The "First Amendment Preservation Act" aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 1-30-160, which establishes definitions and regulations regarding media reliability and bias monitors. The bill defines key terms such as "agency," "company," and "media reliability and bias monitor," specifying that the latter refers to organizations that evaluate news sources for factual accuracy and bias. The act prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with media reliability and bias monitors or with advertising agencies that utilize their services for advertising placements.

Additionally, the bill mandates that any company submitting bids for state advertising or marketing contracts must provide written certification confirming that they are not a media reliability and bias monitor and will not use such services. This requirement extends to existing contracts that are renewed or modified after the effective date of the act, which is set for July 1, 2026. The legislation is designed to ensure that state contracts remain free from potential bias introduced by media monitoring organizations.

Statutes affected:
04/01/2026: 1-30-160
Latest Version: 1-30-160