Consumer Protection - Application Store Accountability Act

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1179*

HOUSE BILL 1179
I3, I4 6lr1320

By: Delegates Nkongolo, Arentz, Hornberger, Miller, and Tomlinson
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Consumer Protection – Application Store Accountability Act 2

FOR the purpose of establishing requirements for application store providers and 3
developers; creating requirements for age verification and parental consent; 4
prohibiting application store providers and developers from enforcing certain 5
contracts under certain circumstances; prohibiting application store providers and 6
developers from misrepresent ing certain parental consent disclosures ; authorizing 7
the Consumer Protection Division in the Office of the Attorney General to adopt 8
certain rules; making a violation of this Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade 9
practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer 10
Protection Act; and generally relating to application store accountability. 11

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Commercial Law 13
Section 13–301(14)(xlvii) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2025 Replacement Volume) 16

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Commercial Law 18
Section 13–301(14)(xlviii) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume) 21

BY adding to 22
Article – Commercial Law 23
Section 13–301(14)(xlix); and 14–5101 through 14–5107 to be under the new subtitle 24
“Subtitle 51. Application Store Accountability Act” 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2025 Replacement Volume) 27

2 HOUSE BILL 1179

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2

Article – Commercial Law 3

13–301. 4

Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices include any: 5

(14) Violation of a provision of: 6

(xlvii) Title 14, Subtitle 50 of this article; [or] 7

(xlviii) Section 13–411.1(c)(2) of the Transportation Article; or 8

(XLIX) TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 51 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 9

SUBTITLE 51. APPLICATION STORE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. 10

14–5101. 11

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
INDICATED. 13

(B) “ACCOUNT HOLDER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH 14
A MOBILE DEVICE. 15

(C) (1) “AGE CATEGORY ” MEANS A CATEGORY BAS ED ON A RANGE OF 16
USER AGES. 17

(2) “AGE CATEGORY” INCLUDES: 18

(I) CHILD; 19

(II) YOUNGER TEENAGER; 20

(III) OLDER TEENAGER; AND 21

(IV) ADULT. 22

(D) “AGE CATEGORY DATA ” MEANS INFORMATION AB OUT AN ACCOUNT 23
HOLDER’S AGE CATEGORY THAT IS COLLECTED BY AN APPLICATION STORE 24
PROVIDER AND IS SHARED WITH A DEVELOPER. 25

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(E) “AGE RATING ” MEANS ONE OR MORE CL ASSIFICATIONS THAT ASSESS 1
THE SUITABILITY OF AN APPLICATION’S CONTENT AND FUNCTIONS FOR DIFFERENT 2
AGE GROUPS. 3

(F) (1) “APPLICATION” MEANS A SOFTWARE APP LICATION OR AN 4
ELECTRONIC SERVICE THAT A USER MAY RUN OR DIRECT ON A MOBILE DEVICE. 5

(2) “APPLICATION” INCLUDES A PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATION ON A 6
MOBILE DEVICE. 7

(G) “APPLICATION STORE” MEANS A PUBLICLY AVA ILABLE WEBSITE , 8
SOFTWARE APPLICATION , OR ELECTRONIC SERVIC E THAT ALLOWS ACCOUN T 9
HOLDERS TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS FROM THIRD–PARTY DEVELOPERS ONTO A 10
MOBILE DEVICE. 11

(H) “APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER ” MEANS A PERSON THAT OWNS, 12
OPERATES, OR CONTROLS AN APPLICATION STORE THAT ALLOWS AC COUNT 13
HOLDERS IN THE STATE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS ONTO A MOBILE DEVICE. 14

(I) “CHILD” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNDER 13 YEARS OLD. 15

(J) “CONTENT DESCRI PTION” MEANS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECI FIC 16
CONTENT ELEMENTS OR FUNCTIONS THAT INFOR MED AN APPLICATION’S AGE 17
RATING. 18

(K) “DEVELOPER” MEANS A PERSON THAT OWNS OR CONTROLS A 19
PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATIO N ON A MOBILE DEVICE OR AN APPLICATION MADE 20
AVAILABLE THROUGH AN APPLICATION STORE IN THE STATE. 21

