What cookies we use, why, who sets them, and how you can manage or refuse them.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device (browser or phone) when you visit. They let the site remember things about your visit — that you've dismissed a banner, that you're logged in (if applicable), or that you came from a specific referral source. Some cookies are set by us; others are set by third-party services we use (analytics providers, ad networks, etc.).
Similar technologies — pixels, local storage, tracking tags — do broadly the same job. Everything below applies to those, too.
Categories we use
The cookies on State Law Handbook fall into four categories:
- Essential — required to run the site. Always on. Cannot be turned off.
- Analytics — help us understand how the site is used, in aggregate.
- Advertising — used by third-party ad networks to serve ads relevant to reader interests.
- Newsletter — set by our newsletter provider when you subscribe.
Where required by law (EU, UK, California, and other applicable jurisdictions), non-essential cookies are only set after you consent via our cookie banner. You can withdraw consent at any time by opening the "Cookie preferences" link in the site footer.
Essential cookies
These are the cookies that make the site work. Without them, features like the cookie banner (remembering that you dismissed it), the mobile menu state, or session security would break.
| Cookie | Purpose | Set by | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent | Records your cookie preference so we don't ask again on every visit. | State Law Handbook | 12 months |
| PHPSESSID | Server session ID for WordPress. Deleted when browser closes. | WordPress | Session |
| wp-* (various) | WordPress core cookies for site functionality. | WordPress | Session to 30 days |
Analytics cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how the site is being used in aggregate — which pages get read, how long people stay, where they came from. Analytics cookies do not identify you personally.
| Cookie | Purpose | Set by | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users. | Google Analytics | 2 years |
| _ga_[container-id] | Maintains session state. | Google Analytics | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes users (24-hour window). | Google Analytics | 24 hours |
You can opt out of Google Analytics site-wide via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Advertising cookies
We serve advertising through third-party ad networks (AdSense, Ezoic, or Mediavine at different stages). These networks set cookies to serve ads relevant to your interests, measure ad performance, and limit how often you see the same ad.
The specific cookies vary by network and are documented on each network's own cookie disclosure page. Common examples include:
| Cookie | Purpose | Set by | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| __gads, __gpi, IDE | Ad serving, frequency capping, personalization. | Google AdSense / DoubleClick | Up to 13 months |
| ezoic_pub_ad_id, ezoab_* | Ad optimization and A/B testing. | Ezoic | Up to 13 months |
| mv_* (various) | Mediavine ad serving and analytics. | Mediavine | Up to 13 months |
Where required by law, these cookies are only set after you consent through our cookie banner. In the US, you can also use industry opt-outs at optout.aboutads.info and optout.networkadvertising.org.
Newsletter cookies
Our newsletter is delivered by Beehiiv. If you subscribe to State Law Weekly, Beehiiv may set cookies to track newsletter signup, referral source, and open/click behavior on newsletter emails you receive from us. Beehiiv's own privacy policy governs this data.
Third-party cookies and their providers
Third parties that may set cookies on our site include:
- Google Analytics — Privacy policy
- Google AdSense — Privacy policy
- Ezoic — Privacy policy
- Mediavine — Privacy policy
- Beehiiv — Privacy policy
- LegalMatch, Avvo, LegalShield, LegalZoom — when you click through, their cookies may be set on their sites.
How to manage cookies
You have three main ways to control cookies on State Law Handbook:
- Our cookie banner. On your first visit (or after clearing cookies), our banner asks whether to accept non-essential cookies. You can change your choice any time via the "Cookie preferences" link in the site footer.
- Your browser settings. Every major browser lets you block or delete cookies. Instructions: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
- Industry opt-outs. For advertising cookies specifically: optout.aboutads.info, optout.networkadvertising.org, and youronlinechoices.com (EU).
Blocking essential cookies may cause parts of the Site to stop working.
Global Privacy Control
We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signals. When a GPC signal is detected, we treat it as a valid opt-out request for the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under CCPA/CPRA, applied to relevant advertising cookies.
Changes
We update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Material changes are highlighted at the top of this page and the effective date is bumped.