Governor Abbott Enacts App Store Accountability Act, Strengthening Parental Oversight Texas

Texas has taken a major step in strengthening parental control over children's digital experiences with the passage of Senate Bill 2420, the App Store Accountability Act. Officially signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott (R), the legislation makes Texas only the second state in the country to enact comprehensive protections that regulate how app stores interact with young users and their families.

SB 2420, authored by Senator Angela Paxton (R) and Representative Caroline Fairly (R), establishes several key requirements aimed at enhancing child safety and giving parents a central role in managing their children’s access to mobile applications.

Under the new law, app stores must obtain verified parental consent before allowing minors to download apps. The bill also requires accurate and enforceable age ratings for apps, and the creation of a secure, anonymous system for verifying a user's age, all in one central platform.

“This is a landmark moment for child safety in Texas,” said Casey Stefanski, Executive Director of the Digital Childhood Alliance, one of the key organizations backing the legislation. “With Governor Abbott’s signature, Texas has become a national leader in holding app stores accountable and putting parents back in control of their children’s digital lives. “

Support for SB 2420 was broad and bipartisan. According to a Texas Public Policy Foundation poll, 75% of Texas voters, including 79% of Texas parents—support requiring app stores to obtain parental consent before minors can access or download digital apps. The public sentiment strongly aligned with the bill’s core principle, that parents, not tech companies, should decide what is appropriate for their children.

Senator Angela Paxton emphasized that the legislation was grounded in a “family-first” approach. “The App Store Accountability Act is about putting parents back in the driver’s seat regarding their children’s devices,” she stated. “Big Tech should not be deciding what’s appropriate for our kids, that’s the role of parents. SB 2420 gives families the tools they need to protect their children and holds tech companies accountable when they fail to do their part.”

Representative Caroline Fairly echoed that message, calling the legislation a commonsense measure designed to address a growing gap in digital safety.

“The App Store Accountability Act is a commonsense safeguard that gives parents a say in what their kids access,” she said. “I’m grateful to Governor Abbott and my colleagues for working to ensure Texas kids are protected.”

Now that SB 2420 is law, Texas is expected to serve as a model for other states considering similar legislation. Proponents argue that the bill balances innovation and user privacy with essential protection for young users, without overburdening tech companies that act responsibly.

For Texas families, the law marks a significant victory in the ongoing effort to make the digital world safer and more accountable.