(L) “DIVISION” MEANS THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OF THE 22
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 23

(M) “KNOWINGLY” MEANS TO ACT WITH AC TUAL KNOWLEDGE OR TO ACT 24
WITH KNOWLEDGE FAIRLY INFERRED BASED ON OBJECTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES. 25

(N) (1) “MINOR” MEANS, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N PARAGRAPH (2) OF 26
THIS SUBSECTION, A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. 27

(2) “MINOR” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 28
18 YEARS WHO IS MARRIED OR LEGALLY EMANCIPATED. 29

(O) “MINOR ACCOUNT” MEANS AN ACCOUNT WITH AN APPLICATION STORE 30
PROVIDER THAT: 31
4 HOUSE BILL 1179

(1) IS ESTABLISHED BY A PERSON FOR THE BENEFIT OF A MINOR; AND 1

(2) IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PARENT ACCOUNT. 2

(P) “MOBILE DEVICE ” MEANS A PHONE OR GEN ERAL PURPOSE TABLET 3
THAT: 4

(1) PROVIDES CELLULAR OR WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY; 5

(2) IS CAPABLE OF CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET; 6

(3) RUNS A MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM; AND 7

(4) IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING APPLICATIONS THROUGH A MOBILE 8
OPERATING SYSTEM. 9

(Q) “MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM” MEANS SOFTWARE THAT: 10

(1) MANAGES MOBILE DEVICE HARDWARE RESOURCES; 11

(2) PROVIDES COMMON SERVICES FOR MOBILE DEVICE PROGRAMS; 12

(3) CONTROLS MEMORY ALLOCATION; AND 13

(4) PROVIDES INTERFACES F OR APPLICATIONS TO ACCESS DEVICE 14
FUNCTIONALITY. 15

(R) “OLDER TEENAGER” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD 16
AND UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. 17

(S) “PARENT” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS REASONABLY BE LIEVED TO BE A 18
PARENT, A LEGAL GUARDIAN , A PERSON WITH LEGAL CUSTODY , OR ANY OTHER 19
PERSON WHO HAS THE LEGAL AU THORITY TO MAKE DECIS IONS ON BEHALF OF A 20
MINOR UNDER STATE LAW. 21

(T) “PARENT ACCOUNT” MEANS AN ACCOUNT WITH AN APPLICATION STORE 22
PROVIDER THAT: 23

(1) IS VERI FIED AS ESTABLISHED BY A PERSON WHO THE 24
APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER HAS D ETERMINED IS NOT A MINOR THROUGH THE 25
APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER’S AGE VERIFICATION METHODS; AND 26

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(2) MAY BE AFFILIATED WITH ONE OR MORE MINOR ACCOUNTS. 1

(U) “PARENTAL CONSENT DISC LOSURE” MEANS INFORMATION PR OVIDED 2
BY AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER THAT INCLUDES: 3

(1) IF THE APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER HAS AN AGE RA TING FOR 4
AN APPLICATION OR IN –APPLICATION PURCHASE , THE AGE RATING FOR THE 5
APPLICATION OR IN–APPLICATION PURCHASE; 6

(2) IF THE APPLICATION ST ORE PROVIDER HAS A C ONTENT 7
DESCRIPTION FOR AN APPLICATION OR IN–APPLICATION PURCHASE, THE CONTENT 8
DESCRIPTION FOR THE APPLICATION OR IN–APPLICATION PURCHASE; 9

(3) A DESCRIPTION OF: 10

(I) THE PERSONAL DATA COL LECTED BY THE APPLICATION 11
FROM AN ACCOUNT HOLDER; AND 12

(II) THE PERSONAL DATA SHARED BY THE APPLICATION WITH A 13
THIRD PARTY; AND 14

(III) THE METHODS IMPLEMENT ED BY THE DEVELOPER TO 15
PROTECT THE PERSONAL DATA THAT IS COLLECTED. 16

(V) (1) “PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATIO N” MEANS AN APPLICATION , OR 17
PORTION OF AN APPLIC ATION, THAT HAS BEEN INSTAL LED OR PARTIALLY 18
INSTALLED ON A MOBILE DEVICE BEFORE THE CONSUMER USES THE MOBILE 19
DEVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME , INCLUDING WEB BROWSERS, SEARCH ENGINES, AND 20
MESSAGING APPLICATIONS. 21

