Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly 12 R cosponsors

AB 963 — Relating to: social media accounts for minors and providing a penalty.

Last action — Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced January 29, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Assembly

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (12 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

An Act to create 100.72 of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

368 added · 321 removed

Plain-language change summary

The changes to Assembly Bill 963 clarify the legal responsibilities of social media platforms regarding minors using their services. Now, if a platform allows a minor to create an account without verified parental consent and violates the rules outlined in the bill, the affected minor or their parent can sue for significant damages, potentially up to $10,000 for each violation. This matters because it aims to hold social media companies accountable for protecting minors, encouraging them to create safer online environments. Additionally, it makes any contract linked to such an account unenforceable, which further protects minors' rights.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0536/1 ARG:all ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 3, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 963 February 19, 2026 - Offered by Representative G OEBEN .
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 January 29, 2026 - Introduced by Representatives G OEBEN , STEFFEN , FRANKLIN , BRILL , DITTRICH, O'CONNOR , KREIBICH , IWOWARCZYK , BEHNKE , RMSTRONG , M URPHY and K NODL , cosponsored by Senator J ACQUE .
Referred to Committee on Children and Families.
If the applicant is a minor, the social media platform may not create or maintain an account for the minor, or change the terms and conditions of the account, unless the social media platform - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 first obtains verifiable parental consent, which is defined in a manner similar to the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
If the applicant is a minor, the social media platform may not create or maintain an account for the minor, or change the terms and conditions of the account, unless the social media platform first obtains verifiable parental consent, which is defined in a manner similar to the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
1.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 1.
In addition, a minor, or the minor’s parent, aggrieved by a negligent, reckless, or knowing violation may bring a civil action against the social media platform.
If the violation was reckless or knowing, the minor or parent may recover damages of $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, for each violation.
If the violation was part of a pattern of reckless or knowing conduct, the court may award punitive damages.
A prevailing minor or parent may also recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
However, a social media platform is not liable to a minor or parent for a violation if it used reasonable means and efforts to comply with the requirements of the bill.
In addition, if a social media platform permits a minor to open or continue an account without verifiable parental consent, any contract pertaining to the account is void and unenforceable.
100.72 Social media accounts for minors.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 100.72 Social media accounts for minors.
(1) D EFINITIONS .
(1) D EFINITIONS.
(a) “Account holder” means an individual who is a resident of this state and who has an account or profile with a covered social media platform that is - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 associated by the covered social media platform with a unique identifier, during any period in which the covered social media platform knows or should reasonably know the individual is physically located in this state.
(a) “Account holder” means an individual who is a resident of this state and who has an account or profile with a covered social media platform that is associated by the covered social media platform with a unique identifier, during any period in which the covered social media platform knows or should reasonably know the individual is physically located in this state.
Any record of or derived from online activity or history, search history, or online communications of an account holder with respect to any website, application, or social media platform.
Any record of or derived from online activity or history, search history, or - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 online communications of an account holder with respect to any website, application, or social media platform.
Any photograph or biometric information that is used or could reasonably - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 be used to identify the account holder, including fingerprints, voice prints, iris or retina images, facial templates, and gait imagery or metrics.
Any photograph or biometric information that is used or could reasonably be used to identify the account holder, including fingerprints, voice prints, iris or retina images, facial templates, and gait imagery or metrics.
A feed that includes content created by a 3rd party that is displayed to the account holder because the account holder has taken an affirmative step to select the 3rd-party’s content for inclusion in the feed, such as by “following,” “friending,” or engaging in a similar action in relation to the 3rd party, which content is not otherwise selected or prioritized for display to the account holder based on personal information.
A feed that includes content created by a 3rd party that is displayed to the account holder because the account holder has taken an affirmative step to select the 3rd-party’s content for inclusion in the feed, such as by “following,” “friending,” or engaging in a similar action in relation to the 3rd party, which content is not - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 otherwise selected or prioritized for display to the account holder based on personal information.
A feed from which is excluded content based on information about or any - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 estimate of the age of the account holder if the content is obscene as to minors or if the content is, by policy of the covered social media platform, not suitable for presentation to minors.
A feed from which is excluded content based on information about or any estimate of the age of the account holder if the content is obscene as to minors or if the content is, by policy of the covered social media platform, not suitable for presentation to minors.
An online service, website, or application the exclusive function of which is the support of communications, including emailing or direct messaging of text, images, or videos, between only the sender and recipients specifically identified by the sender, without displaying or posting the communications publicly or to other users not specifically identified as the recipients by the sender.
An online service, website, or application the exclusive function of which is the support of communications, including emailing or direct messaging of text, images, or videos, between only the sender and recipients specifically identified by - 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 the sender, without displaying or posting the communications publicly or to other users not specifically identified as the recipients by the sender.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all S ECTION 1 d.
A peer-to-peer community tech support site.
1., is not able to conclude with 80 percent confidence that the account holder is at least 18 years of age, the covered social media platform shall treat the account holder as a minor for purposes of this section.
1., is not - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 able to conclude with 80 percent confidence that the account holder is at least 18 years of age, the covered social media platform shall treat the account holder as a minor for purposes of this section.
- 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 (b) 1.
(b) 1.
