Good morning, it’s Thursday, March 6, 2025. In today’s edition, Utah sides with social media companies over app stores; Wyoming requires ultrasounds before abortions; U.S. Rep. McBath moves toward Georgia governor bid:
Top Stories
SOCIAL MEDIA: Utah lawmakers have given final approval to a first-in-the-nation law requiring app stores verify user ages. The bill is a big win for social media companies like Meta, Snap and X, placing the onus for age verification on app store owners Apple and Google. The bill would allow parents to sue for damages on behalf of their children. (Pluribus News)
ABORTION: The Wyoming legislature has overridden Gov. Mark Gordon’s (R) veto of legislation requiring women seeking medication abortion to get an ultrasound first. Wyoming’s ban on medication abortions is on hold pending a legal challenge before the state Supreme Court. (Associated Press)
IMMIGRATION: The North Carolina Senate has approved legislation directing state agencies to work more closely with federal immigration authorities. The bill directs four agencies, including the Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Investigation and the corrections department, to determine the legal status of those in custody. (Raleigh News & Observer)
PUBLIC HEALTH: Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) has signed legislation banning local jurisdictions from implementing face mask requirements, including during future pandemics. The law will take immediate effect under an emergency provision. (Idaho Statesman) The South Carolina Senate is advancing legislation to ban vaccine mandates in future pandemics. (SC Daily Gazette)
HEALTH CARE: The North Dakota House has approved legislation capping the price of insulin at $25 for a 30-day supply. The bill also caps costs of insulin-related supplies at $25. The Senate is scheduled to take the bill up when they return to session. (Fargo Forum)
EDUCATION: The North Carolina Senate has approved legislation requiring public school districts to restrict the use of cell phones in schools. The bill would ban phones during class time. (NC Newsline) The Georgia House approved a bill banning cell phone use during the school day for kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
GUN POLITICS: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) used his State of the State address to call on lawmakers to make changes to the state’s red flag laws, approved in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. DeSantis said red flag laws represent a “huge due process violation” and urged lawmakers to shift the burden of proof to the state. (WUSF)
WORKFORCE: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has signed an executive order streamlining the process for state government agencies to hire recently-fired federal workers. Pennsylvania agencies have about 5,600 vacant positions; there are about 104,000 federal employees working in the commonwealth. (Harrisburg Patriot-News)
In Politics & Business
GEORGIA: U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D) has launched an exploratory committee to begin raising money for a potential run for governor in 2026. She’s expected to launch her campaign in the coming weeks. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
CALIFORNIA: State chief service officer Josh Fryday (D) said Wednesday he would run for lieutenant governor next year. Fryday, an ally of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), joins state Sen. Steve Bradford (D), former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, Sen. Brian Dahle (R), Minority Leader Brian Jones (R) and Treasurer Fiona Ma (D) in the all-party primary. (Sacramento Bee)
UTAH: State unions will begin collecting signatures for a proposed ballot initiative to repeal a new law barring public employee unions from collective bargaining. Unions will need to collect 140,748 valid signatures throughout 15 of the state’s 29 counties to qualify for the ballot in just 30 days. (Salt Lake Tribune)
IDAHO: The House State Affairs Committee has approved a resolution seeking a ballot measure to place the regulation of “psychoactive substances” solely under the legislature’s authority. The measure is meant to preempt a possible ballot measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana. (Idaho Press)
By The Numbers
36: The number of executive orders Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) has signed in his first two months in office. That’s more than his three most recent predecessors signed in their first full years in office. (Indianapolis Star)
1 in 250,000: The odds of winning a $1 million lottery prize in Oregon’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Raffle, the best odds of such a big jackpot in the state. Only 250,000 $10 tickets will be sold; the game has sold out every year since it was added in 2009. (Oregonian)
Off The Wall
A dozen Massachusetts legislative committees failed to hold a single hearing or consider any bills last year. Committee chairs earn as much as $44,862 in additional pay for their roles, even if they don’t bother to meet at all. (Boston Globe)
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) lives in his own home, rather than the state’s Governor’s Mansion. Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell (D) has introduced a bill to allow the mansion to be used by legislative workers with disabilities if a governor decides to live elsewhere. But doing so would require work — the state Department of Administration says the mansion is in such disrepair that it would cost millions to fix. (Daily Montanan)
Quote of the Day
“You cannot be the governor of Massachusetts without being a big fan of Dunkin’.”
— Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D), appearing on “Late Night” with Seth Meyers. (Boston Globe)