Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1618: Parental consent; require for minors before use of interactive computer services.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS WITH MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM KNOWINGLY ALLOWING MINORS TO USE THE SERVICE TO ACCESS MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS OR COMMUNICATE WITH ADULTS AND FROM ALLOWING OTHER PERSONS TO ACCESS THE PERSONA OF A MINOR; TO PROVIDE REASONABLE METHODS OF AGE VERIFICATION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSECUTE VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF CIVIL PENALTIES IMPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 45-38-3, 45-38-5, 45-38-7, 45-38-9, 45-38-11, 45-38-13 AND 11-77-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to prohibit interactive computer service providers from entering into contracts with minors without parental consent; to create new section 11-79-1, mississippi code of 1972, to provide definitions; to create new section 11-79-3, mississippi code of 1972, to prohibit interactive computer service providers from knowingly allowing minors to use the service to access material harmful to minors or communicate with adults and from allowing other persons to access the persona of a minor; to provide reasonable methods of age verification…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS WITH MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM KNOWINGLY ALLOWING MINORS TO USE THE SERVICE TO ACCESS MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS OR COMMUNICATE WITH ADULTS AND FROM ALLOWING OTHER PERSONS TO ACCESS THE PERSONA OF A MINOR; TO PROVIDE REASONABLE METHODS OF AGE VERIFICATION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 11-79-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSECUTE VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF CIVIL PENALTIES IMPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 45-38-3, 45-38-5, 45-38-7, 45-38-9, 45-38-11, 45-38-13 AND 11-77-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 11-79-1, Mississippi Code of 1972: 11-79-1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings as defined in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (a) "Adult" means any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older. *HR43/R1477* H. B. No. 1618 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R1477 PAGE 1 (ELS\KP) (b) "Broadband provider" means …