This week, the House passed HF 2598 which establishes a new crime of looting. I ran this bill on the floor and was happy to see it pass unanimously. Looting is breaking in and stealing from a business, vehicle, or other structure by someone acting in joint criminal conduct with another person or a group. People choose to live in Iowa because it is a safe place to live. Tough-on-crime policies can help ensure that our communities remain safe.
This week we also passed a bill through the House to help parents and kids navigate the ever-changing world of social media. I introduced legislation last session, and I am glad that it is being addressed this year. As social media has gotten more popular, we’ve seen the mental health of children decline. Social media can have negative impacts on kids’ self-esteem, result in cyberbullying, and expose kids to inappropriate content. Right now, it’s tough for parents to keep up with all the new and trending social media apps.
HF 2255 would require social media apps to get parental permission before anyone under the age of 18 could create an account on their platform. Under this bill, it would be against the law for social media companies to gather data on kids without permission from parents. This bill puts parents back in the driver’s seat when it comes to their kids’ data and the impact social media can have on their mental health.
