Pass SB 167 for Ohio Families, Not California’s SB 175

COLUMBUS, OH — Ahead of the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Technology Committee hearing, Emily Moreno of America First Works issued the following statement:

“Ohio faces a clear choice between two app store bills, and the distinction matters.

Senate Bill 167, from Senator Reynolds, follows the proven model already enacted in Texas, Utah, and Alabama. It’s simple, if a teen wants to download an app whether it’s social media, gaming, or a chat box, a parent must approve it first.

Senate Bill 175 mirrors California’s AB 1043 signed into law by Governor Newsom. It relies on attestation — simply taking a kid’s word for their age — codifying the very status quo that has misled families and displaced parents for years. Legislatures should not write failure into law.

To be clear: SB 167 empowers parents and sets guardrails for children. It does not hand decisions to the government. Which apps a child uses remains a parent’s call. Any claim otherwise misreads the bill.

The legal path is settled, too. The Fifth Circuit has cleared the way for Texas’s law to proceed. What families and businesses don’t need is a patchwork of conflicting state obligations. A consistent, proven standard serves everyone better.”