Social Media Censorship Bill Dead For Lack Of Funding, Half Billion To Be Spent On Titan’s Stadium

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Tennessee legislation that would have stymied social media’s censorship of Tennessee elections while preserving the first amendment rights of all Tennesseans in today’s online public square is dead for the current legislative session.

House Bill 2369, sponsored  Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro-District 36), and Senate Bill 2161, sponsored by Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District 11), 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 Senate version (SB2161) was scheduled to be heard last week but was rolled to this week; while the last action in the House was to place the bill ‘behind the budget.’ The bill was ultimately taken off notice.

Representative Powers spoke to The Tennessee Conservative yesterday and said, “[The] Social Media Bill did not get funded – we tried – maybe next year.”

Powers said in one of the previous committee meetings, “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.”

At the end of March, Powers met with the Fiscal Review Committee and the Tennessee Public Utility Commission to reduce the cost of the bill from its original $330,000 to $100,000. There was some discussion at that time about staggering dates for when fees would be required so that enough revenue might be generated to help the bill pay for itself. 

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The Tennessee Legislature approved $500 million of bonds for a new Tennessee Titans stadium as part of a record $52.8 billion budget last week, requiring $55 million in annual payments. The stadium is planned to open in time for the 2026 season, and is being funded collaboratively. The estimated cost is between $1.9 billion and $2.2 billion with $500 million from the state, $700 million from Metro Nashville and $700 million from Titans ownership. 

Representative Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster-District 40), who voted no on funding the stadium, said of the Titans, “Of all the gall, to ask us for money when they can’t even stand up for our national anthem.”

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.