Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Monitor – May 21, 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.

Regulatory Oversight Podcast Updates

Lessons From a Senate Insider: Legislative Strategy With Jason Smith

By Stephen C. Piepgrass and Jason Smith 

In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, host Stephen Piepgrass is joined by his new colleague Jason Smith, a veteran Senate attorney and strategist who spent more than 15 years on Capitol Hill. Jason’s tenure includes advising Senators John Fetterman, Patty Murray, and Mark Begich on high-stakes issues ranging from voting rights and immigration reform to pharmaceutical policy and international trade.

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Single-State AG News

Fourth Circuit Enjoins Maryland ‘Greenwashing’ Restrictions on Renewable Energy Marketing

By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On May 15, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit partially blocked Maryland’s new “greenwashing” law for retail electricity suppliers. Holding that the statute’s core advertising restriction likely violates the First Amendment, the court ordered a preliminary injunction against the provision limiting use of terms like “clean,” “green,” and “100% renewable” if the legislature’s specified conditions were not met. In contrast, the court remanded for further proceedings on Maryland’s newly issued disclosure requirements. The decision underscores the constitutional limits on how far states can go in policing environmental marketing claims — limits that are relevant to companies both in and outside the energy sector.

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Crypto Company Settles With New York AG Over Allegedly Misleading Crypto Yield Promotions

By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

The New York AG’s Office announced a $5 million settlement with Uphold HQ Inc. (Uphold), a cryptocurrency platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets. The settlement resolves allegations that Uphold misleadingly promoted Cred Inc.’s now‑bankrupt investment product, CredEarn, to its customers as a safe, savings‑style vehicle.

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Alaska Has a New Acting AG After Lawmakers Reject the Governor’s Preferred Candidate

By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Alaska has a new acting AG after state lawmakers refused to confirm Governor Mike Dunleavy’s appointment of Stephen Cox, who has been serving as AG since August 2025. The new acting AG is Cori Mills, a 14-year veteran of the AG’s office.

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AG of the Week

Aaron Frey, Maine

AG Aaron Frey was born in Bangor, ME, and lived there until third grade before moving with his family to Dixmont. He graduated from Nokomis High School in Newport, earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, and received his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island.

Before being elected as Maine’s 58th AG, Frey maintained a private legal practice in Bangor, concentrating on criminal defense and family law. From 2012 to 2018, he represented portions of Bangor and Orono in the Maine House of Representatives, where he served on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.

Frey currently resides in Bangor.

Upcoming AG Events

• May: DAGA | Policy Conference | Milwaukee, WI  
• June: RAGA | Summer Meeting (Waldorf Astoria) | Dana Point, CA  
• June: AGA | 2026 Annual Meeting | Sea Island, GA  
• June: NAAG | 2026 Presidential Summit | Greenwich, CT  

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.