On Monday, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a bill that would make it illegal to knowingly advertise or distribute false news on a newspaper, website or social media platform.
The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 39-8, will now head to the Senate, where it will likely face a filibuster.
Republican Gov.
Eric Greitens has been an outspoken supporter of the bill, and on Wednesday, he told reporters that it is not a law against free speech.
He said it would only apply to a news outlet that was “disputed by the media,” a statement he repeated in a press conference on Wednesday.
The measure will likely fail in the Senate.
A similar bill, introduced by state Rep. Scott Lamm, was blocked by Gov.
Jay Nixon in February.
The Associated Press first reported the new measure on Monday.