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HB 1658 · 2026 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Parental consent for app downloads

AI-generated

relative to parental consent and age verification for digital application platforms.

Enacts requirements governing app store operations, including age verification and parental consent for digital application platforms.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enacts provisions governing app store operations and creates requirements for age verification and parental consent.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Margaret DryeRPrimeClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Lisa FreemanRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Marie Louise BjelobrkRClerk· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Sherri ReinfurtRClerk· Housing
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. James ThibaultR, Rep. Cindy BennettR, Rep. Lori KorzenR

Public testimony

28 signed in online · 14 wrote testimony

54% support46% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“New Hampshire needs HB1658. I am a concerned and involved leader and parent. I want to protect our children in digital spaces. Even with the best security measures and diligent monitoring, technology evolves, and curious minors can find their way into apps designed for adults.…”
— Roy Dennehy, Windham · NH State Officer, Knights of Columbussupports
“Our full time retired elderly residents are at risk of loosing their homes with little option for alternate housing, after years of hard work and fulfilling their property tax obligations.…”
— Donna Stuck, Center Conwaysupports
“I've lived in NH my entire adult life and raised 6 children here and spent my career in technology. (BAE, Defense department, Siege Technologies, venture capital/10X Venture partners, now running an AI company!)…”
— Jason Syversen, Dunbartonsupports
“This is a parent-child, or family, issue, and not a state government issue to legislate. A bill such as this should never even be proposed.”
— James Gardner, Keeneopposes
“I oppose this bill because it does not expand transparency, protections, or meaningful benefits for New Hampshire residents.”
— Tiffany Gladu, Goffstownopposes
“I dont agree with the portions of the bill that reference an undefined "age verification process" that any user of the app must undergo and further states the app may "share personal age verification data as required by law."…”
— Kelly Butler, Gilsumopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2910:00 amHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsGP 229Public hearing
  • 2026-02-182:00 pmHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsGP 229Public hearing
  • 2026-03-031:00 pmHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsGP 229Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 1 P. 30
  2. Jan 29, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2026 11:00 am GP 229
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/18/2026 02:00 pm GP 229
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
  5. Mar 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 10 P. 9
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.