Bill H.210, known as the Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, aims to enhance privacy protections for minors accessing online services by mandating that businesses avoid design features that could be abusive or invasive to privacy. The bill introduces a comprehensive set of definitions related to personal data, including terms like "covered business," "consumer," "minor," and "biometric data." It emphasizes the necessity of age assurance methods to accurately determine user age and establishes guidelines for the collection and processing of personal data, particularly for minors. The legislation requires businesses to implement age-appropriate design principles, maintain transparency in data collection practices, and set default privacy settings for minors to the highest level of protection.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific prohibitions on data collection practices, such as monitoring minors' online activities without clear notification, and grants the Attorney General the authority to enforce these regulations. It also ensures that the rights of covered minors are protected in relation to media access, clarifying that the legislation will not impose liability inconsistent with federal law and will not discriminate against minors based on various characteristics. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing time for businesses to prepare for the new legal framework regarding the rights and privacy of minors.