Free subscription to the Capitol Journal keeps you current on legislative and regulatory news.
Chatbot Bills Near Passage in CA A pair of bills aimed at protecting minors from harm by chatbots are nearing passage in California. Of the two, tech groups favor SB 243 , which would allow citizens...
NM Gov Calls Special Session to Bolster Safety Net New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced a special session in October to bolster safety net programs in response to the federal spending...
Political “debanking,” the practice of banks restricting or closing customers’ accounts for political or religious reasons, has once again become a hot topic , thanks to President Donald...
CO Lawmakers Tweak Last Year’s First-In-Nation AI Law In a special session that began last week, Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez (D) introduced legislation ( SB 4 a ) that would...
States Seek Ways to Replace Expiring Federal Health Subsidies Policymakers in California, Colorado, Maryland and other states are considering ways to backfill pandemic-era federal health insurance subsidies...
* The views expressed in externally authored materials linked or published on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of LexisNexis Legal & Professional.
State Lawmakers Not Reluctant to Regulate Tech in 2024: All 46 states that held legislative sessions this year enacted measures regulating technology, 238 measures in all, a 163% increase from 2023, according to a new report from New York University’s Center for Social Media and Politics and Center on Tech Policy.
Almost half of the new laws—107 in 41 states—deal with artificial intelligence, including a first-in-the-nation comprehensive measure in Colorado (SB 24). Another 48 laws concern children’s online safety.
The report also noted that 89% of the laws were enacted in trifecta states where the legislature and governor’s office are held by a single party. California alone enacted 26 new tech laws. (PURIBUS NEWS, CENTER ON TECH POLICY, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)
Social Media Warning Label Bill Introduced in CA: California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D) introduced a bill (AB 56) that would require social media sites to routinely display a warning label stating: “The Surgeon General has advised that there are ample indicators that social media can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” The measure is sponsored by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D). (SACRAMENTO BEE)
Bitcoin Reserve Bill Prefiled in TX: Texas Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R) prefiled a bill (HB 1598) for next year’s session that would provide for the establishment of a strategic bitcoin reserve in the state. The measure would allow the state to accept taxes, fees and donations in bitcoin that it would hold for a minimum of five years.
In November Pennsylvania Reps. Mike Cabell (R) and Aaron Kaufer (R) introduced HB 2664, providing for the establishment of a bitcoin reserve in that state by allowing the state treasurer to invest up to 10% of the General Fund, Rainy Day Fund and State Investment Fund in bitcoin and crypto exchange-traded products or ETPs. (CNBC, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)
—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK