Bill · H.R. 6265· House(119-HR-6265)
Safer GAMING Act
- Introduced
- 11/21/2025
- Last activity
- 12/11/2025 — Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Sponsored by
- Thomas Kean
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games Act or the Safer GAMING Act. It requires online video game providers to give parents safeguards to limit communication between minor users and other users. These safeguards must be accessible, easy to use, enabled by default on minor accounts, and able to be disabled only by a parent. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general are authorized to enforce these requirements. The law takes effect one year after its enactment and preempts state laws relating to its provisions.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would children be better off under this?+8
The bill directly protects minors from malicious communications and interactions in online video games.
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?+7
The bill imposes specific regulatory requirements on interactive online video game providers regarding safety safeguards.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+6
The bill enhances consumer safety by requiring online video game providers to implement communication safeguards for minors.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-4
The bill preempts state or political subdivisions from enforcing laws related to these provisions, limiting state regulatory authority.
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Online video game providers face new compliance obligations and regulatory burdens under the bill.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Parental Control Over Communications: Section 2(b)(1) requires online video game providers to give parents safeguards that allow them to limit communication between a minor user and any other user. This is positive because it gives parents direct tools to manage and protect who their children can talk to while playing games online.
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Default Safety Settings for Minors: Section 2(b)(2)(A) mandates that these safeguards must be accessible, easy to use, enabled by default on a minor's account, and removable only by a parent. This is positive because it ensures protection is automatically turned on without requiring parents to manually hunt down and activate the settings first.
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State-Level Enforcement: Section 2(d)(1) allows state attorneys general or state agencies to bring civil actions on behalf of their state's residents to obtain damages, restitution, or enforce compliance. This is positive because it gives local officials the power to step in and fight for everyday people if companies break the rules.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Preemption of State Laws: Section 2(e) states that no state or political subdivision of a state may enforce any law, rule, or regulation that relates to the provisions of this Act. This could be considered negative because it blocks states from passing their own specific or potentially stronger local laws regarding video game safety safeguards.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Increases Big Tech Regulation+7Improves Data Privacy+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+8Good For Students+5Good For Business Owners-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+5Increases Federal Power+5Increase States Rights-4
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+3
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/11/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 11/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
- Introduced in House
Christopher SmithRepublican · New Jersey
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida