On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Children and Youth Health Committee unanimously passed the bill after holding a lengthy public hearing. HB161 would specifically require users to verify their age before downloading an app, purchasing an app, or making an in-app purchase on a phone or other electronic device. Stephanie Smith, president of the Alabama Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank, also encouraged the committee to pass the bill. Theresa Garcia Robertson, a public policy manager at Meta, was the last speaker to advocate for the bill at Wednesday’s hearing. If it passes the Senate, the bill will then go to Gov.