House Committee Reaches Bipartisan Deal on Kids Online Safety Act

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee reached a bipartisan agreement on June 22, 2026, to advance a revised package of bills protecting children online, including the Kids Online Safety Act. Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. announced the deal, which aims to hold technology companies accountable by empowering parents, strengthening privacy for users up to age 17, and establishing a data broker registry managed by the Federal Trade Commission.

While the agreement allows states to maintain more stringent protections, it excludes a duty of care standard that would mandate safety-by-design to prevent compulsive use and age-inappropriate content. This omission has drawn sharp criticism from Senator Richard Blumenthal, who characterized the House version as a betrayal of families and a blank check for technology companies to exploit children.

The legislative push follows a March 2026 trial in Los Angeles where Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive features that harmed a minor. The agreement now faces a suspension vote on the House floor and must be reconciled with the Senate's version of the act before seeking approval from President Donald Trump.