The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled Monday that it will not block enforcement of Texas' App Store Accountability Act while litigation over the law's constitutionality continues.
The law, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025, requires app store operators to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent before individuals under the age of 18 can purchase or download apps.
The legislation was authored by state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, as Senate Bill 2420 and sponsored in the Texas House by state Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo.
Just months before the law was scheduled to take effect, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed separate lawsuits challenging the measure. Both groups argued that the statute violates the First Amendment's protections for free speech.
In response to the lawsuits, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman temporarily blocked enforcement of the law, concluding that he believed "when considered on the merits, SB 2420 violates the First Amendment."
That injunction was later put on hold after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a stay in early June, allowing the law to take effect while the appeal proceeds.
SEAT and CCIA then filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, asking the justices to vacate the Fifth Circuit's stay and once again prevent Texas from enforcing the law.
Justice Samuel Alito denied that request Monday, leaving the Fifth Circuit's order in place and allowing Texas to continue enforcing the App Store Accountability Act as the legal challenge moves forward.
The Supreme Court's action comes after 27 state attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting Texas, urging the justices to allow the law to remain in effect during the ongoing litigation.
Following Monday's order, Fairly praised the decision and the coalition of states backing the law.
"The Supreme Court has just firmly sided with the Fifth Circuit to keep the App Store Accountability Act in effect, despite Big Tech's best efforts to thwart the will of Texas parents," Fairly said.
"Protecting Texas kids and giving parents real tools is a common sense goal that nearly 30 states have supported. Despite the special interests and opposition, my colleagues and I will not be deterred in the fight to protect children online."
