23 LC 46 0651S
H. R. 119 (SUB)
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The House Committee on Special Rules offers the following substitute to HR 119:
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Social Media Platforms and Accountability; and for1
other purposes.2
WHEREAS, censorship of speech constitutes an increasingly common and concerning3
practice by social media platforms; and4
WHEREAS, social media has an impact on youth mental health and self-esteem; and5
WHEREAS, bad experiences on social media may lead to negative body image issues and6
self-harm, especially with teen girls;7
WHEREAS, social media platforms have mostly failed to adopt acceptable use policies; and8
WHEREAS, social media may have a negative impact on issues of transparency and9
consumer data protection, and disclosures of internal policies and rules by social media10
platforms merit public scrutiny; and11
WHEREAS, the public's recourse to improper and inequitable treatment by social media12
platforms is far from robust; and13 23 LC 46 0651S
H. R. 119 (SUB)
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WHEREAS, foreign government influences and ownership of social media platforms may14
be, in certain instances, harmful to the interests of Georgians; and15
WHEREAS, members of the House of Representatives shall review social media's impact16
on youth health and self-esteem as well as issues surrounding censorship of speech by social17
media platforms to determine whether legislation is in order.18
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:19
(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee20
on Social Media Platforms and Accountability.21
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the22
House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of23
Representatives.24
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,25
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or26
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.27
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee28
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or29
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and30
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.31
(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.32
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided33
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.34
(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member35
of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds36
necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds37
appropriated to the House of Representatives.38 23 LC 46 0651S
H. R. 119 (SUB)
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(6) Report.39
(A) The committee shall adopt specific findings or recommendations that include40
suggestions for proposed legislation and the chairperson shall file a report of the same41
prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (B)42
of this paragraph.43
(B) A report shall be filed only if it has been approved prior to the date of abolishment44
specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so45
approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk46
of the House of Representatives.47
(C) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the48
House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu49
thereof.50
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2023.51