Hello from the State Capitol,
This week, the House judiciary committee acted favorably on my bill that would help ensure children are protected from social media.
The bill would require social media platforms to use age-estimation technology to terminate children’s accounts (if 15 and under). It would also prohibit the use of addictive features in the accounts of minors to obtain parental consent to have an account, and it would prohibit targeted content or advertising for minors in Minnesota.
The bill would change design of what kids would see as opposed to adults and remove addictive features such as infinite scrolling and push notifications. Social media platforms would also need to verify kids’ ages using their current technology to estimate age.
The social media companies argue their products are not addictive, which is laughable considering the studies and science about them prove otherwise. Hopefully the full House will be able to vote on this legislation very soon.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACCESS BILL RECEIVES HEARING
My legislation that would place restrictions on a therapist or psychologist from using artificial intelligence during a patient visit was also debated this week. Specifically, it prohibits these professionals from using AI systems to make independent therapeutic decisions, for therapeutic communications, or to generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without the licensed professional’s review and approval.
It would also require informed consent from the patient before use. If the patient didn’t want his or her information recorded or stored, they could simply say no and it would be stopped.
GUN BAN BILL STALLS IN COMMITTEE
The judiciary committee did not approve a proposal that would essentially ban almost all semiautomatic rifles, as well as many handguns and shotguns.
This bill is part of the gun control package Democrats are championing following the tragic shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. Instead of holding gun criminals accountable or offering solutions to flag mentally ill individuals, they want to ban guns and criminalize law abiding citizens.
ENDING HOUSING STABILIZATION SERVICES
The House unanimously approved a bill that would remove the Housing Stabilization Services program from state law.
The program was created to help eligible recipients find housing. Investigations into it later found bribes, phony billing, falsifying records and billing people who were dead. In four years, the cost of Housing Stabilization Services jumped from $2.5 million a year to more than $100 million, which should have been the first red flag.
The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further action.