Florida Senate – 2025 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2502 Ì743606
Section 121. In order to implement appropriations for state agencies in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, a state agency may not use state funds to contract with an advertising agency or other contractor who acts as or uses the services of media reliability and bias monitors. The term “media reliability and bias monitor” means any contractor whose primary or principal function is to rate or rank news and information services for the factual accuracy of their content, whether the content is published online, in print, by audio, or digitally, or by broadcasting via radio, television, cable, streaming service, or any other way news is delivered to the public; or to provide ratings or a subjective evaluation of news and information services regarding misinformation, bias, adherence to journalistic standards, or ethics. The term includes, but is not limited to, organizations that engage in fact checking. The term does not include any contractor that rates media outlets for audience size, viewership, and demographic information; or that monitors media outlets for the purpose of compiling press or video clippings or aggregating news sources for the purpose of public relations and public awareness. This section expires July 1, 2026.
