The National Conference of State Legislatures writes about what State Legislatures passed in 2025. They created categories:

• Infrastructure Regulation
• Critical Infrastructure Protections
• State Broadband Funding
• Help for Rural and Low-Income Consumers

With BEAD funding still looming large and somewhat unpredictably, I think it’s instructive to see what’s happening in other areas. We can learn a lot from what’s working (and what’s not) in other places.

There were also some predictions for 2026…

States may face continued uncertainties over federal broadband policy in 2026. One area of interest: BEAD non-deployment funds. This money, which remains after infrastructure deployment funds have been allocated, could be used for workforce development, mapping and other broadband activities. Another federal development to follow will be congressional efforts to modernize the Universal Service Fund. Infrastructure issues such as permitting and pole attachments likely will see continued state action in the new year, especially as BEAD implementation progresses.

As states receive notification that their broadband plans have been approved, they will need to work to comply with a new federal requirement for states to approve or deny applications submitted by subgrantees within 90 days “to the extent permitted by state law.” Plus, states will need to work to meet the BEAD program’s statutory four-year construction deadline.

Finally, as AI and data centers utilize broadband infrastructure, state legislators may continue to introduce legislation relating to the facilities’ energy, environmental and economic development issues.