State Legislators Back Social Media Bills

New Jersey Assembly members supported an inquiry into social media effects on adolescents. The Assembly voted 71-0 Thursday for SB-715 to set up a study commission. The Senate earlier voted 37-0 but must vote again to concur with Assembly amendments. The Arkansas legislature sent the governor a bill (SB-66) Thursday that would create liability for publishing pornography online without performing “reasonable age verification” of the user. The Texas Senate voted 30-1 Wednesday to pass SB-1602 to amend the state’s litigated social media censorship law. It would require that any action under the law against social media platforms be brought in a Texas court and “the law of this state applies to the action.” In Iowa, a House Ways and Means subcommittee voted 2-1 Thursday to advance HB-526, which would ban social media platforms from allowing children under 18 to open accounts. The California Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-0 Tuesday to pass along SB-60 to the Appropriations Committee. The bill would require social media platforms to remove posts on illegal drug sales.