Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Monitor – December 18, 2025

State attorneys general increasingly impact businesses in all industries. Our nationally recognized state AG team has been trusted by clients for more than 20 years to navigate their most complicated state AG investigations and enforcement actions.

State Attorneys General Monitor analyzes regulatory actions by state AGs and other state administrative agencies throughout the nation. Contributors to this newsletter and related blog include attorneys experienced in regulatory enforcement, litigation, and compliance. Also visit our State Attorneys General Monitor microsite.

Contact our State AG Team at StateAG@troutman.com.

Podcast Updates

The 12 Days of Regulatory Insights

We are excited to share our special holiday series, “The 12 Days of Regulatory Insights,” as part of our Regulatory Oversight podcast. This 12-part series covers a variety of critical regulatory topics, offering concise and insightful discussions from members of our Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement practice group, State Attorneys General team, and several esteemed colleagues across various areas of the firm.

• 12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 6 – Sports Wagering, Player Proposition Bets, and Prediction Market Battles | Regulatory Oversight
• 12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 7 – Tobacco and Nicotine Regulatory Roundup | Regulatory Oversight
• 12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 8 – How State AGs Are Rewriting Social Media Rules | Regulatory Oversight
• 12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 9 – The Economic Development Edge | Regulatory Oversight
• 12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 10 – State AGs on Pricing and Renewals | Regulatory Oversight

In case you missed an episode, you can listen here.

State AG News

New Jersey Governor-Elect Sherrill Nominates Jennifer Davenport as New Jersey AG
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

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.

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Iowa AG Obtains Court Injunction and Civil Penalties Against Stem Cell Company in Four-Day Trial
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

After a four-day trial, Iowa Attorney General (AG) Brenna Bird obtained a ruling and judgment against Omaha-based stem cell businesses and its owner/CEO for deceptively marketing “regenerative medicine” stem cell injections to Iowans. The court ordered more than $800,000 in restitution, $180,000 in civil penalties, including enhanced civil penalties for targeting elderly persons, and permanently enjoined the company from committing acts or practices that the court deemed in violation of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.

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State Enforcement in the Wake of Trump Executive Order Targeting State Regulation of AI
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On December 11, President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) that establishes a national artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory framework and attempts to preempt enforcement of state AI laws. Titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” the EO states that “[i]t is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI.” This latest effort follows bipartisan opposition in Congress and among state attorneys general (AGs) to previous legislative attempts this year to supersede state AI laws. While the order seeks to minimize a burdensome AI regulatory patchwork, compliance will remain complex given various state enforcement tools.

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Texas Investigating Global Retail Over Labor Practices, Product Safety, and Privacy Practices
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

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).

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AG of the Week

Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma

Gentner Drummond was sworn in as Oklahoma’s 19th attorney general on January 9, 2023. His legal career spans nearly 30 years, including service as an assistant district attorney in Pawnee and Osage counties and as an attorney in private practice. In 1999, he founded the Tulsa-based firm, Drummond Law. Drummond, a seventh-generation Oklahoman, also has experience as a rancher, banker, and businessman.

A U.S. Air Force jet pilot during the Persian Gulf War, Drummond led the first combat mission of the conflict and earned several commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and four Aerial Achievement Medals.

Since taking office, Drummond has focused on fighting crime, government transparency, improving tribal relations, combating corruption, and protecting Oklahoma from federal overreach. He assembled the first-ever Organized Crime Task Force to address illegal marijuana operations and related criminal activities, such as human trafficking and opioid distribution.

Drummond earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and his law degree from Georgetown University.

In January 2025, Drummond formally announced his candidacy for governor in the 2026 election, returning to his roots in northeastern Oklahoma for the announcement.

Upcoming AG Events

• January: AGA | Human Trafficking Training | Virtual

• February: RAGA | Virtual Fund Retreat | Big Sky, MT

• February: DAGA | Policy Conference | San Francisco, CA

For more on upcoming AG Events, click here.

Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General team combines legal acumen and government experience to develop comprehensive, thoughtful strategies for clients. Our attorneys handle individual and multistate AG investigations, proactive counseling and litigation, and manage ancillary regulatory issues. Our successful approach has been recognized by Chambers USA, which ranked our practice as a leader in the industry.