Sixth Circuit revived the law on standing grounds June 2026. The full court then refused NetChoice's rehearing petition in August 2026. The case returns to the district court.
Ohio Parental Notification Act
BadLawOhio HB 33 (2023)
Ohio, United States
Ohio, United StatesIn force; Sixth Circuit refused to reconsiderHigh threat
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Became Law
Struck down in 2025, revived on appeal in June. Ohio's under-16 parental consent law is back in force.
Latest update
Full Sixth Circuit refused to rehear the case; the ruling that revived the law stands.
Current position
In force; Sixth Circuit refused to reconsider
What it does
Platforms must get a parent's verifiable consent before anyone under 16 in Ohio can create an account, which in practice means age-checking signups. A federal judge permanently blocked it in April 2025 as unconstitutional. On June 18, 2026 a divided Sixth Circuit panel reversed, holding that NetChoice lacks standing to assert minors' First Amendment rights, and ordered judgment for the state. The law is now in effect.
Why it matters
This is the first major appellate ruling to throw out a NetChoice win on standing rather than the merits. NetChoice's trade-association lawsuits have been the main thing stopping age laws nationwide. If other circuits adopt the Sixth Circuit's reasoning, that shield stops working, and every blocked age law in the country gets a second life.
Our take
A law one court called unconstitutional is enforceable anyway, because an appeals panel decided nobody in the courtroom was entitled to complain. The dissent spelled out what that means: the speech interests lose without ever being weighed. State AGs with enjoined age laws are reading this opinion.
Timeline
Full Sixth Circuit refused to rehear the case; the ruling that revived the law stands.
LatestNetChoice petitioned the full Sixth Circuit for rehearing
Sixth Circuit reversed on standing and revived the law
District court permanently enjoined the law as unconstitutional
Enacted in Ohio's budget bill (HB 33)