Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Monitor – January 29, 2026

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.

Troutman Pepper Locke Spotlight

State AGs in the Driver’s Seat: Auto Finance Enforcement in the Trump 2.0 Era
By Brooke Conkle, Chris Capurso, Chris Carlson, and Namrata Kang

In this episode of Moving the Metal, hosts Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso are joined by Troutman colleagues Chris Carlson and Nam Kang from the firm’s RISE Practice Group to unpack what “Trump 2.0” really means for dealers and auto finance companies.

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2026 ABA Midyear Meeting
By Chris Carlson

Register Here

Friday, February 6 • 10:15–11:15 a.m. ET

Chris Carlson, co-chair of the ABA Committee on State Attorneys General and Department of Justice Issues, Section of State and Local Government Law, will moderate the CLE panel “SLTG CLE: Age-Verification of Internet Websites, Including Implications on ‘Social Media’ Laws” on Friday, February 6, at 10:15 a.m., during the 2026 ABA Midyear Meeting.

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Multistate AG News

Bipartisan AG Coalition Opposes FCC Action to Preempt State and Local AI Laws
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

In a pair of recent submissions to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a bipartisan coalition including more than 20 state attorneys general (AG) opposed action by the FCC to preempt state and local laws relating to artificial intelligence (AI). The coalition’s comments reflect persistent concerns among AGs about how businesses use AI when interacting with their residents, even as some federal policymakers support limiting states’ ability to address those concerns.

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Single State AG News

Kim Kardashian’s Clothing Company Settles With New Jersey AG After Collecting Sales Tax on Tax-Exempt Items
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On his last day in office, New Jersey Attorney General (AG) Matt Platkin announced a consent order resolving a consumer fraud investigation into Skims Body, Inc. for charging consumers in New Jersey sales tax on items that are exempt under state law. Founded by Kim Kardashian, Skims is primarily an online retailer of apparel. The company agreed to pay $200,000 in civil penalties and to comply with the consent order’s injunctive terms.

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AG of the Week

Brenna Bird, Iowa

Attorney General (AG) Brenna Bird was elected in November 2022 and assumed office in January 2023. She is the first Republican to hold the position since 1979. Bird grew up on a farm near Dexter, IA, where she was homeschooled. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Drake University and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where she served as symposium editor of the law journal.

Bird’s legal career includes six years as a prosecutor, first as Fremont County attorney and then as Guthrie County attorney from 2018 to 2022. Her leadership was recognized by her peers, who elected her president of the Iowa County Attorney Association. She has also worked in private practice, served as legal counsel to Governor Terry Branstad, and held roles in the U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, Bird has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.

As AG, Bird has focused on public safety, supporting law enforcement, and advocating for victims of crime. She resides on her family farm in rural Dexter with her husband, Bob, an Iraq war veteran, and their son.

Iowa AG in the News:

• Bird has filed three lawsuits and is seeking contempt of court against contractors in four Iowa counties for allegedly conducting illegal excavations that violated the state’s One Call law, emphasizing the requirement to contact Iowa One Call before digging to prevent damage and protect public safety.

• Bird announced that her Judicial Safety bill unanimously cleared an Iowa House subcommittee. The bill elevates threats against judicial officers or their families to a Class “C” felony with up to 10 years in prison, creates a serious misdemeanor for doxxing them, and authorizes professional carry permits for judges and AG’s office attorneys.

Upcoming AG Events

• January: AGA | Human Trafficking Training | Virtual

• February: RAGA | Victory 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.