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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Tennessee legislation that would stymie social media’s censorship of Tennessee elections and citizens was recently placed behind the budget in a House Subcommittee but has begun movement again on the Senate side now to be heard April 19th, 2022 in the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.
Senate Bill 2161, sponsored by Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District 11), and House Bill 2369, sponsored by Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro-District 36), in summary, seeks to designate social media platforms (SMPs) as common carriers and requires the entities to obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Tennessee public utilities commission; establishes that SMPs may not intentionally deplatform or shadow ban a user of the SMP based on various factors. Authorizes TPUC to investigate suspected violations and conduct contested case hearings. Prescribes penalties and fines that TPUC may issue for violations. Upon a finding of a violation after a contested case hearing, a user is authorized to bring a private cause of action and may be awarded various damages, costs, and fees.
The last action on SB2161 was on March 15th, when it passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee with a 7 to 1 vote in favor with only Democrat Raumesh Akbari voting against.
Senator Bo Watson said to The Tennessee Conservative in response, “We completed the first step in the Senate journey of this important legislation that protects our right to free speech from over-reaching censorship on the large social media platforms. Getting the bill out of the Senate Commerce and Labor committee was a big win for conservative voices, but there is still a lot of road ahead of us. I need people to stay engaged”
Representative Dennis Powers said, “We wish the federal government would have dealt with this years ago, and they should have but because they have not, it’s gone back to the States. The States created the Federal Government, so we really have that obligation – if the Federal Government is not doing their job, we need to step in. This is going to be model legislation for other states. The Common Carrier Law is one that we feel has Constitutional muster, it’s the one that U.S. Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas said would work.”
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If you support this bill, contact the Republican Members of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee prior to their meeting on Tuesday, April 19th. You can find their contact information below.
Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee – Republican Members
Bo Watson (chair) (R) – sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov – 615) 741-3227
John Stevens (1st vice-chair) (R)- sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4576
Joey Hensley (2nd vice-chair) (R)- sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3100
Todd Gardenhire (R)- sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6682
Ferrell Haile (R)- sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1999
Jack Johnson (R)- sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2495
Jon Lundberg (R)- sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761
Dawn White (R)- sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853
Ken Yager (R)- sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1449
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
