Latest news with #SenateBill164
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political deepfakes bill headed to South Dakota governor's desk
The sun sets on Feb. 5, 2025, behind the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) A bill to require labels on political deepfakes within 90 days of an election passed the South Dakota Legislature on Monday at the Capitol in Pierre. A deepfake is a digitally altered photo, video or audio of a person or people, meant to appear real, often created using artificial intelligence. In the runup to the 2024 presidential primary, a robocall featuring an altered version of then-President Joe Biden's voice circulated in New Hampshire. 'Election integrity' activists speak out against labels for political deepfakes Senate Bill 164, which passed the House of Representatives 45-24, is a more narrowly tailored version of a proposal that first appeared in the Legislature in 2024, shortly after news of that robocall broke. That version drew free speech concerns, in part from broadcasters worried it might sweep them up into liability for unwittingly hosting deepfakes. SB 164, which passed the state Senate last week 32-3, explicitly exempts broadcasters, newspapers, websites or radio stations from liability. Sen. Liz Larson, D-Sioux Falls, introduced the bill. If Gov. Larry Rhoden signs the bill, people or organizations that disseminate unlabeled deepfakes of South Dakota politicians with the intent to hurt a candidate, within 90 days of an election, would be subject to civil and criminal liability. Unlabeled political deepfakes could be shared outside of the 90-day election window. Labeled deepfakes and deepfakes that constitute satire could be shared at any time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Election integrity' activists speak out against labels for political deepfakes
Sen. Liz Larson, D-Sioux Falls, on the South Dakota Senate floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A half dozen people spoke out against mandatory labels for deepfake political messaging on Monday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre, citing concerns that such a law could be used to suppress free speech. The activists weren't able to convince a panel of lawmakers to defeat the legislation, however. Senate Bill 164 targets a narrow class of deepfakes, a term tied to phony images, audio or video of a person that are manipulated, typically with artificial intelligence programs, to appear real. The bill would require labels on deepfakes depicting candidates that appear within 90 days of an election 'with the intent to injure' the depicted candidate. People who disseminate or contract with another to disseminate such an unlabeled deepfake within the 90-day window would be subject to a class one misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. They could also be subject to civil liability. Deepfakes bill clears state Senate, loses impact on 2024 primary The law would apply to the person or people who make deepfakes to deceive. It wouldn't apply to satire deepfakes, or to broadcasters and websites paid to run deepfakes, or to internet service providers that might host them. The bill's sponsor, Sioux Falls Democratic Sen. Liz Larson, told the Senate State Affairs Committee that political deepfakes created with artificial intelligence 'can erode public trust in the information that circulates about our democracy.' 'They can sow chaos and confusion at strategic times,' Larson said, citing examples of their use to influence elections in Turkey and for messaging during the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Support for the bill came from Stephen Gemar of Attorney General Marty Jackley's office, as well as from Zebadiah Johnson of the Voter Defense Association. 'Our system of electoral democracy depends on having a shared reality,' Johnson said, adding, 'deepfakes pose a real and substantial threat to that shared reality.' Larson attempted to pass a similar bill last year, but it failed on the Senate floor over fears of being overbroad. The first to speak against this year's effort was Rick Weible, an Elkton resident who described himself as 'a cyber expert and also kind of an election aficionado.' He also testified against the bill in 2024. The bill 'is really not ready,' Weible said, noting that most candidate websites are hosted by domain name holders who operate outside the state, and therefore outside its jurisdiction. Efforts to thwart the influence of 'deepfakes' meet resistance in the Legislature He also said the state would be better served to tackle deepfakes meant to embarrass or harass young people. 'When we look at what's happening in the high schools, and where we're seeing some of the deepfakes there and the suicides that are being committed, that's a bigger issue that should be addressed before we address politicians,' Weible said. Others who've appeared alongside Weible to testify in Pierre on what they call election integrity – such as a push for paper ballots or shorter windows for absentee ballots – zeroed in on fears that the law could be used to suppress political messaging. 