House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB50 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Prohibiting internet social media terms of service that permit censorship of speech.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 9, 2023
The Chairman called for discussion and final action on SB50.
Jason Long, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. He explained SB50 primarily deals with terms of service agreements between an interactive computer service and a user, prohibiting the service from restricting, censoring, or suppressing information published by a user to a social media website. (Attachment 1)
The Chairman opened for questions of the revisor.
Following questions and discussion, the Chairman proposed a balloon amendment. (Attachment 2) Jason Long explained the amendment. It would change the violations in the bill from being civil, under the Consumer Protection Act, to being criminal violations that could be prosecuted by the Attorney General or any county or district attorney. The violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by fine.
Dan Burroughs, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Kansas Secretary of State, stood for questions on the bill and amendment.
Following a period of questions and discussion, the Chairman asked for a motion on the amendment.
Senator Blasi moved, and Senator Kloos seconded, to adopt the proposed amendment. Motion carried.
Senator Straub moved, and Senator Kloos seconded, to recommend SB50 as amended, favorably for passage. Motion carried.
