Texas Governor just signed new Social Media Law targeting the ‘censorship’ of conservative speech.

In a move that has significant implications, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has just signed a bill that makes it illegal for social media companies to censor political speech.

In a 78-42 vote, the Texas House of Representatives voted to amend House Bill 20, which would now require social media platforms with more than 50 million monthly users in the U.S., to produce regular reports regarding removed content, create a complaint system, and disclose their content regulation procedures. The Bill was subsequently passed in the senate 17-14 and signed into law on Friday by Gov. Abbott.

Gov. Abbott had supported the law since the first version was proposed back in March. Stating in a news conference that "There is a dangerous movement by some social media companies to silence conservative ideas and values, This is wrong, and we will not allow it in Texas.”

The new law now allows state residents to sue social media platforms for the censorship of their political views.

State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Baytown, who authored the bill, said on the House Floor, “At this point, a small handful of social media sites drive the national narrative and have massive influence over the progress and developments of medicine and science, social justice movements, election outcomes and public thought.”

The law has already garnered much backlash as many say it is a clear violation of the constitution. Tech trade group, NetChoice, who are already suing Florida over a similar law, has called the Texas law “unconstitutional and Dangerous,” claiming that "This bill abandons conservative values, violates the First Amendment, and forces websites to host obscene, antisemitic, racist, hateful, and otherwise awful content” said by NetChoice President Steve DelBianco.

The law would still allow companies to restrict and remove content that is “offensively violent,” as well as criminal activity and violent threats. Notably, the bill will only allow a hate speech ban if it poses a clear and credible threat to a group or individual.