The move puts the state at the center of a debate over whether and how to regulate smartphone use by children and teenagers.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas App Store Accountability Act, which is set to take effect at the beginning of next year. The new law, which purports to be about improving child safety online, has significant implications for user privacy and data security.

Google and Apple will soon be required to verify app store users’ ages in Texas, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed the rule into law on Tuesday.