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DENVER — A pair of Democratic state lawmakers in the Colorado General Assembly has introduced an age-verification bill that targets age restrictions at the operating system level. The measure, Senate Bill (SB) 26-051, was introduced earlier this year by state Sen. Matt Ball and state Rep. Amy Paschal.
Under SB 26-051, age assurance would be handled directly at the operating system level on devices used within Colorado’s digital space. The proposal would apply across major platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and others. Ball and Paschal said the idea was influenced by similar legislation adopted in California last October.
The California measure, known as the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), covers a wide range of platforms and operating systems. It is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, requiring operating system providers to establish a method for users to input and verify their ages by the summer of that year.
“SB 26-051 is very closely modeled on it,” Sen. Ball said in an interview. “One of the reasons for bringing SB 51 was that the tech and software industry is already complying with AB 1043, so there’s minimal added burden.”
Ball added, “The intent is to create thoughtful safeguards for kids online through a privacy-forward framework for age assurance.” OS- and device-level age verification is viewed by some in the adult entertainment sector as a potential compromise, one that could offer child-protection measures while preserving adult privacy and free expression.
“A person that violates the bill must pay a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 for each minor affected by each negligent violation or not more than $7,500 for each minor affected by each intentional violation,” states a bill summary on SB 26-051.
“The penalty is assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general,” the summary adds. A hearing on the measure is scheduled for Feb. 24 before the Colorado Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee. Observers expect the bill could eventually reach the desk of Gov. Jared Polis.
Gov. Polis previously signaled he would veto an age-verification bill introduced last year, citing concerns it might be overly restrictive and raise First Amendment issues. That proposal ultimately failed in the Senate — a reminder that while the conversation keeps evolving, the outcome is never quite guaranteed.