(2) “PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATIO N” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN 22
APPLICATION THAT IS A DEVICE DRIVER O R THAT ALLOWS A MOBILE DEVICE TO 23
PERFORM CORE OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED. 24

(W) “SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ” MEANS A MODI FICATION TO THE TERMS OF 25
SERVICE OR PRIVACY POLICY FOR AN APPLICATION THAT: 26

(1) MATERIALLY A LTERS THE CATEGORIES OF DA TA COLLECTED , 27
STORED, OR SHARED; 28

(2) MATERIALLY A LTERS THE APPLICATION’S AGE RATING OR 29
CONTENT DESCRIPTIONS; OR 30

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(3) INTRODUCES, WHERE NO IN –APPLICATION PURCHASE S WERE 1
PREVIOUSLY PRESENT: 2

(I) IN–APPLICATION PURCHASES; OR 3

(II) ADVERTISEMENTS. 4

(X) “VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT” MEANS AUTHORIZATION THAT: 5

(1) IS PROVIDED BY A PARENT ACCOUNT; 6

(2) IS GIVEN AFTER AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER HAS CLEARLY 7
AND CONSPICUOUSLY PROVIDED THE PARENTAL CONSENT DISCLOSURE AS PART OF 8
THE APPLICATION DOWNLOAD, PURCHASE, OR IN –APPLICATION PURCHASE 9
PROCESS; AND 10

(3) REQUIRES THE PARENT TO MAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE CHOICE TO: 11

(I) GRANT CONSENT; OR 12

(II) DECLINE CONSENT. 13

(Y) “YOUNGER TEENAGER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS AT LEAST 13 14
YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER THAN 16 YEARS OLD. 15

14–5102. 16

(A) AT THE TIME AN INDIVIDUAL CREATES AN ACCOUNT, AN APPLICATION 17
STORE PROVIDER SHALL: 18

(1) REQUEST AGE CATEGORY INFORMATION FROM THE INDIVIDUAL; 19
AND 20

(2) VERIFY THE INDIVIDUAL’S AGE CATEGORY USING: 21

(I) COMMERCIALLY AVAILABL E METHODS THAT ARE 22
REASONABLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE ACCURACY; OR 23

(II) AN AGE VERI FICATION METHOD OR PR OCESS THAT 24
COMPLIES WITH R EGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DIVISION UNDER § 14–5104 OF 25
THIS SUBTITLE. 26

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(B) FOR AN ACCOUNT IN EXISTENCE BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, AN 1
APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER SHALL, ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2027: 2

(1) REQUEST AGE CATEGORY INFORMATION FROM THE INDIVIDUAL; 3
AND 4

(2) VERIFY THE AGE CATEGORY OF THE INDIVIDUAL USING: 5

(I) COMMERCIALLY AVAILABL E METHODS THAT ARE 6
REASONABLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE ACCURACY; OR 7

(II) AN AGE VERIFICATION M ETHOD OR PROCESS THA T 8
COMPLIES WITH REGULA TIONS ADOPTED BY THE DIVISION UNDER § 14–5104 OF 9
THIS SUBTITLE. 10

(C) IF THE APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER DETERMINES THE INDIVIDUAL 11
IS A MINOR, THE PROVIDER SHALL: 12

(1) REQUIRE THE ACCOUNT T O BE AF FILIATED WITH A PAREN T 13
ACCOUNT; 14

(2) OBTAIN VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT FROM THE HOLDER OF 15
THE AFFILIATED PARENT ACCOUNT EACH TIME BEFORE ALLOWING THE MINOR TO: 16

