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March 1, 2024Governor DeSantis vetoed HB 1 on Friday. The legislation prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media platforms that meet certain criteria, including the use of addictive technologies. The bill also requires pornography websites to conduct age verification to ensure that users are at least 18 years old.
"I have vetoed HB 1 because the Legislature is about to produce a different, superior bill," DeSantis tweeted. "Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents’ rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech."
The Senate will take up HB 3 next week. HB 3 is the original vehicle for the requirement that pornography websites conduct age verification to ensure that users are at least 18 years old. It is likely that the Senate will amend HB 3 to include restrictions on social media use for minors under the age of 16. This amendment language will address some of the concerns that led to the Governor’s veto. The House can then take up the amended legislation, a priority of Speaker Paul Renner, and pass it and send it back to the governor for his signature.
