House rejects amendment to expand age-verification bill from websites to social media

House Bill 43, sponsored by Representative Lolli, addresses age verification for websites containing harmful material. On Jan. 29 the House considered a floor amendment that would have added parental-permission and social-media age-verification mechanisms. Representative Jim Harshman moved the amendment arguing social media is the primary access point for children and that parental tools are needed; he said, "No kids go to websites anymore. That's all on their phone and it's coming through social media."

Opponents, including Representative Angelos and Representative Lolli, said the amendment was not germane to the bill, which targets websites and obscenity statutes rather than social-media platforms and apps. Representative Angelos warned that social media raises First Amendment and technical issues that require distinct hearings and technical expertise. Representative Lolli said he plans a separate bill and urged members not to damage the underlying bill by inserting unrelated provisions.

The House ordered a roll-call vote on the amendment under rule 12-4. The clerk recorded the vote as 9 aye, 52 no, 1 excused; the amendment therefore failed. Representative Harshman defended his motion as a way to give parents additional tools and argued other states have taken similar steps. Supporters of the underlying bill said the bill should remain narrowly tailored to the existing statutory framework for obscenity.

Ending: House Bill 43 remained focused on website age verification after the floor rejected the social-media amendment on a recorded vote. Representatives signaled interest in pursuing separate measures addressing social-media verification in a future session or committee hearing.