Strategies helps businesses and individuals solve the complexities of dealing with the government at every level. Our team of specialists concentrate exclusively on government affairs, representing clients nationwide who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.
This unique program provides innovative and affordable opportunities to startups and early-stage emerging companies with a solid technology or scientific foundation. We help companies that have a quality management team in place and do not have other significant legal representation.
eMerge’s lawyers and technologists work together to deliver strategic end-to-end eDiscovery and data management solutions for litigation, investigations, due diligence, and compliance matters. We help clients discover the information necessary to resolve disputes, respond to investigations, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements.
Make sure to visit Troutman Pepper’s Regulatory Oversight blog to receive the most up-to-date information on regulatory actions and subscribe to our mailing list to receive a monthly digest.
Regulatory Oversight will provide in-depth analysis into regulatory actions by various state and federal authorities, including state attorneys general and other state administrative agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Contributors to the blog will include attorneys with multiple specialties, including regulatory enforcement, litigation, and compliance.
By Stephen Piepgrass, Gene Fishel, and Sadia Mirza
In the burgeoning realm of data incidents, it is a truism that such incidents are not created equal. Indeed, a data incident is not necessarily a data breach.
By Michael Yaghi, Ketan Bhirud, and Trey Smith
On May 5, 2023, New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James introduced legislation to regulate businesses engaged in digital asset-related activities “from or within the State of New York.” Titled the “Crypto Regulation, Protection, Transparency, and Oversight Act” (the CRPTO Act or the Act), AG James has called the proposal “the strongest and most comprehensive set of regulations on cryptocurrency in the nation.”
By Agustin Rodriguez, Jean Smith-Gonnell, and Cole White
It has been widely reported and confirmed publicly that, on August 29, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recommending that cannabis be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). While this change would not lift the federal prohibition on cannabis, and the DEA will need to perform its own review, the move could have profound implications for researchers and industry participants.
By Agustin Rodriguez and Christina Sava
Much attention has recently been placed on hemp-derived products marketed in packaging that mimics popular snack foods.[1]
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and various state regulators, this type of packaging has contributed to an increase in accidental consumption of intoxicating hemp products by minors.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team and Agustin Rodriguez
On August 18, 2023, a New York Supreme Court judge enjoined New York cannabis regulators from further processing, approving, or investigating any new or pending applications for a state conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) license, leaving New York’s nascent adult-use cannabis market in limbo.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team, Jean Smith-Gonnell, and Agustin Rodriguez
California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta is asking the Los Angeles County Superior Court to enter a civil forfeiture order allowing the state to collect unpaid taxes and fees from an unlicensed marijuana business by seizing its assets.
By Michael Lafleur, Agustin Rodriguez, and Jean Smith-Gonnell
Florida-based cannabis inventory tracking vendor Metrc LLC is asking a Colorado state court to toss a dispensary’s lawsuit challenging its process for charging so-called “support fees” as violative of state anti-trust and consumer protection laws.
By Agustin Rodriguez and Michael Lafleur
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s first and only executive director is supposedly planning to leave the agency, which is in the midst of implementing the state’s new cannabis equity law, enacted in August 2022. This law includes new regulations concerning licensed “marijuana social consumption establishments,” which are more commonly known as cannabis cafés.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On July 25, Missouri, Arkansas, and Iowa (the states), along with intervenors American Water Works Association and National Rural Water Association (the water associations), petitioned the Eighth Circuit to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rule requiring states to review and report cybersecurity threats to their public water systems (PWS).
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
Public water utilities and 3M have until August 28 to respond to the bipartisan coalition of 22 state AGs that opposes their proposed $12.5 billion class action settlement over alleged per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination and is seeking to intervene in their litigation.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 7, California AG Rob Bonta led a coalition of five state AGs in filing an amicus letter concerning a proposed class action settlement between DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva, and water providers for $1.185 billion. The AGs contend the settlement amount is far too low given the scope of environmental contamination and health impacts caused by Dupont’s decades-long manufacture and sale of PFAS compounds.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 7, Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers and Iowa AG Brenna Bird joined forces to sue the EPA for failing to fulfill the request by Iowa and Nebraska governors to allow the sale of year-round E15 gasoline.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 11, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 2222 (Public Act 103-0526) into law — bolstering Illinois’ antitrust prevention efforts by expanding the oversight purview of its AG office with respect to health care transactions. Under the new law, the Illinois AG now has the power to review and assess certain “covered transactions” entered into between health care facilities and providers.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell announced the creation of a new Elder Justice Unit, which will use existing resources to protect and promote the safety and well-being of elders through enforcement actions, legislative advocacy, and community engagement and education.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 21, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by West Virginia AG Patrick Morrisey and 26 other state AGs to participate in oral arguments in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) et al. v. Community Financial Services Association of America et al., which concerns whether the CFPB’s statutory authorization violates the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause. Morrissey and the other predominantly Republican state AGs submitted an amicus brief arguing that it does. Morrissey was joined by the AGs for Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 16, a coalition of seven state AGs announced a settlement with participants alleged to be involved in a “massive” robocall operation. The stipulated order, which names Scott Shapiro, Michael T. Smith, Jr., and Health Advisors of America (defendants), permanently bans Shapiro and Smith from initiating or facilitating robocalls; working in or with companies that make robocalls; and engaging in telemarketing. The settlement also requires the defendants to make monetary payments to the coalition, which is composed of AGs from the states of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Texas (the AGs).
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
Connecticut AG William Tong, along with Illinois, New Hampshire, and Tennessee AGs, jointly authored a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging improved collaboration with state AGs.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
In August, District of Columbia AG Brian Schwalb issued a Supplemental Business Advisory (advisory) to provide guidance and examples to restaurants for complying with their legal obligation under the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA) to adequately disclose all fees, including service fees, to customers. See D.C. Code § 28-3901, et seq. The advisory clarifies that the CPPA does not prohibit restaurants from charging such fees or surcharges, but emphasizes that “these fees may violate the CPPA if they are not timely, prominently, and clearly disclosed to diners before they place their orders.”
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 10, Michigan AG Dana Nessel issued a press release to report the success of the new Unlicensed Builders Pretrial Diversion Program that was launched in February. Nessel launched the new program to promote licensing compliance, ensure restitution to victims, and efficiently resolve cases of Michigan consumer complaints of harm caused by unlicensed builders in the state.
By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team
On August 15, New York AG Letitia James announced a settlement with Avis Budget Group Inc. (Avis Budget), for allegedly denying car rentals to customers who did not possess a credit card. Under the terms of the settlement, Avis Budget will pay $275,000 in civil penalties, and will update its relevant employee training.
Stephanie Kozol, Senior Government Relations Manager – State Attorneys General, also contributed to this newsletter.
Our Cannabis Practice provides advice on issues related to applicable federal and state law. Marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law.
Speaking Engagements
American Conference Institute 3rd Annual Summit on PFAS Regulation, Compliance, and Litigation
May 28, 2026 | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM ET
New York, NY
Sponsored Events
2026 Midwest Deal Summit & DeaLinx
May 27 – 28, 2026
Four Seasons Hotel
Chicago, IL
Speaking Engagements
Mission Critical Regional Insights Panel + Site Consultant Networking
May 21, 2026 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Troutman Pepper Locke
1001 Haxall Point, 15th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
Speaking Engagements
U.S. Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulatory Updates and Trends
May 21, 2026 | 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM CT
Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin, TX 78701-4082
