89R11171 BCH-D     By: Shaheen H.B. No. 4298       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to parental controls and filters for certain explicit   material on electronic devices; providing a civil penalty.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 121 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 121. ELECTRONIC DEVICE FILTERS AND PARENTAL CONTROLS   SUBCHAPTER A. ELECTRONIC DEVICE FILTER AND PARENTAL CONTROL   REQUIREMENTS          Sec. 121.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Activate" means the process of powering on an   electronic device and associating the device with a new user   account.                (2)  "Electronic device" means a device with a screen   that is capable of connecting to a cellular network or the Internet.                (3)  "Explicit material" means visual material   depicting:                      (A)  the intimate parts of a person;                      (B)  sexual conduct; or                      (C)  simulated sexual conduct.                (4)  "Filter" means software installed on an electronic   device that is capable of preventing the device from accessing or   displaying explicit material.                (5)  "Intimate parts" has the meaning assigned by   Section 21.16, Penal Code.                (6)  "Manufacturer" means a person that:                      (A)  is engaged in the business of manufacturing   electronic devices or holds a patent for an electronic device; and                      (B)  maintains a registered agent under Section   5.201, Business Organizations Code.                (7)  "Minor" means a person younger than 18 years of age   who:                      (A)  has never been married; and                      (B)  has not had the disabilities of minority   removed for general purposes.                (8)  "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by   Section 21.16, Penal Code.                (9)  "Simulated" has the meaning assigned by Section   21.16, Penal Code.                (10)  "Visual material" has the meaning assigned by   Section 21.16, Penal Code.          Sec. 121.002.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter does not apply   to a telecommunications provider who activates an electronic device   on behalf of a user.          Sec. 121.003.  ELECTRONIC DEVICE FILTER REQUIRED. (a) A   manufacturer shall automatically enable a filter on an electronic   device that is activated in this state.          (b)  A filter described by Subsection (a), when enabled,   must:                (1)  prevent a minor user from accessing, downloading,   or displaying explicit material through use of:                      (A)  a mobile data network;                      (B)  an Internet network, including Wi-Fi; or                      (C)  a software application owned and controlled   by the manufacturer of the electronic device;                (2)  notify the user of the electronic device when the   filter prevents the device from accessing or displaying explicit   material;                (3)  allow the user of the electronic device or a minor   user's parent or guardian to circumvent the filter by entering a   password or access code; and                (4)  reasonably prevent a user of the electronic device   from circumventing, modifying, removing, or uninstalling the   filter without entering a password or access code.          Sec. 121.004.  PARENTAL CONTROLS REQUIRED. (a) A   manufacturer shall provide parental controls on an electronic   device that is activated in this state.          (b)  Parental controls described by Subsection (a), when   enabled, must allow a minor's parent or guardian to:                (1)  limit the amount of time the minor user uses the   electronic device;                (2)  manage the minor's ability to download and use   certain applications; and                (3)  monitor the location of the electronic device.          Sec. 121.005.  VIOLATION. (a) A manufacturer violates this   chapter if:                (1)  the manufacturer manufactures an electronic   device that is activated in this state;                (2)  the device does not automatically enable a filter   under Section 121.003; and                (3)  a minor user accesses explicit material on the   device.          (b)  A manufacturer violates this chapter if:                (1)  the manufacturer manufactures an electronic   device that is activated in this state; and                (2)  the device does not have parental controls that   meet the requirements of Section 121.004.          (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a manufacturer does not   violate this chapter if the manufacturer makes a good faith effort   to provide an electronic device that automatically enables a filter   under Section 121.003.   SUBCHAPTER B. ENFORCEMENT          Sec. 121.051.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A manufacturer that   violates Section 121.005(a) or (b) is liable to this state for a   civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for each violation.          (b)  The attorney general may bring an action in the name of   the state to recover a civil penalty under this section. The   attorney general may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred in   bringing an action under this section.          (c)  The action may be brought in a district court in:                (1)  Travis County; or                (2)  a county in which any part of the violation or   threatened violation occurs.          (d)  The attorney general shall deposit a civil penalty   collected under this section in the state treasury to the credit of   the general revenue fund.          Sec. 121.052.  OTHER ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.  In   addition to collecting the penalty under Section 121.051, the   attorney general may bring a civil action to enjoin a manufacturer   from further violating this chapter.          SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2026, each   manufacturer shall implement a software update to automatically   enable an electronic device filter on an electronic device in this   state or a device associated with a user account for a user in this   state, as required by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.