Latest news with #ChrisSells
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill requiring app stores to verify age for minors in Alabama stalls in House committee
Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, speaks to a colleague on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 12, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A bill that would require app stores to verify the age of individuals creating accounts in Alabama will likely not become law this year. The House State Government Committee was set Tuesday to consider SB 187, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville. But the committee did not have a quorum for its scheduled meeting, preventing a vote on the bill. With just two days left in the 2025 legislative session, the committee would have to meet Wednesday to give the bill a chance of passage on May 14, the last scheduled day of the session, but Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, the chair of the committee, indicated that legislation will be worked on over the summer to be introduced in the next legislative session. The bill would require app stores to obtain parental consent for users identified as minors before they can download or purchase apps or make in-app purchases. The bill would have also prohibited developers from enforcing disclosures or terms of service on minors without parental consent. 'Apps would have to be approved by the parent and be age-appropriate for the child, so that would take care of the problem of the phones that are already out there, and that's what this is about, protecting children,' said Sells, who sponsored a similar bill in the House. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A companion bill, SB 186, also sponsored by Chambliss, was passed by both chambers and sent to Gov. Kay Ivey Thursday. It will require smartphones and tablets manufactured on or after June 1 and activated in Alabama include a pre-installed filter capable of blocking obscene material. Sells said that 'will address the issue going forward.' Justin Hill, a spokesperson for NetChoice advocating for limited internet government control, free speech and enterprise across the country aid 'we all agree on the why' for the bill, but disagreed on the basis of free speech. He suggested that the bill could face legal challenges. 'There are 17 states where this bill was filed, they run afoul of the First Amendment in our belief. And we do a lot of work in this space. We have a litigation team that litigates a lot of similar bills. This one has not made it to the point of litigation yet,' Hill said. NetChoice has sued or is in litigation with at least 12 states. Georgia was sued in March after passing a law that would require children to acquire parental consent to use social media. Melea Stephens, a Birmingham marriage and family therapist and a board member of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, claimed to have seen cases in her private practice of children 'being exploited on commonly used apps.' She said that minors are entering contracts with 'multibillion dollar companies when they sign up for an app without parental permission.' 'We do not allow minors to go into a bank and sign a contract because they cannot comprehend the risk involved,' Stephens said, adding that the legislation is 'based on contract law, not content moderation or free speech issues.' Rachel Holland, a spokesperson for Meta, a vocal proponent of the legislation, said in an email after the bill's passage that they look forward to working with lawmakers on this legislation. 'Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their teen's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and one-third of US states and the US Congress have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play,' she said in a statement. Holland also cited a poll from the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, suggesting 83% of voters support parental approval in app stores. Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, said that 'whether or not this legislation is the right piece,' he feels that parents need help monitoring children's behavior online. He said that he uses a service that requires his children to ask for permission before downloading an app on their phone. Despite approving apps that seemed harmless to his children, Bedsole said there was still some unwanted content in the form of advertising or surveys. Bedsole said that despite these concerns, lawmakers should work with groups like NetChoice to address them because of their complexity. 'We've got to have someone who represents the development of these apps to be at the table, because the technology behind it is so complex that, as a parent alone, I need some help,' Bedsole said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta supports Alabama bill that would split apps into age categories
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is speaking in favor of a bill in one Alabama House committee. 'We make them wear helmets. We make them do … everything. We protect them physically in all kinds of ways,' said state Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville. 'But when it comes to the internet and cell phones, we don't protect them at all, and this is what this is about.' That bill is about splitting apps into age categories for minor and requiring age verification for children who download them. That's from ages 13 and below all the way to 18 years old. 'Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their teen's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy preserving way,' Meta said in a statement. But Justin Hill with NetChoice, an association advocating for free speech on the internet, argued that permission should start with education, not limitation. 'So we all agree on why, but we disagree on the how,' Hill said. 'NetChoice takes a position to protect the internet — also to be a place of free speech and free enterprise.' Judge denies city's request to stop Alabama from signing Birmingham Water Works Board bill, at least for now Hill said the bill takes parents out of the conversation. 'We won't see the results that we need to see, and I just need to remind you, many of our members, like Apple and Meta and Google, they are actively doing upgrades,' Hill said. If those members offer apps to minors without parental consent, the state could sue them under the bill. Melea Stephens, marriage and family therapist in Birmingham, said it's not about free speech. Children are exploited through some apps. Stephens is also a part of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. 'I work with local law enforcement on these cases, and they're very heartbreaking,' Stephens said. 'So that's one reason I'm so passionate about this measure because it would go a long way to changing the atmosphere of the digital landscape that our children are growing up in in Alabama.' The bill did not receive a vote in committee Tuesday. Lawmakers said they want to keep working together on the effort and figure out what is best for the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 15-17, 2025
