119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9692
The TOTAL Screen Time Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a voluntary technical standard that would allow parents and guardians to set screen time limits across multiple devices like phones, tablets, computers, and televisions. The standard must be designed with privacy and security in mind, including features that minimize data sharing between devices and prevent the creation of centralized databases tracking children's activity. The Director must convene relevant stakeholders including device manufacturers, medical professionals, privacy advocates, and federal agencies to develop this standard within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The Director is required to submit progress reports to Congress annually for the first year and then biennially through January 1, 2032, detailing how the standard has been developed and adopted. The bill contains no specific funding authorization but establishes a clear timeline for developing an industry standard that would give families a tool to manage screen time across their connected devices.