A covered social media platform shall derive the age estimates required under this subsection based on information collected and retained by the covered social media platform in the ordinary course of operation of the covered social media platform.
A covered social media platform shall derive the age estimates required under this subsection based on information collected and retained by the covered - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 social media platform in the ordinary course of operation of the covered social media platform.
Nothing in this subsection creates a duty on the part of a covered social - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 media platform to request, collect, or retain any information from or about an account holder.
Nothing in this subsection creates a duty on the part of a covered social media platform to request, collect, or retain any information from or about an account holder.
In the course of obtaining verifiable parental consent to establish or continue an account for a minor, a covered social media platform shall prominently provide and explain an option for the minor’s parent to make this consent - 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 conditional on receipt by the parent of a separate password that enables the parent to do all of the following:
In the course of obtaining verifiable parental consent to establish or - 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 continue an account for a minor, a covered social media platform shall prominently provide and explain an option for the minor’s parent to make this consent conditional on receipt by the parent of a separate password that enables the parent to do all of the following:
Display of awards, badges, tiers, or any form of recognition of the account holder based on hours spent by the account holder on the covered social media platform, the account holder’s number of followers, the account holder’s number of postings, the account holder’s frequency or regularity of postings, or any other metric of usage or performance on the covered social media platform.
Display of awards, badges, tiers, or any form of recognition of the account holder based on hours spent by the account holder on the covered social media platform, the account holder’s number of followers, the account holder’s number of - 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 S ECTION 1 postings, the account holder’s frequency or regularity of postings, or any other metric of usage or performance on the covered social media platform.
- 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 (d) Prohibition on profile-based, paid commercial advertising to minors.
(d) Prohibition on profile-based, paid commercial advertising to minors.
2.
- 2026 Legislature - 11 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 2.
- 2026 Legislature - 11 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 b.
b.
If an account holder disputes his or her classification as a minor, a covered social media platform may rely on any commercially reasonable age verification process to resolve the dispute.
If an account holder disputes his or her classification as a minor, a covered - 2026 Legislature - 12 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 social media platform may rely on any commercially reasonable age verification process to resolve the dispute.
A covered social media platform shall make a reasonable determination of - 2026 Legislature - 12 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all S ECTION 1 an account holder's dispute of his or her classification within 30 days of the completion of the age verification.
A covered social media platform shall make a reasonable determination of an account holder's dispute of his or her classification within 30 days of the completion of the age verification.
(c) Disgorgement of the money the covered social media platform received in the course of violating this section’s requirements and payout of the disgorged money to all injured minors or their parents.
(c) Disgorgement of the money the covered social media platform received in - 2026 Legislature - 13 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 the course of violating this section’s requirements and payout of the disgorged money to all injured minors or their parents.
814.04 (1), a court-ordered award to the department - 2026 Legislature - 13 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 and the department of justice, as appropriate, for the reasonable and necessary costs of investigation and expenses of prosecution, including court costs and attorney fees.
814.04 (1), a court-ordered award to the department and the department of justice, as appropriate, for the reasonable and necessary costs of investigation and expenses of prosecution, including court costs and attorney fees.
(6) PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION ;
VOID CONTRACTS .
(a) 1.
A minor or parent of the minor aggrieved by a negligent, reckless, or knowing violation of this section may bring a civil action against a covered social media platform for declaratory or injunctive relief, damages, including harm to mental health and emotional distress, and any other appropriate relief.
2.
If a minor or parent of the minor prevails in an action under subd.
1.
Show all 61 changed rows (21 more)
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and the covered social media platform’s violation was reckless or knowing, the minor or parent is entitled to recover $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, for each violation.
3.
If a minor or parent of the minor prevails in an action under subd.
1.
and the covered social media platform’s violation was part of a pattern of reckless or knowing conduct, the court may award punitive damages against the covered social media platform.
4.
Notwithstanding s.
814.04 (1), if a minor or parent of the minor prevails in an action under subd.
1., the court shall award to the minor or parent court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
- 2026 Legislature - 14 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 5.
Notwithstanding subds.
1.
to 4., a covered social media platform is not liable under this paragraph for any violation of this section if it used reasonable means and reasonable efforts, taking into consideration available technology and the data in the possession of the covered social media platform, to comply with the requirements of this section.
6.
An action under subd.
1.
may not be brought later than 3 years after the date the minor or parent knew, or reasonably should have known, of the alleged violation, except that for a minor this 3-year period does not begin until the minor attains the age of 18 years.
(b) If a covered social media platform permits a minor to open or continue an account on the covered social media platform in the absence of verifiable parental consent, any purported contract pertaining to the account is void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy, including any arbitration provision, limitation of liability, or limitation of remedies, without regard to whether the covered social media platform had actual or constructive knowledge that the account holder was a minor.
A summary of the consumer interactions that are protected and not protected by this section, including a list of alleged violations of this section that the department has received.
A summary of the consumer interactions that are protected and not - 2026 Legislature - 15 - LRB-5856/1 ARG:emw&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 963 SECTION 1 protected by this section, including a list of alleged violations of this section that the department has received.
(8) EXCLUSIONS ;WAIVER PROHIBITED .
(8) EXCLUSIONS;WAIVER PROHIBITED.
- 2026 Legislature - 14 - LRBs0536/1 ARG:all SECTION 1 (c) The rights and protections afforded a minor or parent of the minor under this section may not be waived or limited by a covered social media platform, and any provision of an agreement attempting such a waiver or limitation is contrary to public policy and void.
(c) The rights and protections afforded a minor or parent of the minor under this section may not be waived or limited by a covered social media platform, and any provision of an agreement attempting such a waiver or limitation is contrary to public policy and void.
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Action History

