any electronic, interactive game played
using a specialized electronic gaming device, computer, smart
phone, tablet, or other electronic device and that is designed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
HB174 INTRODUCED
Page 2
phone, tablet, or other electronic device and that is designed
to interact with a television, computer monitor, or other
electronic display screen.
(b) If 25 or more units of a video game have been sold
within this state, the manufacturer of the video game shall
ensure that, prior to the continued sale of the video game,
the game is rated by the ESRB or a similar nationally
recognized video game rating organization and has a suggested
level of age appropriateness.
(c) The manufacturer of a video game required to be
rated pursuant to this section shall do both of the following:
(1) Ensure that the video game rating required under
this section is physically printed onto the packaging of the
game, if physically sold in this state, or is otherwise
displayed in a conspicuous place at the point of purchase.
(2) Ensure that additional information describing why
the game has its rating is available on a website accessible
by consumers in the state.
(d) Any violation of this act shall be considered a
violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Chapter 19,
Title 8, Code of Alabama 1975.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50