April 22, 2026

ME’s Data Center Ban & More

ME Lawmakers Pass Data Center Ban The Maine Legislature passed a bill ( HB 207 ) that would make the state the first to temporarily ban the development of large data centers. The measure would impose an 18-month moratorium on new data centers that use more than 20 megawatts of power and create a council of government officials, experts and other stakeholders to come up with plans for future data center development....

April 22, 2026

Ibogaine Drawing Attention from State Lawmakers and Trump & More

State and Federal Funding Flowing for Ibogaine Research President Donald Trump signed an executive order providing up to $50 million in federal funding for states to conduct research on ibogaine, a psychedelic drug that hasn’t received FDA approval for any medical use but has shown promise for treating opioid use disorder and PTSD. Several states, including Arizona, Mississippi and Texas have already approved...

April 22, 2026

Privacy Concerns about Smart Glasses Catch Legislators’ Eyes

Smart glasses, like Ray-Ban Meta frames, allow wearers to take photos and videos, listen to music and make calls without ever picking up a phone. The technology, however, can also permit users to record others without them noticing and that has begun to worry some state legislators. This year lawmakers in California and Louisiana have introduced legislation addressing burgeoning privacy concerns over smart glasses...

April 15, 2026

‘Junk Fee’ Ban Advancing in IL

IL House Passes ‘Junk Fee’ Bill The Illinois House passed a bill ( HB 228 ) that would amend the state’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to prohibit businesses from advertising, displaying or offering a price for goods or services that doesn’t include all mandatory fees and surcharges. The “junk fee” ban is similar to one the chamber passed two years ago, but vague...

April 15, 2026

Anthropic’s New AI Model Too Powerful for Public Use & More

Anthropic Not Releasing New AI Model to Public The artificial intelligence company Anthropic—recently in the headlines for demanding that the Pentagon agree to certain limitations on the use of its technology—announced last week that it would not be releasing its new AI model to the public because it is too powerful. Company executives said the new model, called Claude Mythos Preview, is capable of autonomously...

April 15, 2026

CT Bill Focusing on AI in Employment

CT Lawmakers Target AI in Employment A bill (SB 435) before Connecticut’s legislature would require employers to disclose to job applicants when they are communicating with artificial intelligence, when their resumes will be scanned by AI, or when AI will be involved in the hiring process at all. The measure would also require employers to inform unions before deploying AI and prohibit the use of AI that undermines...

April 15, 2026

Washington Joins States Limiting Employer-Mandated Worker Microchipping

On March 11, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) signed HB 2303 . The law, which takes effect June 11, bars employers from requesting, requiring or coercing workers or job applicants to accept a subcutaneous microchip implant, while exempting devices used for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment or prevention of a health condition. The law also provides a private right of action, allowing employees harmed by employers that violate...

March 31, 2026

Approval for Bank-to-Bank Stablecoin Use in ND & More

ND Regulators Approve Bank-to-Bank Stablecoin Use North Dakota’s Industrial Commission approved the use of the state bank’s planned stablecoin, the Roughrider Coin, for bank-to-bank transactions. Ten banks have expressed interest in participating in the North Dakota Banks’ pilot program for the stablecoin, which will be tied to the value of the U.S. dollar. ( NORTH DAKOTA MONITOR ) Protection from...

March 31, 2026

NY Chatbot Bill Drawing Tech Resistance

Tech Group Pushing Back on NY Chatbot Bill A tech industry group is opposing a New York bill ( SB 7263 ) aimed at preventing chatbots from impersonating a variety of licensed professionals, including veterinarians. The Consumer Technology Association, representing over 1,200 tech companies, argues the measure would hinder chatbots from providing basic information and expose operators to frivolous lawsuits. ( PLURIBUS...

March 31, 2026

Passage of KS Bill Imposing Dispensing Fee on PBMs & More

KS Lawmakers Pass PBM Bill A bill aimed at tightening regulations on PBMs ( SB 360 ), but which appeared unlikely to move forward this session, was inserted into another bill ( SB 20 ) during a conference committee hearing and passed by the House and Senate. Opponents of the measure attempted to send it back to conference committee over a $10.50 dispensing fee the bill would require PBMs to pay pharmacies on all prescriptions...

March 31, 2026

States Battle Feds over Prediction Markets

Who could have predicted this? Prediction markets have emerged as one of the biggest stories of 2026. The online platforms and apps, which allow users to bet on anything from who will win the Oscar for best actor to the temperature in Los Angeles tomorrow, have grown from an obsession of the gambling industry press to an obsession of the mainstream media in short order, with countless stories about the disruptive business...

