REP. PATTERSON’S STATEMENT ON HOUSE BILL 186

(Austin, TX) – For the last several years, I have been fighting big tech on behalf of Texas children. The sad reality is that both ER visits for self harm and suicide rates for teens are at record levels. Our kids are harming and killing themselves at a clip we’ve never seen before in this country, and it’s a direct result of what the US Surgeon General said was as addictive as cigarettes: social media.

I’ve been a part of two interim committees on this subject and have fought for and filed legislation to address the issue – against the seemingly insurmountable big tech lobbyists and their billionaire owners.

This session, I filed HB 186, the boldest bill in the nation to protect kids from social media, the most harmful product they have legal access to here. It passed the Texas House with broad bipartisan support. In the Senate, we found an incredible champion for kids, Sen. Adam Hinojosa, who worked tirelessly to advance the bill through the process – again, with bipartisan support.

Over my four sessions, I’ve leamed this place is designed to kill legislation. And the best politicians kill bills without their fingerprints on it at all. I’ve had bills die at various points, some not even making it out of the gate and at least one bill which made it all the way through only to find a veto on the Governor’s desk.

HB 186 is – by far – the biggest disappointment of my career. I felt the weight of an entire generation of kids who’ve had their mental health severely handicapped as a result of the hams of social media. And then there’s the others – the parents of Texas kids who’ve died as a result of a stupid social media “challenge” or by suicide after being pulled down the dangerous rabbit holes social media uses to hook their users, addict them on their products, and drive them to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. And finally, there’s the perfectly happy and healthy teens in Texas today, who will find themselves slowly falling off the edge before the legislature meets again in 2027.

There was no bill filed this session that would have protected more kids in more ways than this one. HB 186 falling to pass this session means Ive failed these lads and their farilies. At least for now. It’s devastating, but I’m not done, not by a long shot. My purpose in being bere, in this body and with this awesome responsibility, is to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Even against billionaires and their tactics.

2027 is coming.