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Bill

H 2135

An Act relative to the digital Coogan law

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kim Ferguson and 3 co-sponsors

Massachusetts extends child performer protections to digital content creators, requiring a portion of minor influencers' earnings be placed in blocked trust accounts.

Accompanied a study order, see H5070
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Bill Summary · H 2135

Legislative bill overview

H. 2135 extends Massachusetts's Coogan Law protections—originally created to protect child actors' earnings—to young content creators and influencers in the digital space. The bill requires a portion of earnings from digital content creation by minors to be set aside in blocked trust accounts, similar to protections that have existed for child performers in entertainment for decades.

Why is this important

As children increasingly generate substantial income through social media platforms, streaming, and online content creation, existing labor protections have not kept pace. Without legal safeguards, young creators risk financial exploitation by parents, managers, or platform operators who control their accounts and revenue. This bill addresses a genuine gap in child labor protections in the modern economy.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Determining what qualifies as "digital content creation" triggering protections—does it include all social media, only monetized content, or content above certain income thresholds?
  • Enforcement complexity: Monitoring compliance across numerous platforms and individual creators is logistically challenging compared to traditional entertainment contracts with established studios and agents
  • Parental rights vs. protection: Balancing child protection against parental authority and family autonomy in managing household finances and their children's earnings
  • Platform liability: Whether social media platforms bear responsibility for verifying compliance or if obligations fall solely on creators, parents, and financial institutions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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