Madyson Fitzgerald

Madyson Fitzgerald

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Madyson Fitzgerald is a national content producer for States Newsroom. A Virginia native, Madyson has worked with a number of local news organizations including the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Henrico Citizen. While earning a degree in journalism and leadership studies at the University of Richmond, she contributed to The Collegian, the school’s independent newspaper. Her work there, ranging from campus issues regarding race to university donors with controversial pasts, earned her regional awards through the Society of Professional Journalists.

Your personal data might set your grocery prices. States aim to crack down.
Stateline

Your personal data might set your grocery prices. States aim to crack down.

Mar 27, 2026
Madyson Fitzgerald
One online grocery shopper got charged $3.99 for a box of Wheat Thins, while another — buying from the same store at the same time — got charged $4.89. A consumer watchdog detected this price discrepancy during an investigation last...
Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials
Stateline

Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials

Mar 06, 2026
Madyson Fitzgerald
As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities. Lawmakers in at least 11 states — Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New...
Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states
Stateline

Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states

Feb 24, 2026
Madyson Fitzgerald
After years of states pushing legislation to accelerate the development of data centers and the electric grid to support them, some legislators want to limit or repeal state and local incentives that paved their way. President Donald Trump also has...
As AI-generated fake content mars legal cases, states want guardrails
Stateline

As AI-generated fake content mars legal cases, states want guardrails

Jan 26, 2026
Madyson Fitzgerald
Last spring, Illinois county judge Jeffrey Goffinet noticed something startling: A legal brief filed in his courtroom cited a case that did not exist. Goffinet, an associate judge in Williamson County, looked through two legal research systems and then headed...
States will keep pushing AI laws despite Trump’s efforts to stop them
Stateline

States will keep pushing AI laws despite Trump’s efforts to stop them

Dec 12, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
State lawmakers of both parties said they plan to keep passing laws regulating artificial intelligence despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to stop them. Trump signed an executive order Thursday evening that aims to override state artificial intelligence laws. He said...
North Carolina becomes latest state to offer residents help with online skills
Stateline

North Carolina becomes latest state to offer residents help with online skills

Nov 17, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
North Carolina published statewide digital skills standards last month that identify key knowledge and abilities for residents and will soon launch an online course, joining a number of states that are hoping to strengthen digital literacy. The North Carolina Digital...
Data center growth drives locals to fight for more say
Stateline

Data center growth drives locals to fight for more say

Nov 17, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
When local activist Frank Arcoleo found out over the summer that a data center was coming to his neighborhood in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he said he was furious. There’d been no votes or public hearings. The first phase of the data...
Despite widespread interest, only 3 states passed license plate reader laws this year
Stateline

Despite widespread interest, only 3 states passed license plate reader laws this year

Oct 10, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
Lawmakers in at least 16 states this year introduced bills to regulate the use of automated license plate readers responsible for collecting large amounts of data on drivers across the country. But just three states — Arkansas , Idaho and...
West Virginia nearly achieved universal broadband. Then Trump changed the rules.
Stateline

Fewer households, businesses will get high-speed internet under revamped federal plan

Sep 22, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald Amelia Ferrell Knisely
LEFT HAND, W. Va. — The residents of Roane County, West Virginia, enjoy living among the rolling mountains and winding, two-lane roads. Situated between Charleston and Parkersburg, two of the state’s largest cities, the rural county is known for its...
California, New York could become first states to enact laws aiming to prevent catastrophic AI harm
Stateline

California, New York could become first states to enact laws aiming to prevent catastrophic AI harm

Sep 10, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
California and New York could become the first states to establish rules aiming to prevent the most advanced, large-scale artificial intelligence models — known as frontier AI models — from causing catastrophic harm involving dozens of casualties or billion-dollar damages...
Comprehensive data privacy laws go into effect in 8 more states this year
Stateline

Comprehensive data privacy laws go into effect in 8 more states this year

Aug 28, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
This year, comprehensive privacy laws are going into effect in eight states to regulate how businesses handle digital information and to give consumers more protections over their personal data. The laws in Delaware, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey...
With more self-driving cars on the road, states put more rules in place
Stateline

With more self-driving cars on the road, states put more rules in place

Aug 12, 2025
Madyson Fitzgerald
Self-driving vehicle technology continues to advance, prompting a wave of liability and safety regulations from state lawmakers. This year, lawmakers in Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and the District of Columbia enacted legislation to regulate driverless vehicles, according to a database...