Attorney General Duties to Prevent Mis- & Dis-information

To prevent and combat the sharing and spreading of misinformation and disinformation, the attorney general is required to:

• Establish an initiative to encourage respectful engagement and discourse;
• Develop and share a curriculum to facilitate productive and honest conversations regarding statewide and national issues to help people find common ground; and
• Collaborate with organizations across the state to develop and update the materials that are used in connection with the curriculum.

The attorney general is also required to study how the internet and other media channels, including social media platforms, are used to share and spread misinformation and disinformation. In addition, the attorney general is required to review relevant state and federal constitutional provisions and federal laws and regulations to address preemption and the intersection of state and federal authority. The attorney general may invite experts to collaborate or consult with the attorney general or to provide other assistance to the attorney general in performing the duties specified in the bill.

The attorney general is required to publish a report of its findings and to submit the report to the judiciary committees of the senate and the house of representatives. The report must include recommendations for state legislation.

For the 2024-2025 state fiscal year, $150,000 is appropriated to the department of law for the implementation of the bill.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)