Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H7746

Introduced
2/12/26  

Caption

Provides protections to children using online platforms by requiring platforms to turn off open chats by default for young users, and requires parent to approve children's financial transactions on gaming and social media sites.

Impact

If enacted, H7746 will amend existing laws pertaining to commercial regulation with a focus on online safety for children. The implementation of age-verification measures will be required, and it will be the responsibility of operators to prove commercially reasonable efforts to ensure compliance. The Attorney General will also have the authority to set specific guidelines for these verifications, which could involve new responsibilities for online service providers and may instigate significant shifts in the way they manage user interactions and data privacy.

Summary

House Bill 7746, known as the Rhode Island Children’s Online Safety Act, is designed to enhance protections for minors utilizing online platforms. This legislation mandates that platforms must disable open chat features by default for users under eighteen years old, thereby limiting unsolicited interactions between minors and other users. Additionally, the bill requires parental approval for any financial transaction initiated by minors on gaming and social media sites. The goal of these measures is to create a safer online environment for children by reducing their exposure to potential risks associated with unrestricted online interactions.

Contention

The bill has generated discussions about the balance between safety and access to online interactions for minors. Supporters argue that the act is necessary to protect vulnerable users from exploitation and harmful interactions. Opponents, however, raise concerns regarding overreach and the implications for user experience and accessibility to social networks for minors. The requirement for parental approval on financial transactions has also sparked debate about parental oversight and the potential restriction it places on children's autonomy in digital spaces.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

RI H5830

Requires that any covered entity that develops/provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing/developing such online service, product, or feature.

RI S0903

Requires that any covered entity that develops/provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing/developing such online service, product, or feature.

RI H5291

Creates the Rhode Island Social Media Regulation act, which would not permit a Rhode Island resident who is a minor to be an account holder on a social media's platform unless the minor has the express consent of a parent or guardian.

RI S0929

Creates the Rhode Island Social Media Regulation act, which would not permit a Rhode Island resident who is a minor to be an account holder on a social media's platform unless the minor has the express consent of a parent or guardian.

RI H5803

Provides for the establishment and operation of an electronic permitting platform for all state and local permitting.

RI S1087

Provides for the establishment and operation of an electronic permitting platform for all state and local permitting.

RI H5044

Provides that parents and guardians of children with disabilities in private school have the same rights and remedies as parents/guardians of children in public school.

RI S0284

Provides for a parents' bill of rights related to the health, education and welfare of their minor children.

RI H6087

Creates the healthcare worker platform act that requires platforms offering healthcare shifts to register with the Rhode Island department of health by June 1, 2026, while exempting them from being classified as nursing service agencies.

RI S0113

Relieves East Providence from providing any educational/financial resources to children in the CRAFT program. Requires the school district of origin where the student was last registered to bear this responsibility.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.