 Tabbatha Urbanski gives emotional testimony in support of HF1289. Sponsored by Rep. Zack Stephenson, right, it would require social media platforms to post a mental health warning label and timer notifications. Urbanski’s 17-year-old son died of an accidental drug overdosed caused by pills he purchased on Snapchat. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
Tabbatha Urbanski planned her son’s 18th birthday celebration and funeral the same week.
Social media fueled his depression and was the avenue he used to connect with a drug dealer. Holding back tears Thursday, she described how he battled addiction. He was excited about his future after completing rehab, but was struggling on the day he died. He bought from a dealer on Snapchat what he thought was Percocet, but it was fentanyl.
She found him dead on his bed the following morning.
“I have to live with that picture of my baby boy in my mind for the rest of my life,” she told the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.
Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) sponsors HF1289 to require social media platforms to have a warning label and notify the user about the amount of time they’ve spent on it every 30 minutes.
Receiving committee approval, the bill was sent to the House Health Finance and Policy Committee. Read more
WATCH ▶️ Thursday's commerce committee hearing on the bill
WATCH ▶️ Wednesday's news conference on HF1289
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