'This bill would weaponize the state government against those accused of using deepfakes,' said John Kunnari, who ran for a District 11 House of Representatives seat last spring. The bill targets 'our God-given rights,' he told the committee. He said 'the media' has been 'doing a form of deepfakes most of our lives, taking quotes, videos, photos out of context, and creating fake narratives against their opponents.' Kunnari told South Dakota Searchlight after the hearing he doesn't advocate the use of deepfakes to influence an election. Rather, he said, he's concerned that the law would be used by candidates to target legitimate political messaging, calling the bill 'a slippery slope' to censorship. Larson said Weible had 'a really good argument' about deepfakes involving non-politicians, such as deepfake pornography. 'I feel like legislation should absolutely be expanded in future years to take a serious look at that,' she said. 'This is a first step to that, and this is the first step to getting there.' 'Firehose' of information confronts legislators studying internet use by children and AI Larson said labeling a deepfake ad doesn't stop speech. 'There's nothing in this bill that silences Americans,' she said. In response to committee questioning, Gemar of the Attorney General's Office confirmed that an out-of-state website host would fall outside the state's jurisdiction. Someone in South Dakota who contracts for the production or dissemination of a deepfake, he said, could be liable. Sen. Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, moved to pass the bill. Given that deepfakes would be legal but labeled, Karr said he's not especially concerned about the suppression of speech. 'I think it's a good disclosure to have so people can be discerning,' Karr said. SB 164 passed 8-1, with Sen. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids, casting the lone no vote. It now heads to the full Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mexico wireless tower bill moves forward in Roundhouse
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A bill in New Mexico that would allow state agencies to install wireless towers on their properties is moving forward in the Roundhouse. Story continues below Crime: Trial continues for men accused in fatal shooting of 11yo outside Isotopes Park DWI Scandal: DWI Advocate Reacts To Corruption Scheme Sports Office: From player to businessman with NBA veteran Kenny Thomas The state's broadband office says Senate Bill 164 would ensure cellular access in state parks, historic landmarks and rural communities near state properties. Under current state law, counties and municipalities have the authority to install wireless towers on city or county land. If the bill is signed into law, state agencies would also be given that authority. The proposal is now headed to the Judiciary Committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lexington makes changes to diversity, equity and inclusion office as DEI attacks ramp up
The city of Lexington is giving its Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion a new role as attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion ramp up. Arthur Lucas, who has served in the position for several years, will continue to work on diversity efforts but through the human resources department, said Sally Hamilton, the city's chief administrative officer. Lucas currently works out of Hamilton's office. When Lucas was hired, there was debate on whether he should be placed in Hamilton's office or with human resources. Because his work is across city government it would be better if he was in human resources so his duties can also be expanded, Hamilton said. His title will be changed to a senior administrator to better reflect the breadth of his duties, she said. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council took its first vote on the title change at a Tuesday work session. A final vote will likely come at its March 6 meeting. Lucas helps the city with a lot of different initiatives. In hiring, the city doesn't give additional weight to someone who is diverse. Rather, the city makes sure everyone has the same opportunities, Hamilton said. 'For example, when we have interview panels we make sure that everyone on that panel is not all the same type of person,' Hamilton said. Employers often hire people who look like them, Hamilton said. Hamilton said the city is not making other major changes in light of federal and state efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives. The University of Kentucky also voluntarily eliminated its Office of Institutional Diversity in August 2024 in light of efforts to ax DEI offices. In one of his first acts in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling all federal DEI offices. State legislators also have proposed bills in the Kentucky House and Senate that target DEI efforts in state universities and in local government. Senate Bill 164, filed Thursday by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, would block all levels of government from 'providing preferential treatment' to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, or national origin. It also would prohibit state and local government agencies from 'requiring or incentivizing' a person to attend a DEI training, or from allocating resources to 'establish or maintain diversity, equity and inclusion offices.' Senate Bill 165, also filed by Tichenor, would prohibit similar DEI initiatives in Kentucky public schools. A similar bill targeting DEI in public schools has been filed in the House. Efforts to pass anti-DEI legislation have so far failed in the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma panel advances three sports betting bills amid concerns about tribal exclusivity rights
Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, left, talks with senators Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, on the Senate floor during special session on Oct. 3, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – Bills that would legalize sports betting, including one that would allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to obtain a gaming license, advanced Thursday from a Senate committee despite concerns that at least one measure could violate existing compacts with the state's tribes. The three measures will likely look very different following negotiations between tribes and other interested players, but show the state is very serious about adding sports betting, said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, Senate Business and Insurance Committee chairman. 'They are tools that we are using for negotiations that are going on between a professional sports franchise here in Oklahoma and the tribes,' Coleman said. Senate Bill 125, by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, would allow tribes with Oklahoma gaming compacts to offer sports pools. Sports pools are any wagers, including mobile betting, on the outcome of sports or other events, except horse and animal races. It would require the tribes to execute supplements to their existing compacts. Exclusivity fees would be 5% to 7%. It passed by a vote of 9-2 and heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Through the compacts, the state receives exclusivity fees in exchange for giving tribes the sole right to conduct certain types of Class III gaming, including slots, roulette and craps. In fiscal year 2024, tribes paid the state $210 million in exclusivity fees, a nearly 4% increase over the prior year, according to the Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit Annual Report for fiscal year 2024. Over three dozen states have already legalized sports betting, but prior efforts to allow it in Oklahoma have failed to garner enough legislative support. 'We're way behind the curve on sport betting as compared to some of our fellow regional states and that's always concerning to us in a competitive market,' said Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. He said the association has not talked with the authors of the bills, but is willing to have discussions. But Morgan said any legislation on the subject cannot violate the existing compacts, must utilize the gaming supplemental process set forth in the compacts and has to make economic sense. Buy-in from Gov. Kevin Stitt will also be important because he plays a role in the process, Morgan said. 'At the end of the day, you know, the tribes are the ones that have negotiated this substantial exclusivity under the gaming compacts,' Morgan said. 'We are the ones that take the financial risk on any gaming extensions.' Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, said he fears Senate Bill 164, which narrowly advanced out of committee Thursday, violates the exclusivity provisions of the compacts. As a result, the state would lose money because it would have breached the terms, he said. SB 164 would authorize the Oklahoma Lottery Commission to regulate sports betting. It would create an annual license fee of $100,000, an initial license fee of $500,000 and require 15% of the adjusted gross revenue each year in sports pools to be paid to the Lottery Commission. The bill would repeal the prohibition on other Class III Gaming and the exception for the tribes, opening the door for other games and entities to be involved. Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, the author, said the measure would help in the negotiations process with the tribes. The bill is a 'work in progress,' he said, adding that there will be many changes to it. The measure passed by a vote of 6-5 and heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 585 would allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to receive a gaming license for sports betting in the state, said Coleman, the author 'Today, this is the best bet I have seen,' he said. The bill would allow the tribes to take in-person bets at casinos and mobile sports betting on tribal land, Coleman said. The Thunder would be in charge of mobile sports betting on non-tribal land, he said. The state would receive 10% of the net sportsbook revenues, which is estimated to be $20 million annually, he said. The income generated will help the team, Coleman said. The starting salary cap for the team was $55 million when the team came to the city, he said. It is now $140 million, Coleman said. He said the measure will further solidify the team staying in Oklahoma City. But the tribes and the Thunder would need an agreement before the bill moves forward, Coleman said. The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and the Oklahoma City Thunder have a meeting next week, he said. 'So, we have accomplished getting them to the table,' Coleman said. Senate Bill 585 passed by a vote of 8-2 and heads to the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
