Apple Pauses Texas Age Verification Enforcement Following Court Injunction

A recent injunction from a Texas district court has suspended enforcement of SB2420, the state law that would have required app marketplaces to implement age assurance measures. This legal development has prompted Apple to pause its previously announced plans for enforcing these requirements within the App Store ecosystem.

The ruling represents a temporary reprieve for developers who were preparing for compliance with Texas's age verification standards. While the legal process continues, Apple is maintaining a wait-and-see approach rather than moving forward with implementation.

Tools Remain Available for Testing

Despite the enforcement pause, Apple is keeping its compliance toolkit accessible for developers who want to prepare for potential future requirements. The company announced that several APIs and features remain available for sandbox testing:

• Declared Age Range API: Allows apps to request a user's declared age range, available worldwide for users on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 or later
• Significant Change API: Part of PermissionKit, designed to handle major permission changes
• New age rating property type in StoreKit: Provides granular age rating information for apps
• App Store Server Notifications: Enables server-side updates about app status and compliance

These tools serve a broader purpose beyond Texas. Developers can also leverage them to meet compliance obligations under age assurance laws taking effect in Utah and Louisiana during 2026.

Legal Uncertainty Creates Planning Challenges

The Texas injunction adds to the growing patchwork of state-level regulations affecting app distribution. While the suspension provides temporary clarity, it also creates uncertainty for developers trying to plan compliance strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

Apple's decision to keep the tools available for testing suggests the company expects age assurance requirements to eventually take effect, either in Texas or other states. This approach allows developers to continue building compliance features without committing to immediate enforcement.

The Declared Age Range API's worldwide availability indicates Apple's broader investment in age-related functionality, regardless of specific state laws. This global approach may help developers implement consistent age verification experiences across different markets.

What Comes Next

The legal process in Texas will determine whether SB2420 ultimately takes effect. Meanwhile, developers in Utah and Louisiana should continue preparing for their state laws in 2026. The available tools provide a foundation for compliance regardless of how the Texas situation resolves.

For developers building apps that may need age verification, the sandbox environment offers an opportunity to integrate these APIs now, reducing scramble when enforcement begins. The Significant Change API under PermissionKit is particularly useful for handling permission updates that might trigger age-related re-verification.

The StoreKit age rating property allows more precise age categorization than traditional content ratings, which could become important as states define different age thresholds for various protections.

This development highlights the complex regulatory environment facing app developers. State-level legislation continues to create compliance requirements that vary by jurisdiction, making it challenging to build uniform solutions. Apple's approach of providing tools while monitoring legal developments offers developers some flexibility, but the ultimate compliance burden remains uncertain until courts and legislatures finalize these requirements.