A New York state privacy bill cleared the Senate and will go to the Assembly. Senators voted 41-19 Monday to approve S-365 by Consumer Protection Committee Chairman Kevin Thomas (D). The Assembly referred the bill to the Consumer Affairs Committee. In addition, the Senate voted 60-0 for a bill (S-6318) that would require the New York Public Service Commission to map wireless services around the state. The Senate passed both bills last year (see 2306090052). But they returned to the Senate after the Assembly didn’t take them up.

Kansas and Nebraska touted broadband grants Tuesday with Kansas awarding $3.9 million to seven organizations through the its Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. The effort supports expanding public Wi-Fi and distributing devices in unserved areas. Awardees include Kansas State University ($1.48 million), Mokan Communications (about $721,000) and the Wichita Library Foundation (about $289,000), the governor’s office said. Meanwhile, the Nebraska Public Service Commission said it would award about $31,000 to 28 applications using money from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. The projects, which received awards in a second round of CPF grants, are expected to bring broadband to about 1,640 unserved and 1,570 underserved locations, said the PSC: The projects have a Dec. 4, 2025, completion deadline.

Vermont will adopt a connections-based contribution plan for the state's USF. Under the bill that Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed Monday, Vermont will assess 72 cents monthly per retail access line, including VoIP and postpaid wireless. Also, the new law adds the 988 mental health hotline to a list of what state USF may support and repeals Vermont taxes on telephone personal property and alternative telephone gross revenue. Before approving H-657 last month, legislators removed a proposed fee structure for communications facilities using state right of way (see 2405100017).

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission should pause a rulemaking on incarcerated people’s communications services (IPCS) until the FCC completes its rulemaking that will implement the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, said ViaPath in comments Friday at the PUC. Due to the 2022 law, "regulation of all IPCS -- intrastate, interstate, and international -- is now within the jurisdiction of the FCC,” the IPCS provider said in docket 24R-0184T. With the FCC required to finish the rulemaking by January, it “would be administratively inefficient for the [PUC] to proceed without having the benefit of the final FCC ruling on the scope of state commission jurisdiction over IPCS," ViaPath said. Separately, Securus raised concerns with the PUC possibly expanding reporting requirements beyond data on phone calls and video service complaints. “Expanding the scope of the reporting … would result in the publication of information beyond that contemplated by [law] and which [IPCS] providers have legitimate interests in maintaining as confidential and proprietary," the company said.

Weighing changes to state video franchise rules, the California Public Utilities Commission scheduled four hearings on updating the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA) requirements. A 2021 state law required the DIVCA rulemaking (see 2306050051). A pair of in-person hearings is scheduled for Aug. 14 in Sacramento; two more will occur Sept. 5 in Monterey Park, California, the agency said Friday. Also, the CPUC will hold two virtual hearings Sept. 19, it said.

Colorado gave final approval for laws on 911 and privacy. On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed SB-139, which would create a 911 services enterprise within the Department of Regulatory Agencies that could impose a user fee of up to 50 cents monthly per 911 access connection. Revenue from the new fee, which would be separate and in addition to an existing 911 surcharge imposed by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, would fund 911 costs and expenses including statewide training, cybersecurity support, geographic information system programs, grants for public safety answering points and governing bodies and matching funds for 911 or emergency notification service grants. Also, Polis signed bills amending the Colorado Privacy Act to enhance protections for biometric identifiers (HB-1130) and children’s data (SB-41). The kids’ privacy bill would cover minors younger than 13. In addition, the bill would ban controllers from selling a minor’s data or using it for targeted advertising or profiling unless they obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Union workers authorized a strike at Altice in southeastern West Virginia, Communications Workers of America said Friday. The action gives union leaders the option of striking when the contract expires June 28 at 11:59 p.m., CWA said. The current four-year contract expired last month, but workers agreed to a two-month extension to allow more time for negotiations.

Kansas will spend $2.8 million on digital literacy, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said Thursday. The state awarded grants to 15 organizations, including libraries and higher educational institutions, through the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program, the governor’s office said. Under one project, the University of Kansas Center for Digital Inclusion will provide digital training to help 1,000 women apply for jobs and reintegrate into society after being incarcerated, the governor’s office said. In another project, Kansas State University Research and Extension and the West Plains Extension District will create a program addressing broadband accessibility for seniors, minorities, unskilled workers and people with disabilities. “These awards are going to community partners with deep experience and trusted relationships in the communities they serve,” Kansas Office of Broadband Development Director Jade Piros de Carvalho said.

The tech industry urged Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) to veto the state’s privacy bill. Vermont could be the first state to include a broad private right of action. That and other “outlier provisions” have led businesses to lobby Scott to kill the measure, a Wiley lawyer said Wednesday (see 2405290072). In a Thursday letter to Scott, the Computer & Communications Industry Association said it was concerned about differences between Vermont’s bill and other states’ privacy laws, such as “the inclusion of a private right of action, the definition of ‘sale’, the language included around targeted advertising, and data minimization principles.” Allowing consumers to sue businesses, “the measure would open the doors of Vermont’s courthouses to plaintiffs advancing frivolous claims with little evidence of actual injury,” CCIA wrote, adding that other states vest enforcement with their attorneys general. “We encourage you to resist signing legislation that poses significant compliance and constitutional concerns.” The legislature passed the bill (H-121) May 10 but hasn't sent it to Scott yet. Once the governor receives the bill, he will have five days to veto it or it will become law. Scott's office didn’t comment.

Colorado will be the fifth state with a right-to-repair law covering consumer electronics. Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed HB-1121 on Tuesday. Consumer Reports applauded. “In this legislative season we have seen Oregon and Colorado pass comprehensive right to repair laws that also cover parts pairing, and we hope to see further legislative action to prevent software from becoming a tool to enforce manufacturers’ monopolies on the repair process,” said CR Tech Policy Director Justin Brookman. Parts pairing is a manufacturer practice of using software to identify component parts through a unique identifier. Oregon made a similar law in March (see 2403270066. California, New York and Minnesota enacted digital right-to-repair laws previously. Also, Polis signed HB-1234 to indefinitely extend the state's high-cost support mechanism, which provides subsidies to a dozen rural telecom providers and is scheduled to sunset Sept. 1. The legislature passed the bill last month (see 2404220051).