Florida lawmakers help bring KIDS Act across House finish line

Florida’s congressional delegation played a significant role in shaping a major children’s online safety bill that cleared the U.S. House on Monday night.

After months of leading Democratic resistance to the online safety proposal, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor ultimately backed a revised version that passed the House by a wide margin. The Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act (HR 7757) won approval on a 267-117 vote.

“Today’s adoption of the bipartisan KIDS Act is a long-overdue and meaningful step toward protecting America’s children in the digital age,” said Castor, a Tampa Democrat.

At the same time, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican, was recognized by House leaders for his efforts to ensure key safeguards made it into the final package.

Bilirakis, who authored the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), saw provisions he championed over the past year incorporated into the broader KIDS Act. He argued the measure brings much-needed accountability to tech platforms and software companies.

“The need for action has never been clearer. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online almost constantly. About half spend four or more hours a day on screens for leisure, and 95% have a smartphone in their pocket, placing them in a digital environment that too often prioritizes engagement and profit over safety,” Bilirakis said.

“Big tech platforms are not neutral; their algorithms are designed to maximize attention, not protect kids. Kids are pushed toward harmful content— harmful content targeted by predatory actors and funneled into design features built to keep them scrolling longer. Families across the country have paid the price.”

The legislation introduces new privacy protections for minors, extending for the first time to children under 13, and prohibits targeted advertising directed at kids. It also mandates that technology companies give families greater control over children’s online experiences.

Importantly, the bill preserves states’ authority to impose additional restrictions beyond federal requirements. Florida, for example, has already enacted its own set of rules limiting minors’ access to social media.

“For years, parents, young people, pediatricians, psychologists, teachers and advocates have made clear that Big Tech must act to reduce the harms experienced by too many kids online. This bill strengthens privacy protections for children and teens, bans targeted advertising to young people, gives families more control and preserves parents’ ability to seek justice in court.”

Castor and Bilirakis previously collaborated on online safety efforts in the last Congress, but last year they disagreed over how far new legislation should go. Castor criticized earlier drafts for not going far enough to hold tech companies responsible for harms linked to their platforms.

Still, Castor emphasized that the bill should be seen as a first step rather than a final solution.

“This is an important step, but it is not the end of our work,” she said. “I will continue to press to create a safer digital environment for children and teens.”

Other members of Florida’s delegation also welcomed the bill’s passage, noting that it incorporated language from related proposals. U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican, saw significant elements of her Safe Internet for Minors Act folded into the final measure.

“My legislation helps equip families with better online safety resources and modernizes privacy protections for children and teens in today’s digital world,” Lee posted. “Children deserve to be able to learn, connect, and grow online without sacrificing their privacy or safety.”

Still, the measure did not unite the entire House. In the end, 32 Republicans and 85 Democrats opposed the bill, including Florida’s Jimmy Patronis of Fort Walton Beach, Anna Paulina Luna of St. Petersburg, and Maxwell Frost of Orlando.