Bills meant to protect kids online advanced in multiple state legislatures this week. On Wednesday, the Vermont Senate unanimously passed a children’s privacy bill (S-289) requiring an age-appropriate design code. It will go to the House. The same day in Illinois, the House Consumer Protection Committee voted 9-0 to advance a kids’ social media bill (HB-5380) that would require large social media platforms to make application programming interfaces (API) available so that third-party software providers can create tools for parents to manage their children’s activity on the platform. And in Alabama, the Senate Judiciary Committee cleared the House-passed HB-164 with a short amendment. The bill would require a reasonable age-verification method to restrict those younger than 18 from accessing pornographic websites. On Tuesday, Alabama’s Senate Fiscal Responsibility Committee cleared a privacy bill (SB-213) that would require data brokers to register with the state. A Pennsylvania House committee that day advanced a social media bill requiring age verification (see 2403190050).

Maine lawmakers passed a telemarketing bill this week that would require telephone solicitors, before calling a consumer, to use the FCC’s reassigned numbers database to verify that the consumer’s number wasn't reassigned. The House passed LD-2234 Tuesday and the Senate did so Wednesday. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) will next consider the measure.

New Jersey regulators renewed Altice’s cable TV franchise for seven years in an order released Thursday. Board of Public Utilities commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the statewide franchise renewal during a Wednesday meeting. Altice’s Cablevision “has complied or is ready to comply with all applicable rules and regulations imposed by or pursuant to State and federal law as preconditions for engaging in the proposed cable television operations,” said the order in docket CE23120919. The company “has sufficient financial and technical capacity, meets the legal, character and other qualifications necessary to construct, maintain and operate the necessary installations, lines and equipment, and is capable of providing the proposed service in a safe, adequate and proper manner,” the board said.

The telecom industry continued to raise concerns about a Minnesota broadband safety and workforce bill. SF-4742 would set aside a portion of federal broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program funding for companies that agree to workforce “best practices” including payment of prevailing wages and annual skills training. At a livestreamed Wednesday meeting, the Minnesota Senate Energy Committee amended the bill and voted 8-6 to advance it to the Agriculture Committee. The committee delayed voting on the bill Monday after multiple senators and the telecom industry raised concerns that it would slow high-speed internet expansion (see 2403180048). Sponsor Sen. Jennifer McEwan (D) said she had “productive” talks with stakeholders during the previous 48 hours, leading to a Wednesday amendment with “more inclusive language.” There still isn't “perfect agreement," said McEwan, but talks will continue. The amendment doesn’t resolve the Minnesota Cable Communications Association’s concerns, testified the association’s counsel, Anthony Mendoza. Then "this bill still has more work to do," responded Sen. Andrew Mathews (R), who voted no on clearing the legislation. Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen (R) also opposed the bill, saying the state should have a “level playing field” when seeking grants. The Wireless ISP Association opposed SF-4742 in a Wednesday letter to the committee. The bill’s proposed changes to state broadband law “will significantly impair WISPA members’ ability to compete for grant dollars, will delay important broadband expansion projects, and will put increased strain on an already challenging workforce availability landscape,” the association wrote.

The Maine legislature approved a telecom bill Tuesday that would allow the Maine Public Utilities Commission to designate wireless companies as eligible telecom carriers for the federal Lifeline program. Like some states, Maine currently relies on the FCC to designate mobile phone providers as ETCs. The bill (LD-2193) needs Gov. Chris Sununu's (R) signature. Florida's legislature passed a similar bill earlier this month (see 2403050070).

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed 911 legislation, HB-1092, which would increase South Dakota’s 911 fee on monthly phone bills to $2, from $1.25, the governor’s office said Tuesday. The legislature passed the bill earlier this month (see 2403060026).

The California Public Utilities Commission again delayed votes on an AT&T enforcement item and another proposal to make a foster youth program permanent. Both were scheduled for Thursday’s meeting, but staff postponed them until the April 18 meeting, said a CPUC hold list Tuesday. CPUC President Alice Reynolds previously asked to address the AT&T item at a Feb. 15 meeting (see 2402150067). It would deny the carrier’s corrective action plan explaining how it will correct failures and improve service after failing to meet the state’s out-of-service repair interval standard in 2021. In addition, the CPUC originally planned a Feb. 15 vote on the foster youth proposal but twice postponed it. Earlier this month, the agency received a dire warning from the foster youth pilot program’s administrator, iFoster (see 2403110042), which said the current draft would create a program “destined to fail.”

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) approved a bill aimed at removing restrictions on leasing dark fiber. Pillen signed LB-61 Monday. The new law allows public power utilities to lease dark fiber and work with ISPs providing high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas.

A Pennsylvania privacy bill passed the House in a 139-62 vote Monday. Microsoft supports the comprehensive measure (HB-1201), which would be enforced solely by the state attorney general and includes a 60-day right to cure (see 2309060060). The bill will go to the Senate.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission granted applications for eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation to Terracom, TruConnect, Infiniti Mobile and T-Mobile’s Assurance Wireless. All four companies sought ETC designation for the limited purpose of offering Lifeline services in Wyoming, according to last week's orders, which were released Monday.