Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Monitor – October 15, 2026

State attorneys general (AGs) 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.

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

Multistate Updates

Bipartisan State Coalition Joins FTC to Allege Deceptive Pricing and Auto-Renewal Practices by Lens.com

By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On October 2, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the AGs of Utah and Nevada, sued online contact lens retailer Lens.com, alleging that the company advertised contact lenses at prices significantly lower than what consumers ultimately paid after mandatory “Taxes & fees” charges were added during checkout.

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State AG Oversight of Health Care Transactions: Key Takeaways From NAAG

By Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

Health care market pressures and the evolving role of state enforcement were the focus of a recent National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Eastern Region meeting. Tracy Wertz, chief deputy AG of the Antitrust Section in the Pennsylvania AG’s Office, moderated the discussion with Leslie V. Gordon, director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Together, they addressed hospital closures, physician consolidation, rural health funding, and health care fraud, with particular attention to how state AGs can monitor transactions and respond to changing market conditions.

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Single-State Updates

Pennsylvania May Begin Enforcing Electronic Cigarette Directory Law on October 19

By Bryan Haynes, Agustin Rodriguez, Michael Jordan, and Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team

On October 8, Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday announced that his office may begin enforcing the commonwealth’s new electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) directory starting October 19. Pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Act 57 (72 P.S. § 206-1), importers, wholesalers, and retailers may face civil penalties for selling electronic cigarettes not listed in the state’s ENDS directory, and unlisted products may be seized, forfeited, and destroyed.

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California Governor Vetoes Sensitive Data Sale Ban: Has the Tide Turned?

By Edgar Vargas, Matthew Berns, and Sadia Mirza

California’s latest legislative session delivered a wave of privacy developments, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing a broad set of measures affecting consumer rights. But one proposal did not make it across the finish line: AB 1542, which would have prohibited the sale or sharing of sensitive personal information with third parties. This article examines the governor’s veto of AB 1542 and what it means for the direction of privacy policy and for businesses and consumers subject to California law.

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AG of the Week

James Uthmeier, Florida

James Uthmeier currently serves as the 39th AG of Florida, having been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in February 2025 following former AG Ashley Moody’s appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio. Prior to this role, Uthmeier was chief of staff for DeSantis, where he led the executive staff and oversaw 20 state agencies and more than 100,000 employees. He also served as the governor’s general counsel, managing litigation and legal affairs for the governor and state executive agencies. Earlier in his career, Uthmeier was a senior advisor and counsel to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and began his career as a litigation associate at a major national law firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Uthmeier is a candidate for a full term in the November 3, 2026, general election.

In addition to his governmental roles, Uthmeier is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He, his wife, Jean, and their children are active parishioners at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee where he and Jean co-teach religious education classes. Uthmeier grew up in Destin, FL, and graduated from the University of Florida, where he was a varsity track and cross-country athlete for the National Champion Gators. He also holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

AG in the News

• On October 1, Uthmeier filed suit in St. Lucie County under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), alleging that Pfizer and its CEO misled Floridians about the COVID-19 vaccine’s safety and ability to prevent transmission and engaged in unfair “profiteering.”  
• Uthmeier has sued Evolve Construction, LLC, Evolve Construction & Restoration, Inc., and six of their principals under FDUTPA. The suit alleges the defendants used deceptive and unconscionable tactics to prey on homeowners after Hurricanes Ian and Milton, including collecting insurance proceeds and leaving work unfinished.

Upcoming AG Events

• October: AGA | Working Group Meetings | Denver, CO
  
• October: NAAG | Fall Consumer Protection | Washington, DC
  
• November: RAGA | Fall National Meeting | Dallas, TX
  
• November: DAGA | Policy Conference | Chicago, IL
  
• November: AGA | International Delegation | Australia
  

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 ancillary regulatory issues. Our successful approach has been recognized by Chambers USA, which ranked our practice as a leader in the industry.