H.B. No. 499 introduces a new requirement for certain social media platforms to display a warning label regarding the potential mental health issues associated with minors' social media usage. The bill adds Subchapter Z to Chapter 161 of the Health and Safety Code, which mandates that these platforms show a warning label each time a user opens the platform. This label must include information about available mental health resources, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and a statement about the use of personal data and the addictive nature of social media. Additionally, users must confirm their understanding of the warning before they can access the platform.

The bill specifies that it applies only to social media platforms as defined in the Business & Commerce Code and exempts websites or applications primarily used for interactive gaming. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with adopting evidence-based rules regarding the warning label's content and form by January 1, 2026. However, compliance with the new requirements will not be mandatory until April 1, 2026, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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