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Committee advances bill requiring daily 60‑second warning on social media apps; AG enforcement discussed
Summary
Senate Bill 693, which would require social media platforms to display a 60‑second daily warning that renders the application unusable, passed the committee 8-0. Committee members questioned enforcement, potential federal preemption and whether enforcement belongs with the attorney general or a consumer-protection framework.
Senator Thompson explained Senate Bill 693 to the Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee, saying the bill "requires a social media platform to, put a warning label across their platform to, once a day for at least 60 seconds. It'll render the application unusable. With that, I yield for questions."
Committee members asked whether enforcement in the bill — which repeatedly refers to the attorney general as the enforcement authority — was the best approach. Senator Bullard expressed concern about "stacking more and more on the AG" and asked whether another enforcement mechanism or agency would be appropriate. Senator Yek and others raised questions about whether other states have adopted similar laws and about federal legal hurdles; the transcript records that the sponsor said she was unaware of other states that had adopted the same approach and acknowledged the First Amendment and federal regulatory issues.
At least one senator cited recent litigation as a caution. A committee member referenced a Missouri attorney general court loss in litigation related to similar measures and suggested shifting the concept under consumer-protection law rather than the approach in the current draft. Senator Bullard said he supported the policy goal but suggested exploring a consumer-protection path. Senator Hicks urged focusing on protections for minors and raised the idea of encouraging device manufacturers to add parental controls.
After debate and questions, the committee voted 8-0 to approve the bill. The transcript does not record any committee amendment that altered the 60‑second requirement, nor does it record a legislative fiscal impact or an implementation timeline for the warning or enforcement process.
The committee record does not indicate next steps after committee approval or whether the committee will transmit a formal recommendation to the full Senate.