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, looks out over the Alabama House prior to the start of the session on April 17, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Here is a list of the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. Tuesday, April 15 House HB 549, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, authorizes the Butler County sheriff to conduct fundraising events, such as rodeos, and use the proceeds for any lawful purpose related to the sheriff's office operations. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 550, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville , authorizes the Butler County Commission to levy a new annual $5.25 vehicle registration fee, with proceeds split equally among the sheriff, revenue commissioner and probate judge. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 551, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, authorizes the Butler County sheriff to sell surplus property, such as vehicles, and deposit the proceeds into a special fund for purchasing vehicles or related equipment for the sheriff's office. The bill passed 9-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 552, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett, R-Dozier, authorizes Covington County to levy a 5% excise tax on vapor products, vaping devices, alternative nicotine products, and psychoactive cannabinoids. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 526, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger's Island, allows excess funds to be used for state development projects and debt service on other bonds, and authorizes a $5 million transfer to the Department of Commerce for international offices, rural development, and operational costs. The bill passed 96-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 506, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, allows law enforcement and emergency agencies to designate publicly owned off-road vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 447, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, requires local school boards to adopt policies for transporting dual enrollment and other students to offsite educational venues and repeals a law mandating school buses transport community college and trade school students. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 509, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Sorrells, R-Hartford, prohibits Alabama state agencies from killing, testing, or restricting the transfer of game breeder-owned cervids, like deer, due to disease except in specific cases. The bill passed 89-8. It goes to the Senate. HB 505, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, extends the deadline for taxpayers to appeal final tax assessments to the Alabama Tax Tribunal or circuit court from 30 to 60 days. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 255, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, allows State Police Tier II Plan members of the Employees' Retirement System to receive payment for up to 80 hours per year of accrued and unused annual leave in excess of 480 hours. The bill passed 97-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 480, sponsored by Rep. Alan Treadaway, R-Morris, prohibits people from using a foreign national drivers license or ID to vote in Alabama elections. The bill passed 76-5. It goes to the Senate. HB 465, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, authorizes the director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to use appropriated funds to purchase promotional and educational materials that enhance public awareness of the agency and emergency preparedness. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 492, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, excludes non-felony offenses and water safety offenses committed by 14- and 15-year-olds, except DUI or boating under the influence, from being classified as delinquent acts for juvenile proceedings. The bill passed 79-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 8, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, enhances regulation of tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems, including increased sales restrictions to minors, signage requirements for retailers, establishment of a Tobacco Licensing and Compliance Fund, and mandates for a model vaping education program in schools. The bill passed 89-9. It goes to the Senate. Senate SB 310, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, authorizes the Jefferson County Commission to set the dates for an election whenever a vacancy occurs. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House. SB 242, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, adopts and incorporates into Alabama statute the general and permanent laws that the Legislature enacted in the 2024 session. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House. SB 212, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, requires that a person who works with a realtor when purchasing a property must receive a disclosure form from a realtor prior to the realtor showing the property that must be in writing and shows how the realtor is compensated. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 171, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, prohibits someone from using a motorized vehicle on land that is submerged below navigable waters or be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 312, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, allows establishments that have an Alcohol Beverage Control Board license and that serve alcohol under those licenses to store their beverages at a permanent facility for a limited time before they are transferred to different locations, and creates a new license that allows state and local governments to serve alcohol on premises that they own. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 316, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, creates a new license category called 'educational tourism distillery' that allows liquor manufacturers that host public tours to sell their own alcoholic beverages at different locations on their properties at the retail price. The bill passed 26-3. It goes to the House. SB 216, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, allows firemedics who retired to return to duty without having their retirement allowances suspended and caps their salaries at $52,000 per year. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 280, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires that Alabama Department of Education develop a digital platform and a system to share data that consolidates documents required for the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama Numeracy Act and individualized education programs. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 244, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, creates the crime of aggravated theft of employee retirement benefits, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. House HB 424, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, increases the annual salary of the Montgomery County sheriff to $225,000 effective at the start of the next term of office for the sheriff and provides a $70,000 expense allowance for sheriffs who have served two or more consecutive full terms. The allowance will expire upon the conclusion of the current term of the Montgomery County sheriff. The bill passed 16-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 288, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, establishes a $37,125 annual salary for the supernumerary revenue commissioner of Barbour County effective Oct. 1. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 298, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, authorizes the city of Florence to annex additional land, including a 60-foot-wide right-of-way along Gresham Road. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 286, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, allows members of the Montgomery City Council to participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama, with provisions for purchasing service credit for prior service and prohibiting dual participation in both the Employees' Retirement System and a supernumerary program. The measure, a constitutional amendment, passed 66-0. It will appear on a ballot for voters to consider. HB 437, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, establishes a shark alert system for people on Alabama beaches to be alerted of a nearby shark. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 247, sponsored by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, renames the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America.' The bill passed 72-26. It goes to the Senate. HB 179, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, allows local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow volunteer campus chaplains to provide support and services in schools. The bill passed 91-4. It goes to the Senate. HB 7, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would give sheriff's deputies and police officers authority to arrest and detain individuals who are not authorized to be in the U.S. and to transfer them to the custody of federal law enforcement. The bill passed 74-26. It goes to the Senate. HB 178, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, requires public K-12 schools to display the Ten Commandments in a common area. The bill passed 81-11. It goes to the Senate. HB 67, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, prohibits public schools and libraries from hosting drag performances in the presence of children without parental consent. The bill passed 76-9. It goes to the Senate. HB 244, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, prohibits public school teachers at all grade levels from teaching or discussing gender identity or sexuality. The bill passed 74-15. It goes to the Senate. HB 165, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Matthews, adds Juneteenth as a state holiday. The bill passed 85-4. It goes to the Senate. HB 382, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, updates real estate regulations, including clarifying requirements for brokerage agreements, consumer disclosures, licensee duties and the operation of real estate teams. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 225, sponsored by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, updates terminology and requirements related to the training, qualifications, and licensure of real estate companies, brokers, and salespersons. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. \ Senate SB 186, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, would require using a filter on certain Internet-enabled devices in Alabama if the user is a minor. The bill passed 28-5. It goes to the House. SB 187, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, would require app stores to verify users' ages and require minors' accounts to be affiliated with a parent account. The bill passed 26-6. It goes to the House. SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, would remove the Alabama Department of Archives & History Board of Trustees' authority to self-appoint and give the governor appointing authority for most seats, including members from each congressional district. The bill passed 26-5. It goes to the House. SB 13, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, is a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would require the first stanza of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' to be broadcast or performed at least once a week during school hours in K-12 public schools. The bill passed 25-6. It goes to the House. SB 142, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, would remove the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as a voter registration database that Alabama must use to identify voters whose addresses may have changed. The bill passed 25-5. It goes to the House. SB 158, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would prohibit using foreign national driver's licenses as a form of identification when voting. The bill passed 25-6. It goes to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama bill requiring age verification for app downloads sparks debate
Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, sits in a House Child and Senior Advocacy Committee meeting on Feb. 26, 2025. The committee heard support and opposition on his bill, HB 317, that would require app store age verification. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) An Alabama bill requiring app stores to verify users' ages drew debate during a committee hearing last week. HB 317, sponsored by Chris Sells, R-Greenville, would prohibit a minor from downloading a new app or updating an existing app without parental consent. In order for app stores to know whether someone is a minor, the platforms would have to implement age verification under the legislation. Supporters of the bill said Wednesday that parents support this regulation. Those who oppose the legislation said it would create a false sense of security, and the law would likely be challenged in court for violating users' privacy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Other age verification methods of the social media sites have all been solved in court,' Justin Hill from NetChoice told the House Child and Senior Advocacy Committee. 'One like this hasn't made it out of the legislature yet, so maybe Alabama can be the first to defend that in court.' NetChoice advocates for limited internet government control, free speech and enterprise across the country. The group has fought many internet laws nationwide. Hill mentioned laws in Florida and Virginia that created online literacy courses for minors. He said an education-based law, rather than a mandate, would be constitutional. 'And we really need to remember that an unconstitutional law helps no children,' he said. Nicole Lopez, safety policy director for youth at Meta, said the bill provides parental control. She said a small study conducted on behalf of Meta showed that 80% of parents want app store age verification. 'Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age before they can download apps,' Lopez said. 'HB 317 is the mechanism to achieve just that, with an immediate impact on Alabama families supporting their teens online.' NetChoice opposed a similar bill that would require age verification for social media accounts on Feb. 19. Meta implemented Instagram Teen Accounts in September that have built-in protections, limiting who can contact them and the content they see, while also providing new ways to safely explore their interests. Melea Stephens, a family therapist, said she supported the bill because of how she has seen the internet affect her clients. 'As a family therapist, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of unregulated apps and what they can have on our youth,' she said. 'I've treated several cases of child sextortion and sexual abuse that have arisen through platforms marketed to children where predators exploit the very apps designed to foster connection and entertainment.' Knox Argo, an attorney based in Montgomery, said he opposed the bill because it is being pushed by Meta. 'We certainly don't want to be the first in the nation to stick our neck out on some new bill that is pushed by a multimillion-dollar corporation,' he said. Meta is worth $1.7 trillion. The committee did not vote on the bill. Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, the chair of the committee, said she'd put it on the agenda in a couple weeks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