(I) DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION; 17

(II) PURCHASE AN APPLICATION; OR 18

(III) MAKE AN IN–APPLICATION PURCHASE; 19

(3) AFTER RECEIVING NOTIC E OF A SIGNI FICANT CHANGE FROM A 20
DEVELOPER: 21

(I) NOTIFY THE ACCOUNT HO LDER OF THE SIGNI FICANT 22
CHANGE; AND 23

(II) FOR A MINOR ACCOUNT: 24

1. NOTIFY THE PARENT ACCOUNT HOLDER; AND 25

2. OBTAIN RENEWED VERI FIABLE PARENTAL CONSE NT 26
BEFORE PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED VERSION; 27

8 HOUSE BILL 1179

(4) PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORM ATION TO A DEVELOPER , IN 1
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST AUTHORIZED UNDER § 14–5103 OF THIS SUBTITLE: 2

(I) AGE CATEGORY DATA FOR AN ACCOUNT HOLDER; AND 3

(II) THE STATUS OF VERI FIABLE PARENTAL CONSE NT FOR A 4
MINOR; 5

(5) PROVIDE A METHOD FOR A PARENT ACCOUNT HOLDE R TO 6
WITHDRAW CONSENT AND NOTIFY A DEVELOPER WH EN THE PARENT REVOKES 7
VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT; AND 8

(6) PROTECT AGE CATEGORY DATA AND ANY ASSOCIA TED 9
VERIFICATION DATA BY: 10

(I) LIMITING COLLECTION A ND PROCESSING TO DAT A 11
NECESSARY FOR: 12

1. VERIFYING AN ACCOUNT HOLDER’S AGE CATEGORY; 13

2. OBTAINING VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT; OR 14

3. MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE RECORDS; AND 15

(II) TRANSMITTING AGE CATE GORY DATA USING 16
INDUSTRY–STANDARD ENCRYPTION PROTOCOLS THAT ENSURE DATA INTEGRIT Y 17
AND DATA CONFIDENTIALITY; AND 18

(III) FOR A PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATION, IN RESPONSE TO A 19
REQUEST FROM A DEVELOPER; 20

1. PROVIDING AVAILABLE A GE CATEGORY 21
INFORMATION; AND 22

2. TAKING REASONABLE MEA SURES TO FACILITATE 23
VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT FOR USE OF THE APPLICATION. 24

(D) AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER MAY NOT: 25

(1) ENFORCE A CONTRACT OR TERMS OF SERVICE AGAINST A MINOR 26
UNLESS THE APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER HAS OBTAINED VERIFIABLE PARENTAL 27
CONSENT; 28

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(2) KNOWINGLY MISREPRESENT THE INF ORMATION IN THE 1
PARENTAL CONSENT DISCLOSURE; OR 2

(3) SHARE AGE CATEGORY DATA AND ANY ASSOCIATED DATA EXCEPT 3
AS REQUIRED BY THIS SUBTITLE OR OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW. 4

