Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB499 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	89R20756 MPF-D
2		-	By: González of El Paso, Patterson H.B. No. 499
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 499:
4		-	By: VanDeaver C.S.H.B. No. 499
	1	+	89R2213 MPF-D
	2	+	By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 499
5	3
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9	7		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
10	8		AN ACT
11	9		relating to a warning label on social media platforms concerning
12	10		the association between a minor's social media usage and
13	11		significant mental health issues.
14	12		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
15	13		SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
16	14		by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows:
17	15		SUBCHAPTER Z. WARNING LABEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS REGARDING
18	16		MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN MINORS
19	17		Sec. 161.801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "social
20	18		media platform" and "user" have the meanings assigned by Section
21	19		120.001, Business & Commerce Code.
22	20		Sec. 161.802. REQUIRED WARNING LABEL REGARDING MENTAL
23	21		HEALTH ISSUES. (a) A social media platform operating in this state
24	22		shall display on the platform's landing page each time a user opens
25	23		the platform a warning label concerning the association between a
26	24		minor's social media usage and significant mental health issues.
27		-	The warning label must include:
28		-	(1) information on available resources for persons
29		-	experiencing significant mental health issues, including the phone
30		-	number or link to the website for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline;
31		-	and
32		-	(2) a statement concerning the use of an individual's
33		-	personal data by social media platforms and the addictive nature of
34		-	social media usage.
35	25		(b) The social media platform shall ensure the user is
36	26		unable to operate the platform until the user verifies the user
37	27		understands the warning.
38		-	(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt ~~evidence-based~~
39		-	~~rules regarding~~ the form and content of the warning label required
40		-	~~by Subsection~~ (a).
	28	+	(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules regarding
	29	+	the form and content of the warning label required by Subsection
	30	+	(a).
41	31		SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive
42	32		commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
43	33		adopt the rules required by Section 161.802, Health and Safety
44	34		Code, as added by this Act.
45	35		(b) A social media platform, as that term is defined by
46	36		Section 120.001, Business & Commerce Code, is not required to
47	37		comply with Section 161.802, Health and Safety Code, as added by
48	38		this Act, before April 1, 2026.
49	39		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.