HB 498 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Utah App Store Accountability Act Amendments

HB 498 amends Utah's App Store Accountability Act to strengthen protections for minors. It requires app stores to implement clearer age ratings, provide detailed content descriptions to parents, and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing in-app purchases for users under 18. The bill adds new rules for pre-installed applications (excluding core device functions) and defines "minor accounts" requiring parent affiliation. These changes directly affect app store providers, developers, and parents managing children's mobile device usage, with enforcement handled by Utah's Division of Consumer Protection.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Signed Mar 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #2 → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to correct typos and formatting errors in the definitions and requirements sections, while also updating a specific section number reference. The effective dates for most provisions were changed from December 31, 2026, to May 6, 2027, and the repeal of the old section was retained. These changes ensure the text is legally clear and aligns the implementation timeline with the intended schedule.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains the same, but the timeline for when the new rules take effect was extended from the end of 2026 to May 2027.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the majority of the bill's requirements was changed from December 31, 2026, to May 6, 2027, giving app stores and developers more time to prepare.

TECHNICAL

Several sections were updated to fix typos, such as changing 'Internetinternet' to 'Internet' and correcting inconsistent numbering in the definitions.

REQUIREMENT

A reference to a specific subsection in the developer requirements was corrected from '13-76-202(5)' to '13-76-202(6)' to match the new structure of the law.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Parent' was slightly altered to clarify that a parent includes any individual reasonably believed to have legal authority to make decisions for a minor.

The definition of 'Significant change' was expanded to explicitly include new monetization features and material changes to functionality or user experience.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 12 edits

MAJOR

The bill was significantly expanded to include pre-installed applications (like those on phones) and added a new rulemaking section, while the original rulemaking section was repealed. The scope now covers all apps, including those that come pre-loaded on devices, and the timeline for compliance was adjusted to May 6, 2027, for most new requirements. Key changes include stricter age verification rules for minors, expanded definitions of parents to include guardians, and new protections for emergency services apps that previously required parental consent.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from covering only downloadable apps to explicitly including pre-installed applications (apps present at purchase or activation) and browser/search engine apps. Additionally, a new section was added requiring the Division of Consumer Protection to create rules for verifying minors' ages, replacing the previous rulemaking section.

SCOPE

Added requirements for pre-installed applications, ensuring apps that come with phones or are installed by carriers/retailers are subject to the same age verification and parental consent rules as downloadable apps.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Account holder' and expanded the definition of 'Parent' to include individuals reasonably believed to be parents, legal guardians, or those with legal custody.

Added a new definition for 'In-app purchase' to clarify what constitutes a charge within an app.

Modified the definition of 'Minor' to explicitly include individuals who have not been emancipated or married.

REQUIREMENT

Modified age verification requirements to mandate affirmative attestation by a parent for minors, rather than just verifying the primary account holder is an adult.

Added requirements for app store providers to notify parents of significant changes to apps and obtain renewed consent for minors before allowing downloads or purchases.

Modified the definition of 'Significant change' to specifically include the introduction of in-app purchases or advertisements where none existed before.

Removed the requirement for developers to request parental consent at the time of app download or purchase for family account applications, replacing it with a system where the primary account holder's age category is used for safety defaults.

Removed the requirement for developers to share age category data with any person, replacing it with a more specific restriction on sharing only with app store providers or as required by law.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific safe harbor provision protecting developers from liability if they relied in good faith on age data provided by app store providers.

EXEMPTIONS

Added exemptions for apps providing direct access to emergency services (like 911), which do not require parental consent.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for most new requirements from May 6, 2026, to May 6, 2027, while keeping the repeal of the old rulemaking section effective May 6, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

29–0

Passed

Total votes 29

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

22 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 18, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ to House with amendments

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ returned to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor