FL’s Aggressive Children’s Online Safety Bill Advances, UT Revising Children’s Online Safety Laws & More

FL House Panel Advances Aggressive Children’s Online Safety Bill

Florida’s House Judiciary Committee approved a bill (HB 1) that would prevent those under 16 from having a social media account and require social media platforms to confirm the age of new and existing users. The measure—which goes significantly further than legislation passed last year in other states, including Arkansas (SB 396), Ohio (HB 33) and Utah (SB 152), requiring minors to obtain parental consent to access social media platforms—now goes to the full House. A top priority for Speaker Paul Renner (R), it is expected to pass. (PLURIBUS NEWS, ORLANDO SENTINEL)

UT to Bolster Children’s Online Safety Laws

On the first day of their new session, Republican legislative leaders in Utah pledged to revise laws they passed last year HB 311 [2023] and SB 152 [2023], establishing social media protections for minors—so they will hold up in court. The laws are facing multiple legal challenges from tech and civil liberties groups. (ASSOCIATED PRESS, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

IN Senate Passes Adult Website Age Verification Bill

Indiana’s Senate passed a bill (SB 17) prohibiting adult-oriented websites from allowing anyone to access content without first verifying their age. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a similar federal law passed in 1996 unconstitutional. (NORTHWEST INDIANA TIMES)

IL to Consider Prescription Drug Price Oversight Board

A bill (HB 4472) introduced in Illinois would create a board of health care experts with the authority to set limits on prescriptions drug prices. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D) has signed on as a cosponsor of the measure, which has been assigned to the Rules Committee. (CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

WI Senate Passes EV Bills

Wisconsin’s Senate passed a pair of bills (SB 791 and SB 792) that would allow the use of about $80 million in federal money to create a statewide network of electric vehicle charging stations. The measures would also exempt businesses like gas stations and convenience stores that supplied electric vehicle charging stations from regulation as a public utility and allow them to sell electricity by the kilowatt-hour instead of by the amount of time it takes to charge a vehicle. (WISCONSIN EXAMINER, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

Social Media Age Verification Bill Introduced in GA

A bill introduced in Georgia (SB 351) would require social media companies to verify the age of their users. The bill would also update rules requiring schools to monitor bullying to address cyberbullying. (GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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