TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was called to testify before a U.S. House panel on March 23.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Montana lawmakers on Friday passed a first-in-the-nation bill to ban TikTok across the state.
The bill, which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, prohibits the use of TikTok on all personal devices and bars app stores from offering TikTok for downloads.
It would fine any entity violating the law $ 10,000 per violation, and awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. Members of Montana’s House voted 54-43 to give final approval to the bill, known as SB419.
“The governor will carefully consider any bill the legislature sends to his desk,” a Gianforte representative said, according to CNN.
Montana, since December, has been among the states and other jurisdictions barring the app, developed by Chinese parent company ByteDance, from government-owned devices.
See: Republicans seek new election rules in Montana to foil Democrat Tester’s re-election to U.S. Senate
The legislation marks the furthest step yet by a state government to restrict TikTok over perceived security concerns and comes as federal lawmakers call for a national ban of TikTok.
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