Join Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Ashley Taylor and Michael Yaghi as they participate in a two-part webinar series hosted by the American Bar Association’s State and Local Government Law Section. This series is designed to highlight chapters from the recently published book, “Consumer Protection: Understanding Enforcement Actions Brought by State Attorneys General.” The webinar series will explore the complexities and nuances surrounding enforcement actions brought by consumer protection staff in state attorneys general offices.

On June 2, the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, agreed to its first settlement of a merger challenged under the new administration, less than one week after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entered into its first such settlement. The consent decree will require the divestiture of three businesses and will allow Keysight Technologies, Inc. to complete its proposed $1.5 billion acquisition of Spirent Communications plc.

On June 2, the Texas legislature passed the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, (TX AI Act or bill) which heads to the governor for his signature or veto. The bill will take effect January 1, 2026, if the governor signs it into law. It is the most comprehensive piece of AI governance legislation to pass a state legislature to date. If enacted, Texas will become the fourth state after Colorado, Utah, and California to pass AI-specific legislation.

New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James’ office has reached a cumulative total of $3.2 million in settlements with eight Nissan dealerships that the office accuses of overcharging New Yorkers for purchasing leased vehicles at the conclusion of their lease term.

Connecticut Attorney General (AG) William Tong has taken legal action against two online distributors, Triggered Brand and Made In China, for allegedly selling research-grade GLP-1 weight loss drugs directly to Connecticut consumers without prescriptions or medical oversight. These drugs, marketed as research compounds, lack Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for human use. The lawsuit against Triggered Brand alleges violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) and seeks civil penalties. Additionally, Tong has issued a civil investigative demand to Made In China to gather information regarding its marketing and sales practices.

On May 23, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License 25 (GL 25), effectively lifting most sanctions imposed under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SSR) (31 C.F.R. Part 542). This move, foreshadowed by President Trump on May 13 during a speech in Riyadh, aims to support Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Accompanied by a set of frequently asked questions issued on May 28, GL 25 reflects a broader U.S. strategy to foster stability and align with the new Syrian government’s efforts for a “fresh start” and to rebuild.

In the first major enforcement action involving the importation of illegal tobacco products by the new administration, and on the heels of the appointment of the new acting director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products, FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized illegal e-cigarettes valued at nearly $34 million. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by federal agencies to combat the influx of unauthorized tobacco products into the U.S.

On May 8, the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County ordered a health care company to pay more than $30 million in restitution to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) due to the company’s alleged fraudulent billing practices. The underlying criminal convictions and the resulting restitution order reflect a broader trend among state attorneys general (AG), who are taking a more active role in prosecuting and pursuing various forms of health care fraud.