Senate approves social media protections bill; sponsor moves it forward despite privacy and enforcement concerns

The Colorado Senate passed Senate Bill 86 on Feb. 26, 2025, a measure described on the floor as establishing certain requirements for social media companies and protections for users.

Senator Doherty moved passage of the bill. Senator Gonzales spoke in opposition, saying she shared the bill’s public-safety goals but was concerned the measure did not adequately address mechanisms for enforcing warrants and existing legal remedies. “What breaks my brain about this bill is the fact that warrants are not being honored when by social media companies today,” Gonzales said, and she urged sponsors to continue conversations while balancing other considerations.

The clerk announced the vote as 28 ayes, 5 noes, 1 excused and 1 vacant; the transcript lists the no votes as Senators Gonzales, Henrikson, Winter, Baisley and the Minority Leader. The bill sponsor and other proponents did not expand on enforcement mechanics on the floor in the captured remarks.

The floor record includes the bill title read into the record and the vote tally; it does not contain the bill text or details about how the measure would change corporate obligations, timelines for compliance, or penalties. The transcript does show senators asking for additional conversation outside the floor debate on warrant compliance and judicial remedies.