Good morning, it’s Friday, February 27, 2026. In today’s edition, the bipartisan push to tax social media companies; Indiana, Idaho advance immigration crackdowns; new polls in New York, Connecticut:
Top Stories
SOCIAL MEDIA: Lawmakers in at least nine states have introduced bills this year to tax social media companies. The bipartisan plans vary widely: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has proposed taxing digital ad revenue. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and lawmakers in Nebraska have proposed taxes based on the number of users a social media network has. And Utah Sen. Mike McKell (R) has proposed imposing a 4.7% sales tax on earnings from ad sales. (Pluribus News)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Colorado lawmakers are debating bipartisan legislation to require companies operating AI chatbots to “clearly and conspicuously” notify child users they are interacting with AI. The bill would prohibit platforms from offering rewards to increase engagement with children, and from creating sexually explicit content requested by a minor. (Colorado Sun)
IMMIGRATION: The Indiana Senate gave final approval to legislation requiring local governments to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The bill also levies punishments on employers who hire unauthorized workers. (State Affairs)
MORE: Idaho’s House Local Government Committee has approved legislation requiring local law enforcement officials to enter into agreements with ICE. (Idaho Capital Sun) The Maryland House has approved legislation restricting ICE from operating detention facilities in the state. (Baltimore Sun)
ELECTIONS: The Justice Department has sued Utah, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kentucky and New Jersey for access to state voter rolls, part of its ongoing legal campaign for complete and unredacted access to voter data. About 11 states, all governed by Republicans, have complied with data requests so far. (New York Times)
LGBTQ RIGHTS: A federal appeals court has upheld a 2023 Texas law restricting some public drag shows. The law prohibits drag performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain prosthetics on public property or in front of children. (Associated Press)
HEALTH CARE: The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission Board has voted to end coverage of GLP-1 drugs under state plans. At least 22,000 plan members are on GLP-1 drugs, costing the state $46 million annually. (State Affairs)
ENERGY: The Florida Senate has approved legislation increasing oversight and regulation of large-scale data centers. The bill would prohibit nondisclosure agreements between operators and local government, and establish new water permitting standards. A similar bill passed the House Commerce Committee on Thursday. (Florida Politics)
STADIUMS: The Illinois House Revenue Committee has advanced a bill to freeze property tax assessments at sites of mega projects, including a proposed stadium for the Chicago Bears in Arlington Heights. The bill would allow an annual payment to projects that invest more than $2 billion. (Capitol News Illinois) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has signed legislation creating the financing framework for a new Bears stadium in Hammond, Ind., just across the state line. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
NEW YORK: A new Marist Poll finds Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) leading Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) 50% to 33% in the race for governor. Hochul’s approval rating stands at 46%, the highest mark she’s hit in a Marist survey since October 2021. (Marist)
CONNECTICUT: A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll shows Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) leading state Rep. Josh Elliott (D) 57% to 13% in the Democratic primary. The poll showed Sen. Ryan Fazio (R) and former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) locked in a tight battle for the GOP nomination, 42% to 40%. (Hartford Courant)
CALIFORNIA: An independent expenditure committee funded by wealthy Silicon Valley executives are launching a $4.8 million television blitz backing San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s (D) campaign for governor. Mahan has raised almost $9.2 million in the four weeks since launching his campaign. (Los Angeles Times)
MICHIGAN: Gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson (R) is rolling out the first TV spot in a $10 million ad blitz aimed at bolstering his standing in the GOP primary. Johnson’s first ad ties himself to President Trump. (MLive)
TENNESSEE: Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R) won’t seek re-election after a decade in the top job, he said Thursday. McNally has served in the legislature since 1978, and in the Senate since winning election in 1986. (State Affairs)
By The Numbers
250: The number of bills Arizona lawmakers debated or voted on in a marathon 19-hour day that began early Wednesday afternoon. Lawmakers rushed to clear bills during crossover week, when legislation must clear its chamber of origin to be allowed to continue to the next chamber. (AZ Mirror)
5.98%: The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the United States as of Thursday, the first time mortgage rates have dipped below 6% since 2022. (Associated Press)
Off The Wall
Washington House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D) has issued an apology after he showed up intoxicated to a House Appropriations Committee meeting earlier this week. Fitzgibbon appeared to be sleeping during parts of the meeting, which wrapped up shortly after 10 p.m. (Seattle Times)
The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks will celebrate an iconic cultural institution in the city during a game on March 16, when they honor Magic City, a famed adult entertainment club. The team’s principal owner, Jami Gertz, helped produce a five-part docuseries on the club. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“I’ve learned something from everyone here, including my Republican friends on the other side. I even learned something from the senators.”
— Connecticut Rep. Mary Mushinsky (D), announcing her decision to step down after 46 years in the General Assembly. (CT Mirror)