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Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Senate approves proposed changes to blocked social media age verification law
Sen. Missy Irvin (left), R-Mountain View, asks a question about Senate Bill 611, sponsored by Sen. Tyler Dees (right), R-Siloam Springs, on the Senate floor on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas House will consider a proposed amendment to the state's enjoined social media age verification law after the legislation received Senate approval Monday. Additionally, the Senate will vote Tuesday on a bill that would create a right for parents to sue social media platforms if their child develops eating disorders, self-harms, commits or attempts suicide, or becomes addicted to the platform's feeds because of content the child was exposed to. Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, and Rep. Jon Eubanks, R-Paris, introduced both bills last week. Senate Bill 611 would amend Act 689 of 2023, the Social Media Safety Act, which was the first of its kind in the nation and required social media platforms to verify the age of new account holders in Arkansas. Those under 18 could only access sites with parental permission. A federal judge temporarily blocked Act 689 in August 2023, before it went into effect, and permanently blocked the law March 31 for violating the First Amendment and the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution. 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 from under 18 to under 16 years old, prohibit social media algorithms from targeting minors, and add a penalty for companies that do not comply. 'There still is reasonable age-verification language, but it puts more emphasis on the social media company to make sure that they are not preying on the youth,' Dees said. SB 611 passed the Senate with a bipartisan 21 votes. Four senators voted present and seven did not vote. Sens. Ricky Hill, R-Cabot; Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville; and Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, voted against the bill. Arkansas Legislature passes social media age verification bill over privacy, speech concerns Hill expressed the same concerns he did in 2023 before he voted against Act 689. 'I know I'm not going to change any of y'all's minds, but I do want you to think about the slippery slope we're walking on,' Hill said. '…If you want to limit the freedom of speech, go ahead and continue to vote for this.' Dees said SB 611 would not result in withholding content but instead would 'protect our most vulnerable.' 'We're trying to make sure that the profits of these social media companies don't come before the protection of our children,' Dees said. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the Social Media Safety Act a priority during her first year in office. In January, she called on lawmakers to amend the law and to give parents the right to take legal action against technology companies if their children experience mental health crises, such as suicidal ideation, tied to social media consumption. No members of the public spoke for or against Senate Bill 612, the private right of action bill, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which passed the bill with no audible dissent Monday. Under SB 612, a social media platform could be held accountable for 'placing content on the feed, screen, account, or other digital medium of the minor that causes the minor to view the content without explicitly searching for that specific content and includes algorithmic promotion of the content based on a previous search or engagement' if viewing the content leads to 'significant bodily or cognitive harm.' Dees told both the committee and the full Senate that technology companies have contacted him asking for the bills to be amended so it would not be applicable to them. He said he is open to amending the bill but does not want to accommodate billion-dollar companies that have 'neglected our youth.' SB 611 and SB 612 both establish a civil penalty of $10,000 per violation. The penalty for violating the Social Media Safety Act was originally $2,500 per violation. Sens. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, and Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, both asked Dees during the committee meeting how a plaintiff would prove under SB 612 that a social media platform 'knowingly' caused intangible harm to a minor. Whether a platform leads a minor to 'develop or sustain an addiction' to it, as SB 612 states, is 'a little tougher to prove' than a suicide attempt or an eating disorder 'without getting inside someone's head,' Tucker said. Dees said SB 612 is 'the framework to have that discussion' and creates a process for the courts to decide 'if there's damaging aspects that have taken place as a result of an interaction with Big Tech.' Dees and Eubanks also sponsored the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act, which Sanders signed in February, that bans personal electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, in schools. In March, a bipartisan majority of House members approved two bills that mimic stalled federal legislation aimed at regulating companies' online interactions with children. Lead sponsor Rep. Zack Gramlich, R-Fort Smith, told the Advocate he does not expect to proceed with one of them, the Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The other bill is House Bill 1717, the Arkansas Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act. Gramlich said he is amending the bill and hopes to present it to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. HB 1717 would ban technology companies from collecting data from Arkansas minors except under specific circumstances, such as for financial transactions. They would also be barred from retaining that data and disclosing it to third parties that use the information in advertising targeted to children. 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
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
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
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Arkansas law will add blood types to driver's licenses
FAYETTEVIILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas House Bill 1315, an act to authorize a blood type designation to be placed on a driver license or identification card, has officially been signed into law. According to the legislative text, 'a person, or the parent or guardian of a person, may apply to the Office of Driver Services to obtain a blood type designation on a driver's license or identification card issued under this subchapter by providing a signed form stating the blood type of the person.' Arkansas Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) and Rep. Randy Torres (R-Siloam Springs) sponsored the bill, which received unanimous, bipartisan support in both the house and senate. Sen. Dees says a conversation with a veteran inspired he and his fellow Siloam Springs lawmaker to work on the bill. 'Rep. Torres and I share a constituent, a veteran constituent, that brought this this issue up to us. They said, 'you know, when I served in the Army on our dog tags, we always had our blood type listed on our dog tags to help in case of an emergency or for clarity on our own blood type,' Dees said. 'He said, 'you know, most people don't know their own blood type, and so how great would it be if we could have an option to put our own blood type onto our driver's license?' And so, a simple conversation like that led to this this new law that allows constituents the option to put their blood type on the driver's license,' Dees said. Dees also shared that the bill would help rural hospitals in emergency situations. 'It allows for rural hospitals especially to have speed of care. A lot of times they have to go through testing and cost increase just to find out someone's blood type in emergencies. They typically issue I believe O-type blood. So, this this helps with speed. It also helps with the total blood supply that's out there,' Dees said. Dees says he hopes the bill will work to save lives. 'It's just a great solution that really won't add cost or harm. If it saves one life, it's worth it,' Dees said. The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
