Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Subscribe to Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team's Posts
Contact:Read more about Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Tennessee and Mississippi attorney generals (AG), joined by 13 other states, filed a multistate lawsuit in the Southern District of Mississippi. The lawsuit challenges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) attempt to expand the breadth of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) antidiscrimination provision, known as Section 1557. This section prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. HHS’ new rule, which is scheduled to take effect on July 5, extends the definition of sex to encompass gender identity. The AGs argue that HHS’ expansion of the ACA provision will have undesirable effects on the medical industry. They claim that the promulgation of this new rule is also unconstitutional and interferes with states’ reserved powers.

California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta is leading a coalition of Democratic AGs from 22 states and the District of Columbia to defend the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule that sets stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The coalition filed a motion to intervene in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where the EPA’s rule is facing a legal challenge from Republican AGs.

On May 17, 2024, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 24-205, the Colorado Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, making Colorado the first U.S. state to enact comprehensive legislation regulating the use and development of AI systems. The act is designed to regulate the private-sector use of AI systems, particularly addressing the risk of algorithmic discrimination arising from the use of so-called “high-risk AI systems.” The law will take effect on February 1, 2026, and the Colorado attorney general (AG) has exclusive enforcement authority.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina have reached a $500,000 settlement with Sharon Raynes Halliday and RAPHA Healthcare Services LLC, resolving a false claims lawsuit filed in July 2022 related to requests for payment submitted to the North Carolina Medicaid program.

Last week the office of the Attorney General of Connecticut announced that the state had reached a settlement with HighBazaar over allegations that the organization allowed the unlicensed sale of cannabis, and the presence of minors, at their outdoor social cannabis events in Connecticut. The settlement represents one of many enforcement actions aimed at eliminating the state’s gray market and protecting licensed businesses and consumers.

Nebraska Attorney General (AG) Mike Hilgers is leading multistate coalitions in two lawsuits aimed at challenging the Biden administration and the State of California’s electric vehicle mandates on truck owners and operators nationwide. The lawsuits argue that these mandates exceed the constitutional and statutory authority of the federal government and California regulators.

A state attorney general (AG) and a major American corporation recently battled over the scope and applicability of the government contractor defense.

The case is about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. These fluorine-related chemicals are used in a variety of products, including waterproof clothing, nonstick cookware, furniture, and food packaging. Opponents of PFAS refer to them as “forever chemicals” because, as they argue, PFAS compounds do not break down naturally and can contaminate the soil and drinking water.