Earlier this month, a coalition of 17 state attorneys general (AG) and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors filed a federal lawsuit challenging California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, known as SB 54 or the Plastics Act. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
On June 18, 2026, Illinois Attorney General (AG) Kwame Raoul announced a lawsuit against Koppers Inc. and Koppers Carbon Materials LLC (collectively, Koppers) over alleged continued environmental pollution and human health violations stemming from Koppers’ chemical manufacturing facility in Stickney, IL.
In this crossover episode of Payments Pros and Regulatory Oversight, Stephen Piepgrass and Keith Barnett provide an update on the fast-developing prediction markets landscape. They discuss how federal and state regulators are responding to the growth of event contracts and the legal questions surrounding this emerging market. The conversation highlights the CFTC’s continued focus on oversight, market integrity, and the need for platforms to maintain strong controls to detect and prevent manipulation or other improper trading activity.
On June 17, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that, at its request, a federal court temporarily halted a sprawling enterprise of alleged deceptive subscription schemes, comprising 15 corporations and eight individuals, from continuing to deceive consumers with hidden costs and recurring charges, while failing to provide simple mechanisms to cancel subscriptions. The FTC filed its complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on a 2-0 commission vote.
The Texas Supreme Court (the Court) recently issued an important tax decision for modern oral nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches. In Hancock v. RJR Vapor Co., LLC, the Court held in favor of Acting Comptroller Hancock, finding that RJR Vapor Co., LLC’s (RJR) VELO oral nicotine pouches are taxable as “tobacco products” under the Texas tobacco products tax, and reversed a lower court decision holding that they were not taxable “tobacco products.”
On June 10, 2026, the New York State Legislature passed the One Fair Price Act (S.8623B/A.9349B), first-in-the-nation legislation that bans surveillance pricing. Championed by New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James and sponsored by Assemblymember Emérita Torres and Senator Rachel May, the bill now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature. Troutman previously reported on the legislation here.
On May 18, the Eighth Circuit held that NHTSA’s informal letters determining that certain aftermarket products violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 constitute final agency action reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The 2-1 decision reverses the district court’s dismissal and remands for consideration of a preliminary injunction. The holding has implications well beyond the automotive-safety context and shows how the Eighth Circuit evaluates whether informal enforcement correspondence qualifies as final agency action.
On June 10, 2026, a coalition of 18 state attorneys general entered into a $4.88 million settlement with GS Labs, LLC, resolving claims that the now-defunct testing company overcharged consumers for COVID-19 tests and engaged in deceptive advertising practices during the pandemic. The settlement requires GS Labs to pay up to $3.63 million in consumer restitution and $1.25 million in costs and fees to the states. The enforcement action highlights ongoing state-level efforts to hold companies accountable for alleged pandemic-era price gouging and deceptive trade practices and offers lessons for companies navigating consumer protection compliance during public health emergencies and beyond.
On June 4, 2026, Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Celsius Holdings, Inc. (Celsius) regarding the marketing of its Alani Nu energy drinks and whether the company misrepresents their safety to teens and children, in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). The Texas AG stated that the probe was prompted by the tragic death of a 17-year-old Texas cheerleader, whose family filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming she died from an enlarged heart allegedly caused by excessive caffeine consumption.
In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, co-host Stephen Piepgrass sits down with Jay Dubow and Ghillaine Reid, co-leaders of the firm’s Securities Investigation + Enforcement practice, to explore how the SEC’s enforcement agenda is evolving under Chairman Paul Atkins and what that means for public companies, financial institutions, and their executives.