Latest news with #SB612
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mother who loses son to suicide responds to amendments of Social Media Safety Act
FAYETTEVILLE (KNWA/FOX24) — The impact of the amendments of the 2023 Social Media Safety Act is already being felt despite not even being signed yet by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Senate Bills 611 and 612 are partner bills that are meant to protect minors from the harm that can be caused by social media platforms. SB612 also lays the framework for parents or guardians to take legal action against social media companies if their child is a victim of self-harm due to content they consume. For one Centerton mother, these amendments are welcomed. Jennie DeSerio's 16-year-old son, Mason, took his own life, and she believes the content he consumed on TikTok had a direct effect on his decision that night. Roughly a year since his passing, Deserio is determined to be a rock for other parents who may be experiencing similar situations. SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas? 'I really thought that my purpose as his mother died that night with him. And, when I found out what TikTok had been sending him, I realized that my purpose as a mom didn't die. It just transformed. So now my purpose as Mason's mom is to make sure no other parent suffers the loss that I have,' DeSerio said. Senator Tyler Dees is the sponsor of these bills, and he said lawmakers are doing what they can to stop social media platforms from targeting the youth. 'We want to tell you we're listening. Your legislature is listening. We're trying to make a difference. We want to bring your stories. As awful as they are, we want them to be the last stories we hear about. We want to make sure that these social media companies are being held accountable,' Dees said. For more information on the legislation changes, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Capitol roundup: Social media, prison funding fights
Arkansas state lawmakers were back at it this week after taking time off for Spring Break. State of play: Days after a federal judge permanently blocked a 2023 law requiring social media platforms to verify new users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a pair of related bills. SB611 seeks amendments to the law, including an updated definition of social media platforms as a messaging service or online platforms that require an internet connection. It would also apply to minors under 16, instead of 18. SB612 would prohibit social media platforms from using algorithms that cause a user to purchase a controlled substance, develop an eating disorder, attempt suicide or develop an addiction to the social media platform. The law would also allow parents to sue the platform if their child dies of suicide if it was facilitated by content on social media. Zoom out: The state Senate this week also twice rejected a $750 million appropriation bill to support construction of a proposed and contentious 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. The Senate further voted to eliminate the Arkansas State Library, which is under the Arkansas Department of Education's umbrella but operates independently, the Arkansas Advocate reported. SB536, now headed to the House, would transfer the authorities, funds, contracts and employees of the agency and its board to the state education department. Take a look at more bills filed in the past week we're watching: 🐈⬛ HB1893 would allow private property or business owners to ban emotional support animals. 📚 SB572 and HB1919 would make learning materials like lesson plans and syllabi at public schools public record. ⛈ SB578 would allow early voting locations to close during inclement weather. 🍷 SB588 would create a private winery club permit. 🍭 HB1962 would prohibit schools from serving or selling ultra-processed food. 🥦 HB1965 would create the Arkansas Healthy Food Retail Act of 2025, tasking the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, in cooperation with public and private sector partners, to establish a program that provides funding to retailers that increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other affordable healthy food in underserved communities. 👨👩👦 HB1921 would limit the training hours required for a new foster home to 15 and six hours of annual training for existing foster homes to maintain their status.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders promotes legislation tightening restrictions on social media
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced her support on Wednesday for two bills that tighten social media restrictions and update current laws. Sponsors introduced Senate bills 611 and 612 in the 95th General Assembly on Wednesday. SB611 amends the Social Media Safety Act of 2023, while 612 allows suing social media companies under certain circumstances. Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids On Tuesday, a federal judge struck down the Social Media Safety Act of 2023 for its age-verification requirements, citing the First Amendment. SB611 amends that act by creating the ability to fine a social media company $10,000 for each day it allows a minor to access its services to view addictive or harmful material. The revision to the act includes striking the age-verification requirement and requires parental controls and annual audits for social media platforms. Federal judge strikes down Arkansas social media age verification law SB612 forbids social media from creating an environment that encourages a user to purchase a controlled substance, develop an eating disorder, commit or attempt suicide or become addicted to social media. If they do, they can be sued by a parent or guardian for up to $10,000 per violation, plus attorney fees and damages. The bill clarifies that it does not impact third-party content or content protected by the First Amendment or the Arkansas Constitution. 'Arkansas has led the nation on commonsense, conservative reforms to protect kids online and these additional protections continue that effort,' the governor said in announcing the legislation. 'Moms and dads whose kids have fallen victim to Big Tech deserve the right to take action against these abusive companies—and Arkansas law should protect kids so they aren't subjected to toxic material in the first place.' Social media influencer is a growing career choice. Colleges have noticed Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R-Paris) sponsor the legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Three anti-abortion bills are progressing in the Oklahoma Legislature. What to know about them
