Capitol to Capitol | March 17, 2026

Capitol to Capitol | March 17, 2026

Questions? Please use the email icon at left to contact NCSL's State-Federal Affairs Division.

NCSL Updates

NCSL Tracks Federal Implementation Timeline of SNAP Changes and State Responses

States across the nation are working to meet the new requirements for SNAP outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill by upgrading technology, strengthening program integrity measures and seeking flexibility so they can comply without disrupting food assistance for eligible households. Meanwhile, NCSL joined other state and local government organizations in urging Congress to adjust timelines and cost-sharing rules, arguing that states need more time and options to implement the changes responsibly. Read NCSL's breakdown: How States Are Responding to New SNAP Requirements.

Prediction Markets

Is placing money on a Super Bowl outcome a financial trade or a wager? It's a question legislators on both sides of the aisle are urgently asking, and the answer could cost states billions.

With more than 20 active lawsuits, one of them supported by a 38-state coalition, and a federal regulator poised to expand its authority, prediction markets have become one of the most consequential state sovereignty disputes in gaming and financial markets. Read NCSL's new brief, Prediction Markets: A New Frontier in State Regulatory Authority, for a nonpartisan overview of the legal landscape, current state actions and key policy levers available as this fight intensifies in 2026.

Congressional Updates

Children's Online Safety Bills Advance

After a lengthy markup, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, Sammy's Law and the App Store Accountability Act to the full House.

Before the markup began, NCSL sent a notified the committee that certain proposals in the bills would preempt more protective state laws and urged members to collaborate with state legislators to uphold the principles of federalism while ensuring meaningful safeguards for children and families.

The Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (HR 7757) is an omnibus package combining several previously introduced measures, including a revised version of the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill advanced on a party-line vote after Democrats objected to changes made to the KOSA language. The Senate version imposes a "duty of care" standard requiring platforms to proactively design products to mitigate harms. The House bill removes this standard, substituting a requirement that companies maintain "reasonable policies" for addressing harms, which critics argue is easier to evade.

The House bill contains broad preemption language, potentially limiting states' ability to enact stronger protections.

Key provisions of the House bill include:

• Requiring covered online platforms to adopt "reasonable policies" to address specified harms to minors but leaving out a requirement to mitigate against "addiction-like behaviors" and "mental health disorders."
• Mandating parental tools and default safety settings for known minors.
• Limiting targeted advertising to minors and restricting addictive design features.
• Imposing age-verification requirements for certain categories of online content.
• Including new disclosure and safeguard requirements for AI chatbots interacting with minors.

The Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act is now eligible for consideration on the House floor, where amendments, particularly on duty of care and preemption, are likely. If passed by the House, the bill would face a difficult conference with the Senate, where bipartisan authors are unlikely to accept the weaker House standards without significant revisions.

Sammy's Law (HR 2657) requires large social media platforms to allow parents and minors to use FTC-registered third-party safety software. The software would be permitted to monitor a child's activity and interactions; access limited user data to detect severe harms such as self-harm, sexual exploitation, drug dealing or suicide risk; and alert parents or guardians when a child appears to be experiencing or is at foreseeable risk to experience one of the 15 harms outlined in the legislation. It includes registration, security and data-minimization requirements for software providers and was approved by the committee with bipartisan support.

Because it avoids a duty of care framework and relies on opt-in tools, the bill has generated less First Amendment opposition than KOSA-style proposals. However, some committee members expressed privacy concerns associated with third-party access to kids' data and communications as well as stifling teen autonomy. Sammy's Law includes limited federal preemption language designed to prevent states from imposing conflicting technical requirements on platforms regarding third-party safety software access. Currently, there is no companion legislation in the Senate.

The App Store Accountability Act (HR 3149) would require app stores to verify users' age before they use an app, regardless of which app they intend to use. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced a companion bill (S 1586), but it has not advanced out of committee. Senate hesitation stems in part from recent federal court decisions blocking comparable state-level app store age-verification laws on First Amendment grounds.

Senate Passes Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act

The bill, known as COPPA 2.0, amends the original act of 1998 to strengthen protections against the online collection, use and disclosure of children's and teens' personal information. The most material change is that COPPA 2.0, co-sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Maine) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), expands coverage beyond children under 13 years old to include teens up to 16, prohibiting companies from collecting their personal information without consent. The legislation also bans targeted advertising to kids and teens and requires direct notice if data is being stored or transferred outside of the U.S. It creates an eraser mechanism for parents and kids by requiring companies to permit users to delete information when technologically feasible. Both the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general retain enforcement authority under the bill.

The legislation establishes a federal floor while preserving states' authority to enact stronger protections for children and teens.

Despite overwhelming bipartisan Senate approval, the bill's outlook in the House remains uncertain given that chamber's more divided approach to children's online privacy and ongoing concerns about scope, enforcement and preemption.

Administration Updates

Proposed Rule Outlines Workforce Pell Implementation Requirements

An Education Department proposal would affect the implementation of eligibility and accountability requirements for Workforce Pell programs. The proposal addresses program eligibility and performance requirements, including program length parameters and measures tied to completion, job placement and earnings outcomes.

The department seeks comments on several implementation questions, including whether Workforce Pell programs may use written arrangements with ineligible institutions and organizations, and how governors of two states may enter into bilateral agreements for programs serving students across state lines.

The rule asks for feedback on how the program's value-added earnings metric should be calculated. Questions include how cohorts should be defined, whether students enrolled at an institution of higher education when earnings are measured should be included or excluded, and whether an interim earnings calculation may be needed during early implementation.

Public comments on the proposed rule are due April 8. Read the proposed rule.

Executive Order on Combatting Cybercrime

To combat cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes targeting American families, businesses and critical infrastructure, the order directs the federal government to:

• Disrupt and dismantle transnational cybercrime networks, including those operating scam centers abroad.
• Improve coordination across federal agencies responsible for law enforcement, sanctions, diplomacy and cybersecurity.
• Strengthen information sharing and operational support with nonfederal partners, including state and local governments.
• Return stolen funds to victims, where possible, through asset seizure and forfeiture mechanisms.

The White House also released an accompanying fact sheet further outlining the goals and requirements of the order.

NCSL policy supports many of the order's recommendations, including collaboration among federal, state and local government and private industry to develop policies and practices that prevent, curtail and stop fraud. NCSL also supports providing fraud victims some options for relief and recovery.

NCSL continues to urge Congress and the administration to support the long-term reauthorization of the state and local cybersecurity grant program to assist states with combatting cyber threats and maintaining overall statewide cyber readiness.

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