Pornhub restricted website access to everyone in Utah in response to a state law (SB-287) that took effect Wednesday. The Utah law requires porn websites to verify users’ ages before letting them access content. Requiring ID-based age verification before accessing an adult website puts users’ privacy at risk, and requiring it “without proper enforcement gives platforms the opportunity to choose whether or not to comply,” said adult actress Cherie DeVille in a video shown to Utahns who try to access Pornhub. “As we’ve seen in other states, this just drives traffic to sites with far fewer safety measures in place.” Identifying users by device is the best way to protect children, she said. A separate Utah law (SB-152) requiring age verification for social media platforms (see 2303240035) also took effect Wednesday. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed the age-verification bills in March. "Companies should be held responsible for knowingly distributing pornography to minors," said Cox. "The very least we can do as a society is to ask companies to verify the age of those viewing the pornography they produce and distribute. This unanimous, bipartisan legislation provides multiple ways to satisfy that requirement. However, I fully support PornHub’s decision to remove their content in Utah.”

The Colorado Senate voted 28-5 for a 988 bill that would include continuous appropriations to the mental health crisis hotline. The Senate amended HB-1236 Tuesday, so the bill must return to the House for a concurrence vote. Under existing law, the General Assembly must agree to a 988 appropriation annually.

The Colorado legislature passed a bill to make inmate calls free at state prisons and juvenile detention facilities starting July 1, 2025. The Senate voted 23-12 Wednesday for HB-1133. The House passed the measure last month (see 2304240053). If Gov. Jared Polis (D) signs the bill, Colorado will be the third state to make prison calls free, after Connecticut and California. “Colorado joins a growing list of cities and states that have put families first and make prison and jail communication free,” said Worth Rises Executive Director Bianca Tylek. “There are a handful of other states still considering this legislation this year, and we expect more in the future.” In the same news release, sponsor Rep. Judy Amabile (D) said the bill "is going to help people on the inside stay connected with their loved ones and communities.”

AT&T must amend an application seeking relief of carrier of last resort obligations due to “substantial incompleteness,” Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola ruled Wednesday in docket A.23-03-003: “As it stands, a prehearing conference will not be scheduled, and the application is at risk of dismissal.” AT&T failed to specify in what census blocks it wants relief or name affected communities, said the ALJ: The carrier has 30 days to amend its application. AT&T in a filing supporting its petition last month declared copper is dead (see 2304170055). AT&T will provide the requested information, said a company spokesperson: “We appreciate the Judge’s guidance and direction regarding AT&T’s request to begin the process for a fair transition from outdated, copper-based telephone networks and services to the modern communication technologies consumers demand."

The Florida legislature passed changes to the state telemarketing law that attorneys say would undercut class-action complaints under the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act. Senators voted 29-10 Tuesday for HB-761, which would narrow the FTSA’s definition of autodialer (see 2304260035). On Wednesday, the state House voted 115-0 for the Senate-passed SB-1418, which aims to support the state’s transition to next-generation 911. The bills need approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). The House also passed a comprehensive privacy bill with amendments Wednesday (see 2305030040).

Texas legislators unanimously supported extending a Sept. 1 sunset on USF support for small telcos until Sept. 1, 2033. The House voted 145-0 Wednesday for SB-1425 after the Senate last month voted 31-0. The bill still needs a signature from Gov. Greg Abbott (R). On Tuesday, the House passed a broadband bill (SB-1238) with amendments in a 132-7 vote. It would update Texas laws to declare a fiber preference and otherwise prepare for incoming federal dollars from NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program. Texas House members last week showed wide support for a constitutional amendment to create a state broadband fund (see 2304270056). The Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative applauded SB-1425 passage. "TSTCI appreciates the legislature’s efforts to keep a methodology in place that promotes accountability, and regulatory efficiency, in determining and adjusting [Texas USF] distributions to this segment of the industry," said TSTCI President Allen Hyer.

A New York Senate panel quickly cleared a social media bill and three others by voice vote at a livestreamed meeting Tuesday. The Internet and Technology Committee sent to the Finance Committee a bill (S-895) that would require social platforms to clearly post terms of service for users, including a description on how to flag content, in English and in New York state’s 12 most common non-English languages. Also, it would require companies to report to the attorney general on service terms, including how they define “hate speech or racism, extremism or radicalization, disinformation or misinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference,” how companies enforce policies and what steps they have taken. “Social media platforms have not taken appropriate steps to manage the spread of hate speech, racism and misinformation,” says the bill by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D). “Most do not even [provide] clear policies around enforcement, let alone clear reports on their enforcement process.” The committee sent to the floor S-6323 by Chair Kristen Gonzalez (D), which would allow identity theft victims to provide photo ID at retail stores in-person to recover their online accounts. Also, the panel sent to the floor S-2659 by Sen. Leroy Comrie (D), which would amend the state data breach law to require credit reporting agencies to disclose a breach within 15 days. And the committee cleared for floor vote S-5410 by Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (D) to require state agencies to maintain mobile friendly websites. Also Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee cleared a broadband bill (S-3133) by Sen. John Mannion (D). It would stop the New York transportation department from requiring surveys for proposed fiber deployments that use the state’s right of way.

Colorado lifted an 18-year-old municipal broadband ban. Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed SB-183 Monday to repeal many parts of a 2005 state ban. Local governments applauded the legislature's passing the bill last month (see 2304190048). “Colorado now has a clear path to achieving” Polis’s goal to connect households, “establishing a competitive economy … for generations to come," said Colorado Broadband Office Executive Director Brandy Reitter. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 43-20 Monday for a bill (HB-1306) that would allow elected officials to bar an individual from using the official’s private social media account for “any reason,” including bullying, harassment or intimidation.

Tennessee will raise its minimum broadband speed standard to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, from 10/1 Mbps. Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a broadband bill that would make that and other changes to broadband laws Friday. HB-1211 passed both legislative chambers unanimously last month (see 2304130043). Also Friday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill (SB-460) to exempt streaming and satellite video services from paying local franchise fees. Kansas approved a similar law last month (see 2304140045). In Vermont, the Senate passed a bill to extend a state telecom siting process by three years (see 2303230028). The House passed H-110 in March (see 2303230028) but must vote again to concur with a Senate amendment seeking a report on how to make it easier for municipalities and individuals to participate in the siting process.

California has authority over many communications types, the California Public Utilities Commission said in a scoping memo Friday in a proceeding on possible VoIP rules (docket R.22-08-008). “California’s Constitution specifically extends the Commission’s jurisdiction to companies engaged in ‘the transmission of telephone and telegraph messages,’” said the CPUC memo by assigned Commissioner John Reynolds. “This includes services delivered over any technology, including but not limited to, traditional copper lines, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, and mobile or fixed wireless radios.” The CPUC seeks to determine an appropriate regulatory framework for VoIP and if and how it should differ from that of other telephone technologies. Comments are due June 2, replies June 30. Industry earlier bristled at possible new regulations (see 2301240058).