DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Senate has passed a bill to deny future tax breaks for tech companies that censor speech on social media.
Republicans say it would protect free speech, while Democrats say it would face legal challenges and hurt the state's image with businesses.
The bill passed on party lines 30-17, and now heads to the House.
It comes after Twitter permanently suspended former President Donald Trump when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
The Senate bill removes tax breaks for tech companies that interfere with "constitutionally protected" speech online. It also applies to companies such as Amazon if they prevent access to protected merchandise.
The Senate bill also prohibits state and local contracts with those companies.
It differs from a similar bill in the House that would strip state and local tax breaks from companies that block social media comments specifically from Iowans who are elected to office or are political candidates.