Colorado House Fails to Override Governor's Veto on Social Media Bill

Efforts to override Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ veto of a bipartisan social media regulation bill failed after the state House declined to take up the override vote, despite the Senate's overwhelming 29-6 vote in favor of an override. The bill, which aimed to require social media platforms to ban users involved in illegal activities and cooperate more closely with law enforcement, was designed to protect children from online harms such as drug sales and sexual exploitation. While the bill had broad bipartisan support and backing from various public institutions, critics, including Polis, argued it infringed on First Amendment rights and forced private companies to act as law enforcement. The House's decision to delay the override vote until after the session's end effectively killed the effort, highlighting ongoing tensions between the legislature and the governor while sparing Polis the embarrassment of a rare veto override. Sponsors indicated intentions to revisit the issue in future legislative sessions. The failed override underscores increasing legislative resistance to gubernatorial authority and the challenges of balancing public safety with constitutional freedoms.