Florida HB 3 (Social Media and Adult Sites)

Florida, United StatesFlorida HB 3Updated October 14, 2026

100%became law
Bad for your rightsLaw
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Became Law

In force; Eleventh Circuit upheld it October 14, 2026

Bars under-14s from social media, requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, and makes adult sites verify every visitor's age.

Latest update

Eleventh Circuit ruled 3 to 0 that HB 3 likely survives the First Amendment and reversed the preliminary injunction; case returned to the district court

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The bill

Read the full billOfficial bill record

Key facts

Where
Florida, United States
Bill number
Florida HB 3
Status
Law
Introduced
January 24, 2024
Takes effect
January 1, 2025
Threat
High
Last update
October 14, 2026

Topics

Age VerificationDigital IDCensorship

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What it does

Florida's law stops platforms from letting anyone under 14 hold an account and requires a parent's consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, so platforms have to work out every user's age. A second section, s. 501.1737, makes any site where more than a third of the material is harmful to minors verify that visitors are 18, and it must offer both an anonymous and a standard verification method. Both parts took effect January 1, 2025. The attorney general is enforcing the social media part, and on June 15, 2026 he sued TikTok under it, seeking $50,000 per violation.

What’s at stake

On October 14, 2026, a three-judge Eleventh Circuit panel ruled 3 to 0 that the law likely survives the First Amendment. It called the law a content-neutral rule on "addictive features" and leaned on the Supreme Court's Paxton ruling to approve age checks that limit minors' access to protected speech. That makes Florida the template for banning minors and carding everyone else.

Our take

Florida found the framing that works in court: call it a rule about features, and the age checks ride along. A federal appeals court has now approved it. Legislatures drafting their next social media laws are watching.

Timeline

  1. Eleventh Circuit ruled 3 to 0 that HB 3 likely survives the First Amendment and reversed the preliminary injunction; case returned to the district courtLatest

  2. TikTok's motion to dismiss the state's suit reported; it argues HB 3 is vague and violates the First Amendment

  3. Attorney General Uthmeier sued TikTok under HB 3 in St. Lucie County circuit court

  4. Eleventh Circuit heard oral argument in CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier

  5. Eleventh Circuit stayed the preliminary injunction 2 to 1 pending appeal; enforcement allowed while litigation continues

  6. Free Speech Coalition's challenge to the adult-site section ended after the Supreme Court's Paxton ruling

  7. Took effect, including the adult-site age verification section

  8. Free Speech Coalition sued over the adult-site age verification section (s. 501.1737)

  9. Signed by Governor DeSantis (Ch. 2024-42)

The record

Votes

  • Senate: Final passage (30 to 5), March 4, 2024
  • House: Final passage (109 to 4)

Legal challenges

CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier

On November 25, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit stayed the preliminary injunction 2 to 1, allowing enforcement. On October 14, 2026, a panel of Judges Newsom, Luck and Tjoflat ruled unanimously for Florida. It held that HB 3 is likely a content-neutral rule that passes intermediate scrutiny, reversed the injunction as applied to CCIA and NetChoice members, vacated it on the facial challenge, and sent the case back to the district court. The law stays in force.

State of Florida v. TikTok

Attorney General Uthmeier sued TikTok and ByteDance in St. Lucie County circuit court on June 15, 2026, alleging HB 3 and FDUTPA violations and seeking $50,000 per violation. TikTok moved to dismiss in September 2026, arguing HB 3 is vague and violates the First Amendment. No ruling yet.