TL;DR
A district court injunction has suspended enforcement of Texas SB2420, which imposed age-assurance requirements on app marketplaces and developers. Apple says it will pause planned changes for Texas, keep developer testing tools available, and watch the legal process.
What happened
A district court issued an injunction that temporarily blocks enforcement of Texas Senate Bill 2420, a statute that imposed age-assurance obligations on app stores and app makers. In response, Apple says it will delay implementing the measures it had announced for compliance in Texas and will follow developments in the litigation before proceeding. The company will continue to provide developers with the tools it had published for testing in a sandbox environment: the Declared Age Range API, the Significant Change API through PermissionKit, a new age rating property type in StoreKit, and App Store Server Notifications. Apple also noted these components may assist developers preparing for new state-level rules in Utah and Louisiana set to take effect in 2026. Separately, the Declared Age Range API remains available globally to users running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 or later.
Why it matters
- The injunction pauses enforcement of a new Texas compliance regime, creating short-term legal uncertainty for app marketplaces and developers operating in that state.
- Developers can still access and test Apple’s age-assurance tooling despite the pause, allowing continued technical preparation.
- Apple’s pause highlights how state-level regulations can trigger platform-specific changes and legal responses from major vendors.
- Tools that remain available may be repurposed by developers to meet upcoming requirements in other states with similar laws.
Key facts
- A district court granted an injunction suspending enforcement of Texas SB2420.
- Apple will pause previously announced implementation plans tied to the Texas law and monitor the ongoing legal process.
- Developer testing tools remain available in sandbox mode: Declared Age Range API; Significant Change API under PermissionKit; a new age rating property in StoreKit; and App Store Server Notifications.
- Apple said the same tooling can help developers comply with laws taking effect in Utah and Louisiana in 2026.
- The Declared Age Range API is available worldwide to users on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 or later.
- The announcement is dated December 23, 2025 (posted to Apple's developer news).
- Source URL: https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=8jzbigf4
What to watch next
- Final outcome of the court challenge to SB2420 and whether the injunction remains in place or is lifted (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether Apple resumes implementation of the previously announced measures for Texas after the legal process concludes (not confirmed in the source).
- How Utah and Louisiana enactment and enforcement will proceed in 2026 and whether Apple’s tools satisfy those states’ requirements (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Injunction: A court order that temporarily prevents a party from taking a specific action, such as enforcing a law, while legal proceedings continue.
- API: Application Programming Interface; a set of rules and tools that allow different software components to communicate and interact.
- Sandbox testing: A controlled testing environment where developers can try features and integrations without affecting live production systems.
- StoreKit: An Apple framework used by developers to manage in-app purchases, app metadata, and related App Store interactions.
Reader FAQ
What did Apple say it would do after the injunction?
Apple said it will pause previously announced implementation plans tied to the Texas law and monitor the legal process.
Are developer tools for age assurance still available?
Yes. Apple will keep the Declared Age Range API, the Significant Change API under PermissionKit, the new StoreKit age rating property, and App Store Server Notifications available for sandbox testing.
Does the injunction repeal SB2420?
No. The court issued an injunction that suspended enforcement of the law; the ultimate legal outcome is not provided in the source.
Will these changes affect users outside Texas?
The Declared Age Range API remains available worldwide on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 or later; broader effects are not confirmed in the source.
Update on age requirements for apps distributed in Texas December 23, 2025 A recent injunction issued by a district court suspended enforcement of Texas state law SB2420, which introduced age…
Sources
- Update on age requirements for apps distributed in Texas
- Judge Blocks Texas Age-Verification Law for App Stores
- Apple pauses app store changes in Texas after court …
- Judge pauses Texas' app store age verification law
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