14–5103. 5

(A) A DEVELOPER SHALL: 6

(1) VERIFY THROUGH THE APPLICATION STORE’S DATA –SHARING 7
METHODS: 8

(I) THE AGE CATEGORY DATA OF ACCOUNT HOLDERS; AND 9

(II) FOR A MINOR ’S ACCOUNT , WHETHER VERI FIABLE 10
PARENTAL CONSENT HAS BEEN OBTAINED; 11

(2) NOTIFY APPLICATION STORE PROVIDERS OF A SIGNIFICANT 12
CHANGE TO AN APPLICATION; 13

(3) USE AGE CATEGORY DATA RECEIVED THROUGH THE 14
APPLICATION STORE’S DATA–SHARING METHODS TO: 15

(I) ENFORCE ANY DEVELOPER –CREATED AGE –RELATED 16
RESTRICTIONS, SAFETY–RELATED FEATURES, OR DEFAULTS; AND 17

(II) ENSURE COMPLIANCE WIT H APPLICABLE LAWS AND 18
REGULATIONS; AND 19

(4) REQUEST AGE CATEGORY DATA OR VERI FIABLE PARENTAL 20
CONSENT: 21

(I) AT THE TIME AN ACCOUNT HOLDER: 22

1. DOWNLOADS AN APPLICATION; 23

2. PURCHASES AN APPLICATION; OR 24

3. LAUNCHES A PRE–INSTALLED APPLICATION FOR THE 25
FIRST TIME; 26

10 HOUSE BILL 1179

(II) WHEN IMPLEMENTING A S IGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE 1
APPLICATION; OR 2

(III) TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAW. 3

(B) A DEVELOPER MAY REQUEST AGE CATEGORY DATA: 4

(1) NOT MORE THAN ONCE DURIN G EACH 12–MONTH PERIOD TO 5
VERIFY: 6

(I) THE ACCURACY OF AGE CATEGORY DATA ASSOCIATED WITH 7
AN ACCOUNT HOLDER; OR 8

(II) CONTINUED ACCOUNT USE WITHIN THE AGE CATEGORY; 9

(2) WHEN THERE IS REASONABLE SUSPICION OF: 10

(I) ACCOUNT TRANSFER; OR 11

(II) MISUSE OUTSIDE THE AGE CATEGORY; OR 12

(3) AT THE TIME AN ACCOUN T HOLDER CREATES A N EW ACCOUNT 13
WITH THE DEVELOPER. 14

(C) WHEN IMPLEMENTING ANY DEVELOPER–CREATED AGE –RELATED 15
RESTRICTIONS, SAFETY–RELATED FEATURES, OR DEFAULTS, A DEVELOPER SHALL 16
USE THE LOWEST AGE CATEGORY INDICATED BY: 17

(1) AGE CATEGORY DATA REC EIVED THROUGH THE APPLICATION 18
STORE’S DATA–SHARING METHODS; OR 19

(2) AGE DATA INDEPENDENTLY COLLECTED BY THE DEVELOPER. 20

(D) A DEVELOPER MAY NOT: 21

(1) ENFORCE A CONTRACT OR TERMS OF SERVICE AGAINST A MINOR 22
UNLESS THE DEVELOPER HAS VERI FIED THROUGH AN APPLICATION STORE’S 23
DATA–SHARING METHODS THAT VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSE NT HAS BEEN 24
OBTAINED; 25

(2) KNOWINGLY MISREPRESEN T ANY INFORMATION IN THE 26
PARENTAL CONSENT DISCLOSURE; OR 27

HOUSE BILL 1179 11

(3) SHARE AGE CATEGORY DATA WITH ANY PERSON. 1

14–5104. 2

THE DIVISION SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING PROCESSES AND 3
MEANS BY WHICH AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER MAY V ERIFY AN ACCOUNT 4
HOLDER’S AGE CATEGORY IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 14–5102(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5

14–5105. 6

(A) A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE IS: 7

(1) AN UNFAIR , ABUSIVE, OR DECEPTIVE TRADE P RACTICE WITHIN 8
THE MEANING OF TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 9

(2) SUBJECT TO THE ENFORC EMENT AND PENALTY PR OVISIONS 10
CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE, EXCEPT FOR § 13–411 OF THIS ARTICLE. 11

(B) IN ADDITION TO REMEDI ES PROVIDED UNDER TITLE 13 OF THIS 12
ARTICLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY BRING AN ACTION AGAINST AN 13
APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER OR A DEVELOPER TO RECOVER A CIVIL PENALTY 14
NOT TO EXCEED $7,500 FOR EACH VIOLATION. 15

(C) IF A MINOR WAS HARMED BY A VIOLATIO N OF THIS SUBTI TLE, THE 16
COURT SHALL AWARD A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF: 17

(1) REMEDIES PROVIDED UNDER TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; 18

(2) THE GREATER OF ACTUAL DAMAGES OR $1,000 FOR EACH 19
VIOLATION; AND 20

(3) PUNITIVE DAMAGES IF THE VIOLATION WAS EGREGIOUS. 21

14–5106. 22

(A) A DEVELOPER IS NOT LIA BLE FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE IF 23
THE DEVELOPER DEMONSTRATES THAT THE DEVELOPER: 24

(1) RELIED IN GOOD FAITH ON APPLICABLE AGE CA TEGORY DATA 25
RECEIVED THROUGH AN APPLICATION STORE’S DATA–SHARING METHODS; 26

