Bill Text: TX HB499 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to a warning label on certain social media platforms concerning the association between a minor's social media usage and significant mental health issues.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-04-29 - Received from the House [HB499 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB499-Engrossed.html
| By: González of El Paso, Patterson, et al. | H.B. No. 499 | |
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| relating to a warning label on certain social media platforms | ||
| concerning the association between a minor's social media usage and | ||
| significant mental health issues. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER Z. WARNING LABEL ON CERTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS | ||
| REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN MINORS | ||
| Sec. 161.801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "social | ||
| media platform" and "user" have the meanings assigned by Section | ||
| 120.001, Business & Commerce Code. | ||
| Sec. 161.8015. APPLICABILITY. (a) This subchapter applies | ||
| only to a social media platform described by Section 120.002(b), | ||
| Business & Commerce Code. | ||
| (b) This subchapter does not apply to a website or | ||
| application used primarily for the purpose of interactive gaming. | ||
| Sec. 161.802. REQUIRED WARNING LABEL REGARDING MENTAL | ||
| HEALTH ISSUES. (a) A social media platform operating in this state | ||
| shall display on the platform's landing page each time a user opens | ||
| the platform a warning label concerning the association between a | ||
| minor's social media usage and significant mental health issues. | ||
| The warning label must include: | ||
| (1) information on available resources for persons | ||
| experiencing significant mental health issues, including the phone | ||
| number or link to the website for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; | ||
| and | ||
| (2) a statement concerning the use of an individual's | ||
| personal data by social media platforms and the addictive nature of | ||
| social media usage. | ||
| (b) The social media platform shall ensure the user is | ||
| unable to operate the platform until the user verifies the user | ||
| understands the warning. | ||
| (c) The executive commissioner shall adopt evidence-based | ||
| rules regarding the form and content of the warning label required | ||
| by Subsection (a). | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive | ||
| commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall | ||
| adopt the rules required by Section 161.802, Health and Safety | ||
| Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| (b) A social media platform to which Subchapter Z, Chapter | ||
| 161, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, applies is not | ||
| required to comply with Section 161.802, Health and Safety Code, as | ||
| added by this Act, before April 1, 2026. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
