State profile

Texas age-verification & online ID laws

In effect HB 1181 (2023) effective Sep 1, 2023

HB 1181 (2023) -- adult-content age verification for sites where more than one-third of content is harmful to minors; effective Sept 2023.

Laws & bills on record

Adult content

In effect
Bill / statute
HB 1181 (2023)
Status
Active law in effect
Effective
Sep 1, 2023
Intrusiveness
High -- Broad reach: low or no content threshold, device/OS-level, or bundled with other verification.

HB 1181 (2023) -- adult-content age verification for sites where more than one-third of content is harmful to minors; effective Sept 2023. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld it 6-3 in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (June 27, 2025), the ruling that settled the constitutional question for adult-content AV laws nationwide.

Timeline
  • Sep 1, 2023In effect

Source: capitol.texas.gov

Social media

Court hold
Bill / statute
HB 18, SCOPE Act (2023)
Status
Enacted, blocked by court
Intrusiveness
High -- Broad reach: low or no content threshold, device/OS-level, or bundled with other verification.

The Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, HB 18 (2023), requires parental consent before minors under 18 enter agreements with digital services. Its age-verification/monitoring provisions were preliminarily enjoined (NetChoice/CCIA v. Paxton, Judge Pitman); the law is blocked pending the State's 5th Circuit appeal.

Timeline
  • Aug 30, 2024Court hold

Source: capitol.texas.gov

App store

In effect
Bill / statute
SB 2420 (2025)
Status
Active law in effect
Effective
Jun 4, 2026
Intrusiveness
High -- Broad reach: low or no content threshold, device/OS-level, or bundled with other verification.
Sponsor
Sen. Angela Paxton (signed by Gov. Abbott)

App Store Accountability Act, signed May 27, 2025, set for Jan 1, 2026. Judge Pitman preliminarily enjoined it Dec 23, 2025 (CCIA v. Paxton), but the 5th Circuit stayed that injunction and the law took effect June 4, 2026; it is in force while the First Amendment appeal continues. App stores must verify age at account creation and obtain parental consent for minors' downloads/purchases.

Timeline
  • Dec 23, 2025Court hold
  • Jun 4, 2026In effect

Source: recordinglaw.com

Frequently asked questions

Does Texas require age verification to access adult websites?

Yes. HB 1181 (2023) is in effect, effective Sep 1, 2023. HB 1181 (2023) -- adult-content age verification for sites where more than one-third of content is harmful to minors; effective Sept 2023.

Does Texas require age checks or ID to use social media?

A law was enacted but is currently blocked by a court. HB 18, SCOPE Act (2023) is court hold. The Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, HB 18 (2023), requires parental consent before minors under 18 enter agreements with digital services.

Does Texas require age verification in app stores?

Yes. SB 2420 (2025) is in effect, effective Jun 4, 2026. App Store Accountability Act, signed May 27, 2025, set for Jan 1, 2026.

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