FSC will host a members' briefing on December 4, addressing legislative efforts for industry rights at both state and federal levels. The discussion will cover updates on global age-verification laws, legal battles in Texas, Utah, and Louisiana, as well as anticipated federal and state bills for 2024. The briefing will also delve into ongoing efforts against banking discrimination and provide members with opportunities to participate in the advocacy. Register for the event here. 

Most state legislatures are either out of session or in recess right now, but many have already started gearing up for 2024. As of today, there are 11 age verification mandates on deck for the new year, including three more states where legislators announced or pre-filed bills in the last month and the re-introduction of a federal bill that failed last year. The FSC team has also been preparing for 2024 and the new crop of bills attacking our industry. We’ve spent the last several months planning our legal and legislative strategy, which we invite you to learn more about at upcoming members-only events and January’s FSC Summit. We’ve also updated our bill tracker to make it easier to follow the latest developments. Read more here.

Voting for the Free Speech Coalition’s Board of Directors election is open November 28 – December 5, 2023. 

This year, there are eight Board seats up for election. The candidates for those seats include eight incumbent Board Directors and four member-nominated candidates. You must vote for eight candidates. Each elected member will serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2024. 

All FSC members in good standing will receive an email with a unique voting link on November 28. It is important that as many members as possible participate. If you don't plan to vote, please click on the voting link in the email and choose "Abstain" to avoid receiving reminders. If you haven't received an email with your unique link, please reach out to [email protected]. To learn more about the nominees, visit our blog. 

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has extended the "administrative" stay to a "merits" based one regarding our preliminary injunction in Texas. While this grants the court more time for a comprehensive ruling, the practical implications remain unchanged—Texas retains the ability to initiate legal action against platforms lacking adequate age-verification, although they have refrained from doing so during the case. It's crucial to recognize that the ongoing litigation revolves around whether Texas can enforce the law while larger constitutional issues are under court evaluation. Platforms contacted by Texas, Louisiana, Utah, or any state with an age-verification law should promptly reach out to FSC for assistance. 

FSC has established relationships with three new banks interested in providing business banking services to our industry. If you are looking for new (or backup) checking or savings accounts, please reach out directly to Alison ([email protected]) for an introduction!