03/05/2026

 

Samuel Clifford

 

H.R. 7757 (Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act-KIDS Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Brett Guthrie (R‑KY‑2)

 

Purpose: Protects children and teens online by imposing safeguards on digital platforms, strengthening parental tools, and limiting minors’ exposure to harmful content.

 

Effect: Requires covered platforms to implement age‑appropriate protections, enhance parental controls, and adopt design and content‑governance practices aimed at reducing online harms to minors.

 

Bill: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr7757ih

 

H.R. 2657 (Sammy’s Law)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D‑FL‑25)

 

Purpose: Requires large social media platforms to provide real‑time APIs that allow parents or guardians, via third‑party safety software, to manage a child’s online interactions, content, and account settings.

 

Effect: Expands parental oversight over minors’ social‑media use by enabling delegated control to vetted safety tools, improving monitoring and intervention capabilities without dismantling platform functionality.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2657

 

H.R. 6291 (Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Tim Walberg (R‑MI‑5)

 

Purpose: Amends the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information from children and teens up to age 17.

 

Effect: Expands covered age ranges, tightens data‑handling rules, and enhances parental and teen rights over online data, significantly raising privacy obligations for services directed to or used by minors.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6291

 

H.R. 3149 (App Store Accountability Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. John James (R‑MI‑10)

 

Purpose: Requires app stores to provide clear, accurate information about apps used by children and to ensure meaningful parental consent before children can access certain applications.

 

Effect: Increases transparency and parental control in app ecosystems, compelling app stores to adopt standardized disclosures and consent mechanisms that better safeguard minors from inappropriate or risky apps.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3149

 

H.R. 7258 (Energy Emergency Leadership Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Laurel Lee (R‑FL‑15)

 

Purpose: Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to clarify and elevate the functions of Assistant Secretaries responsible for energy emergency response and security.

 

Effect: Strengthens DOE leadership and accountability for energy emergencies by more clearly assigning authority over preparedness, response, and coordination functions within the Department.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7258

 

H.R. 7266 (Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Mariannette Miller‑Meeks (R‑IA‑1)

 

Purpose: Reauthorizes and refines the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program to support cybersecurity improvements for rural and municipal utilities.

 

Effect: Provides grants and technical assistance to smaller utilities to deploy advanced cybersecurity tools and participate in information‑sharing, reducing their vulnerability to cyber threats.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7266

 

H.R. 7257 (Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid-SECURE Grid Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Latta (R‑OH‑5)

 

Purpose: Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require state energy security plans to address the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local electric distribution systems.

 

Effect: Integrates distribution‑level grid security into state planning, pushing states to systematically support local utilities’ efforts to harden infrastructure against physical and cyber threats.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7257

 

H.R. 7272 (Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Randy Weber (R‑TX‑14)

 

Purpose: Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to enhance physical security and cybersecurity for pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities.

 

Effect: Improves coordination, threat analysis, and technical support for pipeline and LNG operators, bolstering resilience against cyber and physical attacks on critical energy infrastructure.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7272

 

H.R. 7305 (Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Kathy Castor (D‑FL‑14)

 

Purpose: Reauthorizes and updates DOE’s Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyberresilience Program to provide operational support for energy‑sector cybersecurity and resilience.

 

Effect: Establishes a more robust analytical and operational hub within DOE to assess threats, support incident response, and coordinate cyber‑resilience efforts across the energy sector.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7305