H.R. 5990: Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act
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H.R. 5990: Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act
110th Congress · introduced 2008-05-07 · Commerce · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2008-05-07 · official record
- Who proposed it: Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act
Plain summary
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.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.
PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).
What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2] · 6 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA)
No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr5990.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>
Record fed-us-cong110-hr5990 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110