Ariz. Social Media Bill Advances in Split House

An Arizona social media bill passed by a slim margin in the state House Monday. The Arizona House voted 31-27 to return SB-1106 to the Senate, which then recommended a conference committee to work out differences between chambers. The bill would prohibit websites from deplatforming candidates and require them to publish and follow standards for censoring users. The tech industry says the proposed law would be unconstitutional (see 2303290033). Elsewhere, the Louisiana Senate will soon consider a bill to require social media companies to verify the age of users, and collect parental approval for minors, before allowing them to get accounts. SB-162 would also restrict minors from accessing social media between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The Finance committee cleared the bill at a Monday meeting. The Texas House voted 86-55 Tuesday for SB-1602, which would clarify enforcement of the state’s litigated social media censorship law. The Senate passed the bill March 29 (see 2303310029).