MONTGOMERY — State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) bill to automatically activate the adult content filter on all electronic devices used by minors cleared the House late on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 186 (SB186) would require manufacturers of "certain Internet-enabled devices," including smartphones and tablets, to require that devices manufactured on or after June 1 contain a filter that is enabled during the device's activation if the user is a minor and only allow a user with a password to deactivate or reactivate the filter. The bill would also subject device manufacturers that violate this act to civil liability and provide for penalties.
The filters are already on all smartphones, tablets and virtually every electronic device with internet capabilities. The bill was amended in the Senate to remove the requirement for gaming consoles.
A related bill, also sponsored by Chambliss, is currently awaiting a floor vote. Senate Bill 187 (SB187) would require app store providers to verify users' ages, affiliate minor accounts with parent accounts, and obtain consent from the parent account holder.
Similar attempts have been made in the legislature and have failed for the past two years.
Both bills earned a filibuster from Democratic senators, eventually leading to Senate leadership cloturing debate.
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State Rep. Chris Sells (R-Greenville) presented the bill before the House, receiving no Democratic opposition from lawmakers this year or previously, possibly due to the late hour or behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The House ran late into the evening due to gridlock in the Senate, with Democratic State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) using Senate rules to consume as much time as possible. The House recessed for over an hour on Tuesday evening while the Senate continued its proceedings, resuming after 8 p.m. to complete the day's special order calendar and adopt a new one.
SB186 passed unanimously just after 8:30 p.m. Since it was amended in committee, the Senate must concur with the changes before going to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
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