Both the Assembly and Senate Education Committees passed out bills seeking to address the “fake news” phenomenon by educating students to be critical consumers of all kinds of media.
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D- Santa Barbara) authored SB 203, which seeks to promote “thoughtful, safe, and strategic uses of online and other media resources and education on how to apply critical thinking skills when consuming and producing media in any form.” The bill passed out of committee on a 5-2 vote.
SB 135, a similar measure by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Davis), also passed out of committee on a party line vote of 5-2. CNPA testified in support of both measures, commenting that the Legislature is wise to use more speech to fight speech it doesn’t like, as opposed to creating regulation of speech.
The Assembly Education Committee approved a similar measure by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles). AB 155 left the committee on a bipartisan 7-0 vote.
