Figured it out, and is it a weird solution:
In $X-cart_dir/skin1/customer/main/register_billing_address.tpl:
Find and CUT:
Code:
{if $default_fields.b_state.avail eq 'Y' && $default_fields.b_country.avail eq 'Y' && $js_enabled eq 'Y'}
<tr style="display: none;">
<td>
{include file="main/register_states.tpl" state_name="b_state" country_name="b_country" county_name="b_county" state_value=$userinfo.b_state|default:$config.General.default_state county_value=$userinfo.b_county}
</td>
</tr>
{/if}
Take that code you just snipped and paste it AFTER the following:
Code:
{if $reg_error ne "" and $userinfo.b_country eq "" and $default_fields.b_country.required eq 'Y'}<span class="error-message"><<</span>{/if}
</td>
</tr>
{/if}
Boom - you've got the same functionality in the shipping AND billing sections. Why was this not the default?