Reps. Workman and Plummer Champion Online Child Safety Legislation
COLUMBUS – State Representatives Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) delivered sponsor testimony today on House Bill 302, legislation that establishes a new standard for protecting children online by strengthening age assurance requirements and empowering families with safer digital tools.
The legislation creates a balanced, privacy-conscious framework that assigns clear responsibilities to app developers, app stores, and parents. The bill ensures age-appropriate protections for minors while avoiding the pitfalls of overly broad data-sharing mandates seen in other states.
“We’ve all seen the risks kids face online—whether it’s exposure to explicit content, manipulative advertising, or interactions with strangers,” said Rep. Workman. “HB 302 is a thoughtful and effective response. It creates a collaborative system where app stores provide secure infrastructure, developers apply age-appropriate safeguards, and parents stay in control of their children’s experience.”
The legislation requires app stores to support centralized parental dashboards and provide secure, minimal age signals—only disclosing whether a user is a minor, not sharing sensitive data. Developers who choose to receive those signals must then implement proportionate safety controls, such as gating adult content or disabling targeted advertising for minors.
“House Bill 302 will protect children and their data with appropriate age verification,” said Rep. Plummer. “It will allow parents total control through a single dashboard.”
House Bill 302 has drawn praise for its practical and flexible approach, steering away from sweeping mandates or one-size-fits-all regulation. The bill focuses on real-world implementation, avoiding the risks associated with mass data sharing, and gives families the tools they need to keep children safe without unnecessary red tape.
Reps. Workman and Plummer emphasized that the bill was developed through ongoing conversations with technology experts, privacy advocates, and Ohio parents.
The legislation now awaits further consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.