Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Monitor – November 13, 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.

Troutman Pepper Locke Spotlight

2025 State AG Election Day Update
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Of the 43 elected state attorneys general (AG), Virginia was the only state to hold an AG election in 2025. Democratic candidate Jay Jones was elected to his first term, defeating incumbent Republican Jason Miyares by a 6.6% margin.

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The Garden State’s AG Blueprint: Data, Partnership, Accountability
By Stephen C. Piepgrass and Chris Carlson

In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, Stephen Piepgrass is joined by RISE partner Chris Carlson and New Jersey First Assistant Attorney General (AG) Lyndsay Ruotolo for a deep dive into the unique structure, scope, and impact of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

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Matt Berns Joins Troutman Pepper Locke’s RISE Practice and State AG Team
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Matt Berns, former chief counsel to the New Jersey attorney general (AG) and deputy chief counsel to the New Jersey governor, and previously a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, has joined Troutman Pepper Locke’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) practice and nationally recognized State AG team.

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Multistate State AG News

State AGs Urge SEC to Preserve State Authority in Crypto Regulation
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On October 20, a coalition of 21 state attorneys general (AG), led by Iowa AG Brenna Bird, submitted a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester M. Peirce in response to her February statement titled “There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.”

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State AGs Seek Federal Ban on Intoxicating Hemp-Derived THC Products
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team, Agustin Rodriguez, and Nick Ramos

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) legalized industrial hemp for commercial use to support American farmers and create a regulated industrial hemp market. The 2018 Farm Bill defined “hemp” as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” The 2018 Farm Bill also removed hemp from the definition of “marihuana” under the Controlled Substances Act. Since 2018, many in the hemp industry have relied on language in the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of “hemp” (sometimes referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill loophole) to take the position that it authorizes the production and sale of intoxicating, hemp-derived THC products (e.g., beverages, gummies, candies, etc.) that are derived from cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis. On October 24, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter to congressional committee chairs, signed by 39 state and U.S. territory attorneys general (AGs), urging immediate legislative action to close the loophole.

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Robinhood Shareholders Gleeful Over Firm’s ‘Prediction Market’ Push, But State AGs Say It’s Illegal Gambling
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General Practice Group, was mentioned in the November 4, 2025 Law.com article, “Robinhood Shareholders Gleeful Over Firm’s ‘Prediction Market’ Push, But State AGs Say It’s Illegal Gambling.”

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Single State AG News

Washington AG Proposes New Model Public Records Act Rules
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Washington Attorney General (AG) Nick Brown proposed updates to Washington State’s Public Records Act (PRA) model rules — the advisory playbook many state and local agencies rely on when handling records requests. The proposal aims to reduce backlogs and improve response times, with a public hearing set for November 6, and written comments invited through November 17.

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Vermont AG Settles Alleged Deceptive Marketing Practices With Angi
By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team and Sydney Goldberg

On October 13, Vermont Attorney General (AG) Charity R. Clark announced a settlement with Angi, Inc., (Angi), resolving allegations related to misleading marketing practices.

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AG of the Week

Jeff Jackson, North Carolina

Jeff Jackson is the 51st attorney general (AG) of North Carolina, leading the North Carolina Department of Justice. In this role, he oversees efforts to protect taxpayers, seniors, consumers, and military families from scams and fraud, and works to ensure public safety and well-being across the state. The department also provides law enforcement training, legal opinions, civil rights enforcement, and consumer protection services.

Jackson began his career in public service by enlisting in the Army after the September 11 attacks and served in Afghanistan. He continues to serve as a major in the Army National Guard, with more than two decades of military service.

After returning from Afghanistan, Jackson attended law school at the University of North Carolina with support from the G.I. Bill. He worked as a criminal prosecutor in Gaston County, handling serious cases including first-degree murder and sex offenses.

Jackson represented Mecklenburg County in the North Carolina Senate for eight years and was the first person to represent North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Emory University and a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

North Carolina AG in the News:

• Jackson, joined by 10 other state AGs and Kentucky’s governor, sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agencies unlawfully withheld funds and shortened the spending period for congressionally allocated emergency management and homeland security grants. The complaint says the actions jeopardize North Carolina’s disaster response and public safety, including efforts tied to Hurricane Helene.

• Jackson urged parents to check Halloween candy packaging for unregulated hemp-derived THC products that mimic treats and can seriously harm children, while supporting state and federal measures to restrict sales and clarify the definition of “hemp.”

Upcoming AG Events

• November: AGA | Tribal Summit | Scottsdale, AZ

• November: AGA | Cannabis Convention & CWAG Meeting | Scottsdale, AZ

• November: DAGA | Scottsdale Policy Conference | Scottsdale, AZ

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.