Latest news with #Bill362
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Take it Down Act' heads to Trump's Desk; Rep. Burlison explains why he voted no
MISSOURI — The 'Take it Down Act' heads to President Donald Trump's desk, after passing the U.S. House by a vote of 409-2. The bill, when signed, would outlaw posting intimate or inappropriate photos of someone without their consent, or as many refer to it as 'revenge porn'. It will also outlaw A.I. 'deepfakes', which is similar to intimate/inappropriate content, but computer-generated. A summary of the bill says, 'Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both'. It would also require platforms to remove the content in 48 hours when notified. As mentioned, the U.S. House passed this bill 409-2, a showing of bipartisan support on the issue. Of the two who voted no, one is Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison. Ozarks First reached out to Burlison's team and was given this statement. 'Sharing non-consensual intimate imagery is abhorrent, but this bill unnecessarily federalizes the criminalization of conduct that states already have laws against, and many of them already have laws tailored to address AI-generated deepfakes. As such, creating a new federal offense is both redundant and constitutionally problematic. The further federalization of criminal law in this way undermines state authority, blurs lines of accountability, and risks duplicative prosecutions. Furthermore, while the bill attempts to safeguard free speech with a 'reasonable person' test, I remain concerned about its impact on First Amendment rights and the unchecked growth of federal power.' Ozarks First checked into Missouri's passing laws about this issue on a state level, and at the time of this story being published, found two that are making their way through the legislative process. Missouri House Bill 362 would establish the disclosure of 'intimate digital depictions' in an attempt to harass, annoy, threaten, alarm, or cause harm to the individual depicted, and outlines what a person can seek in terms of civil action if material was posted online without consent. A summary for the bill says it 'Creates the offense of and civil penalties for disclosure of intimate digital depictions', but according to the Missouri House website, it's out of committee but has not made it out of the Missouri House. Missouri Senate Bill 411 is centered around the 'Taylor Swift Act', which 'establishes a cause of action by an individual who is the subject of an intimate digital depiction against a person who discloses such depiction and who knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the individual has not consented to such disclosure. If passed, it would make it a Class E felony for a first offense, and a Class C felony for any offense after. According to the Missouri Senate Website, Missouri Senate Bill 411 was last discussed on March 26, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas afterschool programming appropriation targets DEI policies
Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, asks a question about House Bill 1489 on the Senate floor Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) Youth organizations that promote diversity initiatives would be prohibited from receiving state grants under an appropriation bill approved by a legislative subcommittee Tuesday. Senate Bill 362 states that grant money will not be awarded to an organization that 'compels' a person to subscribe to an idea 'in violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.' This would include any requirement that an individual is 'inherently superior or inferior' depending on their race, sex, age, religion, national origin, or 'other characteristic protected by federal or state law.' Bill sponsor Sen. Kim Hammer, a Benton Republican, said during the Joint Budget Committee's Special Language subcommittee meeting that it was important the grant funding goes to groups 'that align with the educational goals of the governor and General Assembly.' 'Some of this language is borrowed … out of Senator Petty's bill, because I think it's good language that kinda identifies that we want youth organizations that are meeting in the afterschool setting to align with the educational goals of the state of Arkansas with any of the programs that they may initiate,' Hammer said. The bill also lifts some language from the LEARNS Act of 2023, Hammer said, as far as 'what's allowable.' Nonprofits affiliated with a broader, national organization that wish to receive youth organization funds must submit a memorandum of understanding signed by both that acknowledges the state-level organization intends to comply with the law's provisions prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Legislators both in Arkansas and across the country have taken aim at DEI in public education in recent years. In a Joint Performance Review Committee meeting in 2023, Hammer questioned representatives of Arkansas Boys and Girls Club affiliates about the national organization's directives on the use of pronouns and other DEI issues. 'The Boys and Girls Club has a longstanding tradition of being built on traditional values. We'd hate to see that lost to any 'wokeism,'' he said in that meeting. The LEARNS Act, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' signature education law, prohibited 'indoctrination' by the Arkansas Department of Education or state public schools, while explicitly stating that the law did not ban the discussion of the ideas and history of the ideas otherwise banned or public policy issues that some might find disagreeable or offensive. SB 362 would appropriate $4 million for youth organizations. Appropriation measures specify funding amounts but no money becomes available until approved by the Legislature through the Revenue Stabilization Act. Only 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations that have operated for at least five years, with 'a record of financial stability,' can qualify for the grants, according to the bill. Those operating for less than five years can still qualify for the grants if they provide a financial plan and are in good standing with the Arkansas Secretary of State's office. Regular afterschool programming and educational activities in specific categories would also be needed to qualify an organization for the grant funding; an organization would need to provide programming for four days a week, with a total of 12 hours, during the school year. The organization would need to provide regular programming in two out of five categories to qualify for the grants as well: STEM (science, technology, engineering and math); academic support; goal setting and leadership activities; career exposure and workforce readiness; and community service opportunities. The bill was accepted by the subcommittee with no audible dissents, and will go to the Joint Budget Committee next. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
