23 LC 44 2230
H. R. 119
- 1 -
House Resolution 119
By: Representatives Sainz of the 180
th
, Townsend of the 179
th
, Petrea of the 166
th
, Mathiak
of the 74
th
, Vance of the 133
rd
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Joint Study Committee on Censorship by Social Media Platforms; and for other
1
purposes.2
WHEREAS, censorship of speech constitutes an increasingly common and concerning3
practice by social media platforms; and4
WHEREAS, social media platforms mostly have failed to adopt acceptable use policies; and5
WHEREAS, issues of transparency and disclosure of internal policies and rules by social6
media platforms merit public scrutiny; and7
WHEREAS, the public's recourse to improper and inequitable treatment by social media8
platforms is far from robust; and9
WHEREAS, state legislators shall review issues surrounding censorship of speech by social10
media platforms to determine whether legislation is in order.11
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF12
GEORGIA:13 23 LC 44 2230
H. R. 119
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(1) Creation of joint study committee. There is created the Joint Study Committee on
14
Censorship by Social Media Platforms.15
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of eight members as16
follows:17
(A) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members of the18
House of Representatives as members of the committee and shall designate one such19
member as cochairperson; and20
(B) The President of the Senate shall appoint four members of the Senate as members21
of the committee and shall designate one such member as cochairperson.22
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,23
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or24
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.25
(4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. The26
committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem27
necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform28
its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.29
(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.30
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided31
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.32
(B) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received33
by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are34
authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come35
from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and the Senate.36 23 LC 44 2230
H. R. 119
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(6) Report.
37
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that38
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the39
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to40
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.41
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for42
proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, subject to43
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.44
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of45
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.46
A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed47
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.48
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons may file with the Clerk49
of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate copies of the minutes50
of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.51
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2023.52