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Welcome to our weekly roundup of Pluribus News reporting, offered exclusively to our Members. If you'd rather not receive Stated, let us know.
In this week's edition:
IMMIGRATION
GOP backs bills to combat illegal immigration
By Humberto Sanchez
Legislation advancing in Republican-led legislatures aims to crack down on and discourage illegal immigration after a years-long surge that hit a new high in December.
The Iowa House passed a bill Tuesday that would make it a state crime for an individual previously denied admission to or deported from the United States to enter the state. Similar bills are being considered in Missouri and Arizona.
Meanwhile, a Texas law that has been blocked from taking effect, at least temporarily, would give state law enforcement the authority to arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing the border. The Georgia House recently adopted a measure to require law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) last week signed three bills aimed at stopping illegal immigration into the state.
Read the full story here.
IMMIGRATION
States aim to ease migrant integration
By Humberto Sanchez
Lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering bills to remove barriers that newly arrived migrants face in establishing themselves in their new communities.
Some of the new legislation is aimed at speeding migrants into the workforce, especially in states where job openings are plentiful. About half a dozen bills have been introduced this year to help migrants find work by changing licensure requirements.
Lawmakers in Georgia, Wisconsin and Indiana are considering bills to alter licensing laws to make it easier for foreign-trained doctors and nurses to practice in those states. A Maryland bill would eliminate proof-of-citizenship requirements for emergency medical workers.
Read the full story here.
MEDIA
The rush to save local journalism
By Austin Jenkins
Lawmakers are searching for ways to throw a life ring to the news industry, as business models implode and local news withers amid evaporating ad revenues, subscription struggles and corporate buyouts.
The ongoing attrition combined with growing concerns about the state of democracy, especially on the political left, has prompted a fresh look in some statehouses at ways to prop up the news business.
A California Senate committee held an informational hearing last week on ways to sustain journalism, including through tax credits or even a potential tax on digital ads, similar to what Maryland lawmakers adopted in 2021.
Bills in California, Illinois and New York would require major online platforms to remit payments to news organizations. Legislators are also proposing grants and other forms of support to aid local news.
Read the full story here.
HOUSING
The Utah housing plan other states are watching
By Sophie Quinton
Utah lawmakers recently gave final approval to what they call a first-in-the-nation loan program that aims to bring back starter homes.
Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has yet to sign the legislation, but he has said he’s “giddy” with excitement about it and that it could be a national model. The proposal has already caught the eye of governors and housing officials in other states.
“I love it. And my guess is it’s going to work, and it’s given us food for thought,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said last month after Cox touted the loan idea at a National Governors Association event.
State leaders across the country are scrambling for ways to boost the housing supply and bring down home prices and rents that have climbed beyond many families’ reach. If the Utah program works, it could be a new policy tool for helping people become homeowners.
Read the full story here.
TECHNOLOGY
Youth data privacy bills move in Md., Vt.
By Austin Jenkins
Lawmakers in Maryland and Vermont advanced youth data privacy legislation modeled after a first-in-the-nation California law that courts have blocked from taking effect.
The Maryland House and Senate last week passed separate Age-Appropriate Design Code bills on unanimous votes. The Vermont Senate on Tuesday advanced on a unanimous vote a revised version of the model legislation, which also needs sign-off in the House.
The votes signal fresh momentum for the coalition pushing AADC legislation in states after a similar effort in 2023 stalled after a barrage of tech industry opposition.
Read the full story here.
TECHNOLOGY
Minn. social media bill targets algorithms
By Austin Jenkins
The quest to regulate social media companies has spawned a unique approach in Minnesota, where legislators are considering a measure that would force platforms to change how they interact with kids and adults alike by requiring algorithmic overhauls.
The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee advanced an amended version of the bill Thursday, positioning it for a possible floor vote in the coming weeks.
Unlike social media bills in other states, the legislation does not apply exclusively to teenagers. The required changes would instead include all users, with a focus on forcing companies to alter their algorithms.
Read the full story here. And don't miss Austin's reporting on new California legislation that would allow for up to $1 million in damages for social media harms.