Medical providers are barred from providing abortions in Oklahoma unless it's necessary to protect the mother's life, but still, several bills targeting the procedure were introduced in the state Legislature this year with some making progress. A reproductive rights advocate called the continued fight against abortion a larger effort to control the bodies of Oklahomans, adding that the proposed laws will deter medical providers from the state, impacting everyone who lives in it. More: Three conservative bills by Sen. Dusty Deevers fail committee with bipartisan disapproval So far, just four bills targeting abortion have been heard in committee, though a hearing doesn't guarantee a bill will pass through the Legislature. One of the four bills failed in committee while the three are still progressing. The House Public Health Committee and the House Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill from Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, this month that would classify abortion as a felony for providers and grant protections for fetuses. If it passes the Legislature, the bill would revive Senate Bill 612, which was signed into law in 2022 before being struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2023. Under SB 612, abortion was classified as a felony for medical providers who perform the procedure with a potential of 10 years in prison or fines of up to $100,000. The law only allowed abortions in cases where they're necessary to save the life of the mother in a "medical emergency." In 2023, the state Supreme Court ruled SB 612 was unconstitutional. The court decided that the Oklahoma Constitution already "protects the right of a woman to terminate her pregnancy in order to preserve her life." Olsen told The Oklahoman in December that he rewrote SB 612's language to match the Oklahoma Supreme Court's preferences. HB 1008 nixes the definition of "medical emergency" in SB 612 and prohibits providers from performing an abortion "unless necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman." But it's legislation like this that affects the retention and attraction of medical providers to the state, said Tamya Cox-Touré, the executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. She said doctors are leaving because they're not able to provide their best judgment care due to legal restrictions. "Because of ideological views, Oklahomans suffer from not having the best medical providers in our state because they're refusing to come to our state or they're leaving because of laws like these," Cox-Touré said. More: US Supreme Court sets date to hear Oklahoma's religious charter school case The bill also requires that the medical provider performing an abortion must prioritize "preserving both the life of the pregnant woman and the life of the baby" unless it's determined that the birth of the fetus is a threat to the life of the mother. Olsen said the intent behind including the preservation of the fetus is to "recognize the humanity of the baby." During the House Public Health Committee meeting on Monday, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, asked Olsen if under HB 1008, it could be confusing for doctors to determine if the pregnant woman's health is more at harm compared to the fetus' health. "I am confident that medical personnel have greater capabilities and qualifications to do that so they can make these determinations," Olsen answered. He said he's in favor of maternal health, adding that he also wants consideration for the life of the fetus. "This is an equal rights issue," Olsen said. "We want to consider the life of the mother. We want to consider that the baby has a right to life." HB 1008 is now eligible to be heard on the House floor. Early this month, HB 1168 passed the House Criminal Judiciary Committee 4-1 and could impose drug trafficking charges on someone who possesses or delivers an abortion-inducing drug to another person intending to terminate their pregnancy. If passed, a person convicted of trafficking abortion-inducing drugs shall be guilty of a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 or both. The bill, authored by Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, provides exceptions for lawful pharmacists, manufacturers and distributors. HB 1168 was referred to the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. More: Gov. Stitt announces state partnership with ICE to arrest undocumented immigrants The author also introduced HB 1169, which would repeal sections in the Oklahoma Statutes related to abortion pills and nix language recognizing mifepristone as an FDA-approved drug for terminating pregnancies. The bill passed the Public Health House Committee. HB 1169 was referred to the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. Despite laws in states like Oklahoma that ban medical abortions, the right to receive abortion pills by mail remains legal in all states through services like Plan C. Plan C is a national information campaign that showcases avenues to obtaining abortion pills for people across the country. "With House Bill 1168, we don't know what the true impact is because one, it shouldn't be and it is not illegal for Oklahomans to get an abortion," Cox-Touré said. "They obviously aren't able to get it here in Oklahoma, but it's not illegal for Oklahomans to get an abortion." One anti-abortion bill was granted a hearing in the Criminal Judiciary Senate Committee earlier this month, but was shot down by legislators from both political parties. Authored by Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, SB 456 would've allowed Oklahomans who obtain an abortion to be charged with first-degree murder. "We have a protected class of murderer in our state," Deevers said during the hearing. Cox-Touré said Oklahomans don't want to see people obtaining abortions charged with murder regardless of how they feel about the procedure. "(Oklahomans) truly believe in the idea that the government should stay out of health care decision, and to go as far as making a very private health care decision to now be charged with first-degree, I think it's too extreme for anyone," she said. The bill failed 6-2 in committee with bipartisan disapproval. Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, told Deevers in the meeting that his bill wouldn't reduce the number of abortions, and instead, would expose women to capital punishment. Several other anti-abortion bills have yet to see a hearing in committee, including two from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant: SB 883 and 884, one from Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle: HB 1724, and another from Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville: SB 989. "We continue to see anti-abortion bills because we have legislators that are so focused more on ideological issues as opposed to real world problems that Oklahomans are facing," Cox-Touré said. "Even though abortion is effectively banned in our state, it is important to know that our state Supreme Court has said there is a right to an abortion in limited circumstances." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: These anti-abortion bills are progressing in the Oklahoma Legislature