  1. Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Public hearing held

  3. Read first time and referred to committee on Utilities, Technology and Tourism

  4. Received from Assembly

  5. Ordered immediately messaged

  6. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 60, Noes 35

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Ordered to a third reading

  9. Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  10. Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Goeben

  11. Read a second time

  12. Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Mayadev

  13. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Billings

  14. Made a special order of business at 11:55 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  15. Referred to committee on Rules

  16. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  17. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0

  18. Executive action taken

  19. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goeben

  20. Public hearing held

  21. Representative Kaufert added as a coauthor

  22. Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families

  23. Introduced by Representatives Goeben, Steffen, Franklin, Brill, Dittrich, O'Connor, Kreibich, Piwowarczyk, Behnke, Armstrong, Murphy and Knodl; cosponsored by Senator Jacque

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on · 34 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Read a third time and passed

Passed 60 Yea · 35 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 52100
Democrat 73303
Unaffiliated 1101
Total 603504
% of votes cast 61%35%0%4%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Not Voting
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Nay
Andraca, Deb Democrat Nay
Arney, Margaret Democrat Nay
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Nay
Brown, Brienne Democrat Nay
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Yea
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Yea
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Not Voting
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Nay
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Yea
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Nay
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Nay
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Yea
Joers, Alex Democrat Nay
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Nay
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Nay
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Nay
McGuire, Tip Democrat Nay
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Nay
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Nay
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Yea
Palmeri, Lori Democrat Nay
Phelps, Christian Democrat Nay
Prado, Priscilla Democrat Not Voting
Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat Yea
Roe, Ann Democrat Nay
Sheehan, Joe Democrat Not Voting
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Nay
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Nay
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Yea
Stroud, Angela Democrat Nay
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Nay
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Nay
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Nay
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Nay
Udell, Randy Democrat Nay
Vining, Robyn Democrat Nay
Allen, Scott Republican Yea
Armstrong, David Republican Yea
August, Tyler Republican Yea
Behnke, Elijah Republican Yea
Born, Mark Republican Yea
Brill, Lindee Republican Yea
Brooks, Robert Republican Yea
Callahan, Calvin Republican Yea
Dallman, Alex Republican Yea
Dittrich, Barbara Republican Yea
Donovan, Bob Republican Yea
Duchow, Cindi Republican Yea
Franklin, Benjamin Republican Yea
Goeben, Joy Republican Yea
Green, Chanz Republican Yea
Gundrum, Rick Republican Yea
Gustafson, Nate Republican Yea
Hurd, Karen Republican Yea
Jacobson, Brent Republican Yea
Kaufert, Dean Republican Yea
Kitchens, Joel Republican Yea
Knodl, Daniel Republican Yea
Kreibich, Rob Republican Yea
Krug, Scott Republican Yea
Kurtz, Tony Republican Yea
Maxey, Dave Republican Yea
Melotik, Paul Republican Yea
Moses, Clint Republican Yea
Murphy, David Republican Yea
Mursau, Jeffrey Republican Yea
Nedweski, Amanda Republican Yea
Neylon, Adam Republican Yea
Novak, Todd Republican Yea
O'Connor, Jerry Republican Yea
Penterman, William Republican Yea
Petersen, Kevin Republican Yea
Piwowarczyk, Jim Republican Yea
Pronschinske, Treig Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Yea
Snyder, Patrick Republican Yea
Sortwell, Shae Republican Nay
Spiros, John Republican Yea
Steffen, David Republican Yea
Summerfield, Rob Republican Yea
Swearingen, Rob Republican Yea
Tittl, Paul Republican Yea
Tranel, Travis Republican Yea
Tucker, Duke Republican Yea
Tusler, Ron Republican Yea
VanderMeer, Nancy Republican Yea
Wichgers, Chuck Republican Yea
Wittke, Robert Republican Yea
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights technology agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 963 do?
An Act to create 100.72 of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 963?
AB 963 is sponsored by Jacque, Goeben, Joy (Republican), Steffen, David (Republican), Franklin, Benjamin (Republican), Brill, Lindee (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Piwowarczyk, Jim (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Armstrong, David (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), and Knodl, Daniel (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 963?
This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced January 29, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track AB 963?
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