Children and Youth Health

HB 161 requires app stores and developers to implement age verification and obtain parental consent for certain apps targeting minors. It directly affects app providers, developers, and parents of children under 18. The bill authorizes Alabama's Attorney General to enforce violations as deceptive trade practices and allows parents to file civil lawsuits for noncompliance. Key provisions include mandatory age checks before app downloads and clarifying that this law doesn't override other state age verification requirements. The bill is currently pending in the Alabama House of Representatives.

HB 493 revises the certification process for child advocacy centers in Alabama. The bill allows the Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers to certify a center as a full member if it meets existing statutory standards *and* any additional standards approved by the network's Board of Directors. These additional standards are intended to ensure compliance with national best practices. Achieving full member certification is crucial for child advocacy centers to be eligible to receive state funding distributed through the network.

Senate Bill 274 (SB 274) prohibits the possession and sale of psychoactive cannabinoids, including delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derived from hemp, within Alabama. The bill establishes new criminal penalties for violations, ranging from a Class A misdemeanor for personal possession to Class C and D felonies for unlawful sale or repeat possession offenses. These prohibitions directly affect individuals and businesses currently involved in the sale or possession of these compounds. The only exceptions are those authorized under the state's medical cannabis laws, and the bill is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Senate Bill 58 revises the age at which minors can consent to medical, dental, and mental health services, raising it from 14 to 18 years old. This includes consent for vaccines and school counseling, though exceptions exist for minors who are married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated, or living independently. Any minor may still consent to services related to pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol or drug dependency. The bill also establishes a parental fundamental right to make healthcare decisions for their minor child and generally prohibits denying parents access to their child's health information, with exceptions for court orders or investigations of crimes against the child. Additionally, it requires parental written permission for students under 18 to participate in ongoing school counseling services.

HB 53 creates a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody and equal or approximately equal parenting time with both parents is in the best interest of the child. It requires courts to document their reasons if they deviate from this presumption and establishes uniform guidelines for other custody arrangements. The bill mandates that all parties in custody matters submit a parenting plan, outlining remedies like makeup parenting time for non-adherence. Additionally, it removes outdated language regarding a husband's automatic custody in cases of abandonment by the wife.