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HR 5990 110th Congress House

Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act

Official title: To require ratings label on video games and to prohibit the sales and rentals of adult-rated video games to minors.

Introduced: June 5, 2008 See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative procedureChild welfareComputer softwareConsumer protection
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FamiliesFederal Trade CommissionFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsIndependent regulatory commissionsLabelingLawLease and rental servicesPackagingPornographyRetail tradeScience, Technology, CommunicationsSigns and signboardsVideo gamesViolence
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This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 8, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
May 7, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 7, 2008
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 8, 2008

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act - Prohibits shipping or distributing in interstate commerce, selling, or renting a video game the outside packaging of which does not display a label containing an age-based content rating determined by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require all retail establishments that sell video games to display information about the ESRB content rating system.

Prohibits any person from selling or renting video games containing the ESRB content rating of : (1) "adults only" to any person under the age of 18; or (2) "mature" to any person under the age of 17.

Treats violations of such requirements and prohibitions as an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per violation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3315 Related bill Video Game Rating Enforcement Act of 2008
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Jul 16, 2008
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jun 19, 2008
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Jun 5, 2008
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5990: Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5990/
MLA
"H.R. 5990: Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5990/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5990, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5990/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5990: Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5990/)
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