Surgeon General ordered to set children's daily screen time guidelines
In committeeH.R. 8743Latest action
Sponsor: Christopher R. Deluzio · Representative · PA
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Official title: SMART Kids Act
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
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HR 8743 directs the Surgeon General to publish evidence-based daily screen time guidelines for children under 18 within one year.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 8743 requires the U.S. Surgeon General to develop and publish official, evidence-based guidelines on daily screen time for children, covering six age groups from infants under 2 through teenagers aged 16 to 18. The guidelines must be published online and submitted to Congress within one year of the bill becoming law. The bill creates no laws, fines, or enforcement mechanisms — compliance with any resulting recommendations is entirely voluntary.
Who does it affect?
Parents, caregivers, pediatricians, child health professionals, and school administrators would be the most directly affected audiences for the guidelines. Tech companies could be indirectly affected if published guidelines shift public attention toward children's screen use habits.
Why does it matter?
Publishing government-backed screen time recommendations could influence how families, schools, and health providers approach children's daily device use. Because the guidelines carry no legal weight, any changes in behavior would depend entirely on voluntary adoption.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 12, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · May 12, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.