On December 1, Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton issued a press release announcing an investigation into Shein US Services LLC Corporate and its affiliates (Shein).
New Jersey Governor-Elect Sherrill Nominates Jennifer Davenport as New Jersey AG
On Monday, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced that she will nominate Jennifer Davenport to serve as the next attorney general (AG) of New Jersey. Davenport, a lifelong New Jersey resident, is currently employed at PSEG, where she serves as deputy general counsel and chief litigation counsel and previously served as senior director – compliance. Her nomination signals a continuation of strong enforcement and regulatory focus, informed by both extensive public-sector experience and recent private-sector roles.
12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 9 – The Economic Development Edge
In this episode of our special 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, RISE partner David Dove is joined by colleague, former State Senator Kirk Dillard, partner at Troutman Strategies to examine 2025 economic development trends and what to expect in 2026. Kirk currently serves as chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority in metropolitan Chicago and was recently appointed to the Illinois Economic Development Corporation. David is the chairman of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and actively represents clients in economic development projects across the U.S. David and Kirk examine 2025 economic development trends and what to expect in 2026.
12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 8 – How State AGs Are Rewriting Social Media Rules
In this episode of our special 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, Ashley Taylor, co-leader of Troutman Pepper Locke’s State AG team, sits down with Privacy and Cyber chair Ron Raether to discuss how state attorneys general (AGs) are shaping the regulatory landscape for social media and the broader ad tech ecosystem.
12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 7 – Tobacco and Nicotine Regulatory Roundup
In this episode of our special 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, Chris Carlson is joined by colleagues Bryan Haynes and Agustin Rodriguez — members of our Tobacco and Nicotine Practice and RISE Practice Group — to review the year’s most consequential developments in the tobacco and nicotine space and what they mean heading into 2026.
Kalshi Files New Lawsuit Challenging Enforcement Actions From Gaming Regulators in Connecticut
In early December 2025, federally regulated derivatives exchange KalshiEX LLC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut challenging a cease-and-desist order issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) directing Kalshi to halt operations in the state. The DCP contends that Kalshi, along with platforms such as Robinhood and Crypto.com, operates an unlicensed and illegal sports betting platform in violation of Connecticut law. According to the agency, Kalshi’s sports event contracts fall squarely within the state’s definition of sports wagering and expose consumers to risk because they operate outside Connecticut’s regulated gaming framework, lack required integrity controls, and are not subject to consumer protection oversight. Connecticut officials have emphasized that “a prediction market wager is not an investment,” and that Kalshi’s platform offers no recourse for consumers under state law if disputes arise.
12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 6 – Sports Wagering, Player Proposition Bets, and Prediction Market Battles
In this episode of our special 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, Stephen Piepgrass is joined by Cole White from our RISE Practice Group’s gaming team for a timely, candid conversation on integrity risks and regulatory trends reshaping the legal gaming landscape.
HelloFresh Agrees to Oregon AVC Over Alleged Discount and ‘Free’ Claims
The Oregon Department of Justice and Grocery Delivery E-Service USA, Inc. d/b/a HelloFresh (HelloFresh), recently filed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) in Oregon Circuit Court to resolve allegations by the Department of Justice (DOJ). HelloFresh is a meal-kit company, providing meal kits, ready-to-eat meals, and other products directly to consumers.
Delaware Imposes Nearly $1M Penalty on Investment Adviser for Registration, Supervision, and Recordkeeping Failures
On November 21, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings’s Investor Protection Unit (IPU) announced a $995,180 penalty against Kovack Advisors, Inc. (Kovack) for a series of violations of the Delaware Securities Act. The enforcement action — resolved through a consent order — highlights the IPU’s growing focus on registration accuracy, supervisory systems, and books-and-records compliance for investment advisers operating in the state.
Congress Narrows Federal Definition of ‘Hemp,’ Effectively Banning Most Intoxicating Hemp Products
Congress has enacted H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026. Section 781 of the law substantially amends the Agricultural Marketing Act’s definition of “hemp,” tightening the THC threshold and explicitly excluding several categories of hemp-derived cannabinoid products from the definition. Because the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) excludes “hemp” by cross-reference to the Agricultural Marketing Act, narrowing the hemp definition will push many currently marketed intoxicating hemp products back into Schedule I status under the CSA once these changes take effect.