Bill > S1158

This bill establishes the "Children's Device Protection Act," which requires manufacturers of tablets and smartphones sold in Idaho from January 1, 2026, to include internet filters designed to prevent minors from accessing obscene material. The bill mandates that devices activated in the state must automatically determine the user's age during setup, enable a filter for minor users, allow for password-based filter management, and notify users when a website is blocked. Manufacturers can be held civilly liable if a minor accesses obscene material on a device that does not comply with these requirements, though they can avoid liability by making a good faith effort to provide a commercially reasonable filter. The Attorney General is empowered to take legal action against non-compliant manufacturers, with potential penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and a total of $50,000 in aggregate, and can seek to revoke a manufacturer's business license. The bill defines key terms like "device," "filter," and "obscene material," and aims to protect minors' mental health by reducing their access to harmful online content. The act will go into full effect on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause emphasizing its immediate importance.

Government Affairs, Justice

State Affairs Committee (S)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/S1158/