SOCIAL MEDIA – Adds to existing law to establish the Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act.
Idaho's H 542, the "Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act," targets major social media platforms (those earning $1+ billion in global ad revenue) operating in Idaho. It directly affects children under 16 by restricting platforms' use of specific "addictive interface features" like infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and profile-based feeds. The law triggers two usage-based restrictions: after 25 cumulative hours in six months, platforms must notify parents; after 50 hours, they must disable addictive features for minors. The bill defines key terms and establishes enforcement mechanisms, focusing on protecting Idaho children's online experiences without banning social media use.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026
Signed Apr 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
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Engrossment 1
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1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was updated to reflect its amended version after Senate review. This change indicates that the legislation has been modified by the Senate and is now in its second reading stage in the House.
Scope change
No substantive policy changes to the bill's scope, eligibility, funding, or requirements were identified in this diff; the change is purely a status update reflecting Senate amendments.
TECHNICAL
The bill title was updated from 'HOUSE BILL NO. 542' to 'HOUSE BILL NO. 542, As Amended in the Senate' to indicate the document now includes Senate changes.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2026 · House Feb 9, 2026
How they voted
21–15
Passed
Total votes 36
Mar 20, 2026
D
Democratic6
66% Yea
R
Republican30
56% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 62-5-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raym
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Committee
Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Concurred in Senate Amendments
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Introduced
Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Lakey, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, WintrowNAYS – Blaylock, Foreman, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Ruchti, Ward-Engelking, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - CarlsonTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
Amendments ordered printed
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 62-7-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Sco
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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