Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Monitor — June 21, 2024

State attorneys general increasingly impact businesses in all industries. Our nationally recognized state AG team has been trusted by clients for 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.

Rankings + Recognitions

Troutman Pepper’s State Attorneys General practice group achieved high rankings through Chambers USA and The Legal 500 this June.

The practice group was ranked Band 2 in the nationwide State Attorneys General category. Troutman Pepper attorneys Ashley Taylor and Clayton Friedman were recognized as Band 1 attorneys for their work representing clients across multiple industry sectors in state AG enforcement actions. This distinction makes Troutman Pepper the only firm with two attorneys in the Band 1 category. Chambers ranks attorneys based on feedback from clients and external sources, focusing on an attorney’s continued dedication to their practice.

The Legal 500 recognized Troutman Pepper as a Tier 1 practice in the Government: State Attorneys General category and named Clayton Friedman as a Leading Lawyer. Troutman Pepper attorneys Judy Jagdmann, Stephen Piepgrass, Ryan Strasser, Ashley Taylor, and Mike Yaghi were also given distinction as recommended lawyers in the State Attorneys General category.

Troutman Pepper Spotlight

Georgia on My Mind: On the Frontlines of Federal Rulemaking With AG Carr

By David Dove

In the latest episode of Regulatory Oversight, Troutman Pepper Partner David Dove welcomes Georgia Attorney General (AG) Chris Carr to discuss AG Carr’s unique approach to his role. His work is shaped by his experience in the legislative side and economic development, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving and fostering a pro-business environment in Georgia.

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Multistate AG Updates

NCAA Reaches Settlement Agreement in Multistate AG Antitrust Lawsuit

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team & Paulette Hall

Anticompetitive conduct remains a priority for state attorneys general (AGs), as evidenced by a preliminary settlement between the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and an 11-state coalition of AGs, including Virginia, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia recently entered. Notably, the U.S. Department of Justice also signed the proposed settlement agreement. Filed in the Northern District of West Virginia, the antitrust lawsuit challenged the NCAA’s transfer eligibility rule. The proposed settlement agreement is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge John Bailey, who previously granted a preliminary injunction, preventing the NCAA from enforcing the transfer rule during the spring sports season.

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State AG Updates

Massachusetts AG Secures Landmark $4M Settlement Over Alleged Staffing Violations

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team & Isaac Sherman

Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Andrea Joy Campbell announced a $4 million settlement with Next Step Healthcare, LLC (Next Step), a Massachusetts-based long-term care management company, in a deal that the AG described as the largest-ever nursing home settlement in Massachusetts. According to the AG’s announcement, Next Step operates 16 nursing homes in Massachusetts.

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New York AG Proposes Rules for Preclearance Under the New York Voting Rights Act

On June 12, the Office of the New York State Attorney General (AG) proposed a new rule related to the New York Voting Rights Act (NYVRA).

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Virginia Governor and AG Announce Withdrawal From California-Based EV Mandate

By Judy Jagdmann, Natalia Jacobo & Spencer Thomas

The Basics

Last week, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that, effective January 1, 2025, Virginia will exit a California-led electric vehicle (EV) mandate and will instead comply with less stringent federal guidelines. The announcement followed Attorney General (AG) Jason Miyares’ issuance of an official advisory opinion concluding, as a matter of law, that Virginia is not beholden to broad, recently passed mandates adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which were also set to take effect at the start of the new year.

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AG of the Week

Josh Stein, North Carolina

Josh Stein was sworn in as North Carolina’s 50th Attorney General on January 1, 2017.

AG Stein previously served as a state senator from 2009 to 2016 and as senior deputy attorney general in the North Carolina Department of Justice from 2001 and 2008. In these roles, he led efforts to expand the state’s DNA database, authored the School Safety Act as well as the Identity Theft Protection Act, worked to protect children from online predators, and addressed payday lending practices in the state.

While AG Stein served in the state Senate, he focused on public education, clean energy, and public safety. He was also a member of several committees, including the Judiciary I committee.

AG Stein earned his law and public policy degrees from Harvard University. He has worked with the Self-Help Credit Union and the North Carolina Minority Support Center, and served as legal counsel in the U.S. Senate.

North Carolina AG in the News

• On June 5, AG Stein announced the launch of DOJ Delivers, an online tool and resource that allows North Carolinians to see the work of the NC Department of Justice in their communities.

• On May 30, AG Stein announced a proposed settlement has been reached with NCAA over student athlete transfer rule.

• On May 29, AG Stein spearheaded a bipartisan group of 27 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of Idaho’s law against patent trolls.

Upcoming AG Events

• June: RAGA | Summer National Meeting | WV

• June: DAGA | Presidential Retreat | CA

• July: RAGA | Republican National Convention | WI

For more on upcoming AG Events, click here.

*Paulette Hall, Isaac Sherman, and Spencer Thomas are 2024 summer associates with Troutman Pepper and not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction.