Latest news with #SenateBill612
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NEW FLORIDA LAW: Underage drug dealers involved in fatal overdoses could face murder charges
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office holds a news conference about a Florida law that is going into effect on July 1, 2025. Under the new law, juveniles who distribute narcotics that cause a fatal overdose could now be prosecuted for murder, HCSO said. This update is a direct response to the deaths caused by individuals unknowingly consuming narcotics that are laced with deadly substances. According to HCSO, the new law was sparked by the death of Devin Ramos, 17, who died after unknowingly ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill given to him by a juvenile who could not be held accountable at that time. Sheriff Chad Chronister is joined by Devin's mother, Amy Olmdea, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez. They will speak about the development and importance of Senate Bill 612. Florida Representative Traci Foster and Senator Danny Burgess shared the following statements: 'The tragic death of a young person in our community due to fentanyl poisoning served as a devastating reminder of the lethal consequences tied to illegal drug distribution. In the wake of that loss, Sheriff Chad Chronister stepped forward to bring this issue to the forefront, urging lawmakers to take decisive action to ensure all who peddle in this deadly and unlawful practice can face justice. Senate Bill 612 reflects that call by updating state law to ensure those who unlawfully distribute controlled illegal substances like fentanyl can be held accountable when those drugs result in death. This legislation is about saving lives and delivering justice. I am deeply grateful to Sheriff Chronister for his leadership and to the law enforcement professionals who work every day to confront this crisis and protect our communities.' -Senator Danny Burgess'The scourge of fentanyl is devastating families and destroying communities across our nation. Those who peddle this poison have blood on their hands and should be treated as such in the eyes of the law. To help the brave men and women on the frontlines of this fight, Florida will now be able to hold those who deal in fentanyl to greater account. I'm thankful to Sheriff Chronister and Florida's law enforcement professionals for their commitment to the safety of our state and their willingness to help hold these drug dealers accountable for their deadly actions.' -Representative Traci Koster Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills would amend Arkansas social media law, create right for parents to sue platforms
After a federal judge blocked Arkansas' online safety law for children, two legislators filed a bill to amend the law to address its challenges and another bill to give parents the right to sue social media platforms if they violate the law. () Two days after a federal judge permanently blocked Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act, state lawmakers filed two bills Wednesday aimed at expanding social media protections for children. Senate Bill 611 would amend Act 689 of 2023 (the Social Media Safety Act), apparently to address some of the judge's reasons for ruling as he did. Act 689 was the first of its kind in the nation and was a priority of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in her first year in office. It required social media platforms to verify the age of new account holders in Arkansas. Those under 18 could only access sites with parental permission. Senate Bill 612 would create a right for parents to sue social media platforms if their child develops eating disorders, self-harms, commits or tries to commit suicide, or becomes addicted to the platform's feeds because of content the child was exposed to. Both bills establish a civil penalty of $10,000 per violation. Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, and Rep. Jon Eubanks, R-Paris, are chief sponsors of both bills. In January, Sanders called on the Legislature to amend the Social Media Safety Act so it wouldn't be held up in court any longer. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks of the Western District of Arkansas had temporarily blocked it in August 2023, shortly before it was to take effect. Brooks on Monday ruled that law violated the First Amendment and the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution. Sanders also asked lawmakers in January to create a right for parents to sue social media platforms if their children kill themselves because of content encouraging them to self-harm. The governor noted the presence of a woman in the gallery whose child died by suicide. In a press release Wednesday announcing the filing of SB 611 and 612, Sanders noted that Arkansas 'has led the nation on commonsense, conservative reforms to protect kids online, and these additional protections continue that effort.' '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.' Eubanks and Dees echoed Sanders' comments. 'This legislation keeps our children safe online, and puts their safety where it should be — in the hands of parents,' Eubanks said in the press release. SB 612 'establishes a private right of action for parents whose child commits suicide or attempts suicide because of his or her exposure to toxic material on social media, allowing them to sue abusive Big Tech companies in state court,' Sanders' press release says. The amendments to Act 689 in SB 611 more clearly define social media and apply the definition to more platforms, lower the age of minor users to 16, prohibit social media algorithms from targeting minors, and add a penalty for companies that do not comply, according to the press release. The regulations would apply only to new accounts, it said. This new legislation follows Sanders' signing of the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act in February that bans personal electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, in schools. That bill was also sponsored by Dees and Eubanks. Editor's Note: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Sanders announces bills targeting social media harm to children
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced two bills to expand social media protections in Arkansas, following her 2025 State of the State address. Senate Bill 612 would create a private right of action against social media platforms that knowingly cause harm through their design, algorithms or features, particularly contributing to a minor's suicide or attempted suicide. Platforms found in violation could face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, along with damages and legal costs. Parents or guardians of minors who suffer harm from harmful online content may sue the platform responsible, with courts able to award relief, medical expenses and punitive damages. 'This legislation establishes a private right of action for parents whose child commits suicide or attempts suicide because of his or her exposure to toxic material on social media, allowing them to sue abusive Big Tech companies in state court,' according to a press release from the Governor's office. 'Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act' passes Arkansas senate The second bill amends the Social Media Safety Act of 2023, expanding the protections provided to minors on social media. Key changes include: A broader definition of 'social media' to cover additional platforms. A reduction in the age of minors covered by the law to include those as young as 16. A ban on social media algorithms targeting minors. A penalty for companies that fail to comply with the law's provisions. Senator Tyler Dees and Representative Jon Eubanks are the primary sponsors. These changes will apply to new accounts created after the legislation is enacted. The amendments are intended to address issues with the original Social Media Safety Act, which is currently blocked by a court injunction. Governor Sanders signed the Social Media Safety Act into law in 2023, requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts. However, its enforcement is currently on hold due to a judge striking it down on Apr. 1. 'These amendments seek to remedy those issues and allow it to go into effect,' said the Governor's office in a press release. 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
