Federal Bill Would Require Age Verification for All Operating Systems
A new federal bill filed as H.R. 8250 on April 13, 2026, would require all operating system providers to verify the age of every user. The bill follows California's AB 1043, which already requires OS providers to categorize users into four age groups.
Congress is considering a sweeping new law that would bring age verification to every computer and mobile device in America. The federal bill, titled "To require operating system providers to verify the age of any user of an operating system, and for other purposes," was introduced in the House as H.R. 8250.
The legislation mirrors California's AB 1043, which already requires operating system providers to maintain age verification systems. Under these laws, OS companies must categorize users into four age brackets: under 13, 13 to under 16, 16 to under 18, and 18 or older.
The push for age verification comes as lawmakers seek new ways to protect children online. Earlier versions of federal kids' safety bills included explicit age verification requirements, but those were later removed after criticism. Now lawmakers are taking a different approach by targeting the operating system level rather than individual websites or apps.
Operating system providers would need to maintain what California's law calls a "reasonably consistent real-time application programming interface" to track and share user age categories. This means the age verification would happen at the device level, affecting access to apps, websites, and other digital content.
This could change how you use your computer, phone, or tablet by requiring age verification before accessing your device. Different features and content might be restricted based on whether you're under 13, 16, 18, or older.
Watch for committee hearings on H.R. 8250 and whether other states follow California's lead with their own age verification laws.
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