States Float New Taxes on Digital Ads, Social Media, Data Mining

Litigation by tech giants targeting Maryland’s first-in-the-nation tax on revenue from online advertising hasn’t dampened other states’ interest in taxing the digital economy.

Legislative sessions are still getting started, but already bills have been introduced in Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, and New York to impose new levies on e-commerce companies. Lawmakers and legislative analysts say the number of states with active proposals could easily double as frustrations mount over tech companies’ untaxed billions. Any shrinkage in state treasuries also could drive legislative action.

If the bills succeed, companies such as Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook, Google LLC, and ...