The Texas SCOPE Act, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (HB 18, Business and Commerce Code Chapter 509), has been in effect since September 1, 2024, and imposes duties on digital service providers regarding users they know are minors under 18.
Texas SCOPE Act Advertising Restrictions
Its marketing provisions prohibit displaying targeted advertising to known minors and require commercially reasonable efforts to prevent advertisers from targeting known minors with ads for products or services unlawful for minors, such as alcohol or vaping products, unless a verified parent consents. The law also restricts collecting and sharing minors’ personal data beyond what is necessary and bans selling it.
Litigation Status and What Still Applies
Court rulings have narrowed enforcement. A federal court preliminarily enjoined the advertising restriction provisions in February 2025 as unconstitutionally vague, the monitoring and filtering duties are also blocked while the state’s appeal is pending, and other data and parental-tool provisions remain live. Advertisers buying media in Texas should still avoid targeting known-minor audiences, both because parts of the law remain enforceable and because platform policies now implement these limits.
Source: Texas Legislature Online: HB 18 (Business and Commerce Code Chapter 509)
Report a violation: If you believe a business is violating this law, you can file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