12 HOUSE BILL 1179

(2) RELIED IN GOOD FAITH ON NOTIFICATION FROM AN APPLICATION 1
STORE PROVIDER THAT VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSE NT WAS OBTAINED IF T HE 2
ACCOUNT HOLDER WAS A MINOR; AND 3

(3) COMPLIED WITH THE REQ UIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN § 14–5103 4
OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5

(B) A DEVELOPER IS NOT LIA BLE FOR A VIOLATION IN DETERMINING AN 6
APPLICATION’S AGE RATING AND CON TENT DESCRIPTION FOR PURPOSES OF § 7
14–5103(D)(2) OF THIS SUBTITLE IF THE DEVELOPER: 8

(1) USES WIDELY ADOPTED INDUS TRY STANDARDS TO DET ERMINE 9
THE APPLICATION’S AGE CATEGORY AND CONTENT DESCRIPTION; AND 10

(2) APPLIES THOSE STANDARDS CONSISTENTLY AND IN GOOD FAITH. 11

(C) THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SECTION: 12

(1) APPLY ONLY TO ACTIONS BROUGHT UNDER THIS SUBTITLE; AND 13

(2) DO NOT LIMIT THE LIABILITY OF A DEVELOPER OR AN 14
APPLICATION STORE UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LAW. 15

(D) NOTHING IN THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CONSTRUED AS LIMITING OR 16
NEGATING ANY OTHER AVAILABLE REMEDIES OR RIGHTS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE 17
LAWS OF THE STATE OR THE UNITED STATES. 18

14–5107. 19

THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO: 20

(1) PREVENT AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER OR A DEVELOPER 21
FROM TAKING REASONABLE MEASURES TO: 22

(I) BLOCK, DETECT, OR PREVENT DISTRIBUTION TO MINO RS 23
OF: 24

1. UNLAWFUL MATERIAL; 25

2. OBSCENE MATERIAL; OR 26

3. OTHER HARMFUL MATERIAL; 27

HOUSE BILL 1179 13

(II) BLOCK OR FILTER SPAM; 1

(III) PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; OR 2

(IV) PROTECT THE APPLICATION STORE OR APPLICATION 3
SECURITY; 4

(2) REQUIRE AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER TO DISCLOSE USER 5
INFORMATION TO A DEV ELOPER BEYOND AGE CA TEGORY DATA OR STATUS OF 6
VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT; 7

(3) ALLOW AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER OR A DEVELOPER TO 8
IMPLEMENT MEASURES R EQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IN A MANNER THAT IS 9
ARBITRARY, CAPRICIOUS, ANTICOMPETITIVE, OR UNLAWFUL; 10

(4) REQUIRE AN APPLICATION STORE PROVIDER OR DEVELOPER TO 11
BLOCK ACCESS TO AN APPLICATION THAT AN ACCOUNT HOLDER HAS DOWNLOADED 12
OR INSTALLED ONTO A MOBILE DEVICE, EXCEPT WHEN: 13

(I) A PARENT ACCOUNT HOLDE R REVOKES VERIFIABLE 14
CONSENT FOR AN AFFILIATED MINOR ACCOUNT; OR 15

(II) THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE APPLICATION; 16

(5) REQUIRE A DEVELOPER T O COLLECT, RETAIN, RE–IDENTIFY, OR 17
LINK ANY INFORMATION BEYOND THAT WHICH IS: 18

(I) NECESSARY TO VERIFY AGE CATEGORY DATA AS REQUIRED 19
BY THIS SUBTITLE; AND 20

(II) COLLECTED, RETAINED, RE–IDENTIFIED, OR LINKED IN 21
THE DEVELOPER’S ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS; OR 22

(6) RELIEVE A DEVELOPER O F THE DEVELOPER ’S OBLIGATION TO 23
CONDUCT AGE VERI FICATION AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW , EXCEPT THAT A 24
DEVELOPER MAY RELY ON AGE CATEGORY DATA OBTAINED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE 25
IF THE AGE CATEGORY DATA SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE LAW. 26

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if any provision of this Act or 27
the application of any provision of this Act to any person or circumstance is held invalid for 28
any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other 29
provisions or any other application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid 30
provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared 31
severable. 32
14 HOUSE BILL 1179

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2