Gov. Polis vetoes social media duty to report bill

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A measure that could have created a streamlined process for law enforcement agencies to contact social media platforms will not become law for now.

Governor Jared Polis vetoed the proposal, House Bill 1255 “Social Media Duty to Report & Search Warrants,” that the Colorado House and Senate narrowly passed earlier this month.

That process would have included a staffed hotline to receive and respond to questions about search warrants, acknowledge the receipt of a search warrant and provide updates on search warrant compliance.

A social media company would also have 24 hours to comply with search warrants.

Polis cited balancing social media safety concerns with free speech rights and the nature of social media platforms as common carriers.

In the veto letter, the governor said that this bill conflicts with another bill he signed into law in March, requiring a 72-hour response, adding in part, “Moving from 72 hours to 24 hours would also move Colorado out of alignment with other states, including California, who have established a 72-hour response requirement for law enforcement warrants.”

Read the full response from Polis here.