House Bill 170 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Social media content; trust required for certain minors who are performers or featured in social media content, calculation of compensation and designation of trustee for trust provided for, procedure for adult to request removal of social media content featuring themselves as a minor required for social media companies, cause of action created against certain individuals who fail to comply with trust and social media content requirements

Summary

HB170 would require trusts for qualifying minor performers in social media and give minors a legal path to have content featuring them as minors deleted or edited once they reach 19, with oversight of earnings and duties for creators and platforms.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would require a parent or guardian to establish a trust for a qualifying minor (under 19) who is featured in social media content when certain earnings thresholds are met. Content creators must regularly determine if minors qualify for compensation or a trust, calculate and transfer earnings to the trust (following the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), and notify guardians. The bill also creates a process for minors to request deletion or editing of content once they turn 19, imposes recordkeeping and reporting duties on creators, and allows civil actions with damages for noncompliance; it establishes trustee rules, potential court involvement, and specific time limits for bringing actions.

Who It Affects

• Qualifying minors (under 19) who are performers or featured in social media content and their parents/guardians, who would manage or oversee a trust and receive notified compensation for earnings.
• Content creators and their employers, plus social media platforms, who would determine qualifying minors, transfer funds to trusts, maintain records, notify guardians, implement deletion/edit procedures, and face potential legal action for noncompliance.

Key Provisions

• Requires establishment of a trust for a qualifying minor when the minor is featured in compensated social media content and thresholds are met; transfers must follow the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
• Content creators must monthly determine if minors qualify and notify guardians; 15% of the minor's gross earnings must be transferred to the minor's trust under defined timelines.
• Parent or guardian may serve as trustee unless the trust balance exceeds $250,000, in which case a court must appoint a trustee; guardians cannot access funds until the minor turns 19.
• Maintain records of earnings, compensation, and trust transfers; retain records for at least two years and make them available to the minor upon request.
• Allows a minor to sue a content creator, trustee, or guardian for noncompliance within five years after turning 19; represented minors under certain employment arrangements are exempt from the trust requirements.
• Social media companies must create a procedure for individuals reaching 19 to request deletion or editing of content featuring them as a minor; platforms notify the content creator and a decision timeline follows, with possible court-ordered deletion or editing and damages.
• Defines terms (e.g., compensated content, content share, minor, market value compensated minor) and includes an effective date of October 1, 2026; provisions supersede post-date venue/arbitration/mediation agreements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumer Protection