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Colorado Senate overrides governor's veto of social media bill focused on child safety
Summary
The Colorado Senate voted to override Gov. Jared Polis's veto of Senate Bill 86, a measure sponsors described as aimed at removing accounts that exploit children or traffic illegal goods on social media. The override passed 29-6 after floor debate by bill sponsors.
The Colorado Senate voted to override Gov. Jared Polis's veto of Senate Bill 86 on April 25, passing a motion 29-6 to make the social-media bill law without the governor's signature.
Supporters said SB86 is designed to require social platforms to remove accounts that facilitate child exploitation or use the services to sell illegal drugs, alcohol or firearms. "This bill is about one thing above all, protecting our kids," Senator John Doherty told colleagues as he explained reasons for the veto override. "This bill gives us the tools to help remove predators and traffickers from using social media to harm our kids. This is not about censorship. It's about standing up for the safety and dignity of our youngest and most vulnerable."
Senator Frizzell, a co-prime sponsor, also urged senators to vote to override the veto, describing cases of sextortion and trafficking that supporters say the bill would address. "We have people whose lives have been forever, ever damaged through sextortion and trafficking," Frizzell said on the floor.
Opponents argued the bill could raise free-speech and due-process concerns; the roll call listed Senators Winter, Wallace, Marchman, Gonzales, Henrikson and Baisley among those voting no. The clerk recorded the motion as passing with 29 ayes and 6 noes.
The override makes SB86 law despite the governor's veto. The bill had been the subject of extended floor debate before the override motion.
Votes and next steps: The Senate's override completed the legislature's action on SB86 on the floor; because the motion was an override of a gubernatorial veto, the Senate's vote made the measure law without the governor's concurrence.
Ending: Senate staff will publish the enrolled bill and the statutory changes will be reflected in the session laws and state code as processed by the secretary of state.
