Texas HB 2474 passed on 6/1/2003, becoming effective 9/1/2003. It loosened regulations for electronic surveillance, and took away recourse for customers who might want to sue the carrier. At the time, I thought that it was probably a sign that the Bush Administration was embarking on a massive domestic spying program under the Patriot Act, and that telecoms were nervous about getting sued.

No recourse for the one who is being monitored -- the bill states that:
(g) A computer trespasser or a user, aggrieved person, subscriber, or customer of a communications common carrier or electronic communications service does not have a cause of action against the carrier or service, its officers, employees, or agents, or other specified persons for providing information, facilities, or assistance as required by: (1) legislative authority; or (2) a court order, warrant, subpoena, or certification under this article.

Any bets that these popped up in states (particularly GOP-controlled states) across the country at about the same time?

I happened to stumble across this one in May of 2003 -- before it had passed -- while searching the Texas legislature website. If there were any newspaper articles or public discussion about the bill, I missed it.

At least in the initial version of the bill, all it took was a peace officer to certify to a "communications common carrier" that the officer was acting lawfully and the "communications common carrier" was off the hook and protected from a lawsuit. The bill also specified that the communication carriers would be compensated for any expenses (naturally!Corporations are always entitled to compensation for any nuisances imposed by the Federal government, and individuals never are...)