SB 186 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Consumer protection; filter requirements on Internet enabled devices, penalties for violation

SB 186 requires manufacturers of smartphones and tablets manufactured on or after June 1, 2025, to include a filter designed to prevent access to obscene material when activated in Alabama. These devices must ask for the user's age during setup and automatically enable the filter if the user is a minor. Non-minor users can deactivate the filter with a password. Manufacturers may face civil liability if a device lacks a compliant filter and a minor accesses obscene material, and individuals who intentionally disable a minor's filter leading to such access can also be held liable.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 1 edit · May 14, 2025

MINOR

The bill was finalized for signing (Enrolled) with minor formatting updates to the document header and definition numbering. The core policy requirements, such as the mandate for internet filters on devices activated after June 1, 2025, and the associated civil penalties, remain unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains unchanged; it continues to apply to tablets and smartphones activated in Alabama on or after June 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Updated the internal bill identification code from 'MSTZ31H-2' to '11XNSZZ-2' and corrected the title page header from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled'.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Chambliss Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 905

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1099

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1098

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Introduced

Commerce and Small Business Engrossed Substitute Offered (Commerce and Small Business)

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House (Commerce and Small Business)

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Introduced

Commerce and Small Business 1st Amendment (Commerce and Small Business)

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Commerce and Small Business)

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 745

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Chambliss motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 744

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Petition to Cease Debate - Adopted Roll Call 743

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Introduced

Chambliss 1st Substitute Offered

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Children and Youth Health)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors