The bill, H.B. No. 3160, mandates that public schools and libraries in Texas adopt Internet safety and technology protection policies to safeguard minors accessing online resources. Specifically, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are required to create policies that comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act and ensure that vendors of online materials certify compliance with federal laws prohibiting the transfer of obscene materials to minors. Additionally, these policies must include procedures for the public to report concerns regarding students' online access and require annual reporting to the relevant agency, which will publish these reports on its website. Non-compliance may result in the withholding of state funding.

Similarly, public libraries must establish their own Internet safety and technology protection policies, which also adhere to the Children's Internet Protection Act and include vendor compliance requirements. Libraries are tasked with creating public reporting procedures for concerns related to minors' online access and must submit annual reports to the commission, which will also be published online. The bill emphasizes the importance of compliance, stating that libraries failing to meet these requirements will be ineligible for state funding. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()