March 25, 2026

Trump Administration’s Proposed State-Preempting National AI Policy Framework & More

New White House Policy Framework Calls for Blocking State AI Laws The Trump administration released a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence that, among other things, urges Congress to “preempt state AI laws that impose undue burdens to ensure a minimally burdensome national standard,” instead of “fifty discordant ones.” “States should not be permitted to regulate AI development...

March 25, 2026

AI in Healthcare Privacy Bill in VT & More

VT Bill Addresses Privacy of AI in Healthcare The Vermont House passed a bill ( HB 814 ) to bolster privacy protections around the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The bill would establish “neurological rights” to protect individuals’ data from being used without their consent. The bill now goes to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. ( VTDIGGER , LEXISNEXIS STATE NET) States...

March 25, 2026

Legislators Continue to Focus on Forever Chemicals

Nearly two years after the Environmental Protection Agency set drinking water limits for so-called forever chemicals, the synthetic compounds remain a focus for state legislators. Formally known as per- and polyfluorinated substances or PFAS, the chemicals are used to make coatings and products that resist heat, stains, oil, grease and water, such as Teflon. A growing body of research also indicates they may be dangerous...

March 19, 2026

CA’s Spreading Homeowners Insurance Crisis

CA’s Wildfire-Driven Insurance Crisis Spreads to Lower-Risk Homes Insurers have stopped covering homes in some California neighborhoods at lower risk of wildfire damage, forcing thousands of homeowners to turn to the state’s insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan. That coverage was intended to be a backstop for those unable to obtain insurance on the private market because they live in areas at high...

March 19, 2026

WA’s New Ban on Employee Microchipping

WA Enacts Ban on Microchipping Workers Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) signed a bill ( HB 2303 ) prohibiting companies from requiring their workers to get microchip implants. The new law allows workers to bring civil lawsuits against employers who require them to do so. There haven’t been any reports of the practice in Washington, but a company in Wisconsin offered implants to its employees in 2017. And as...

March 19, 2026

NJ Gov’s Plan to Offset Medicaid Costs & More

NJ Gov Wants Big Employers to Help Cover Cost of Medicaid New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) unveiled a state budget plan that proposes generating $145 million in funding for Medicaid by requiring large employers to pay up to $725 a year for each employee covered by the public health insurance program. Massachusetts has a similar program, and the idea has also been considered elsewhere. ( NEW JERSEY MONITOR ) MS Lawmakers...

March 18, 2026

State Officials’ Focus on Affordability Includes Prescription Drugs

When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) spoke about the need for affordable healthcare and housing last month , she joined a chorus of governors of both major parties who have made affordability a focus of their annual state of the state addresses. “Affordability is our highest priority,” said Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) . “Affordability has become one of the most talked-about issues in national...

February 18, 2026

Proposed Stock Buyback Ban for Tax Break Recipients in MI

MI to Weigh Ban on Stock Buybacks for Companies Receiving Tax Breaks Michigan Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) introduced a bill ( SB 783 ) that would prohibit publicly traded companies receiving economic incentives through the Michigan Strategic Fund from repurchasing their own stock. Violators would have to repay any incentives they received and pay a 10% penalty. ( YAHOO! FINANCE , LEXISNEXIS STATE NET) —Compiled...

February 18, 2026

VA’s Paid Sick Leave Bill

VA House Passes Paid Sick Leave Bill Virginia’s House of Delegates approved a bill ( HB 5 ) that would expand the state’s current paid sick leave law, which applies only to a small segment of workers, to include all public and private sector employees. If enacted, workers could earn an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work. ( VIRGINIA MERCURY , LEXISNEXIS STATE NET) —Compiled by SNCJ...

February 18, 2026

VA Prescription Drug Affordability Board Measure & More

VA Lawmakers Okay Prescription Drug Affordability Board Virginia lawmakers have passed legislation ( SB 271 / HB 483 ) that would create a prescription drug affordability board to review drug prices and set limits on how much state-regulated health plans can pay for drugs. The legislation is similar to that enacted in other states, but Virginia’s would be the first linking the board’s activity to drug price...

February 18, 2026

New Privacy Concern for State Lawmakers: Geolocation Data Privacy

Geolocation data has become a new frontier in privacy protection. This year, Virginia could join Maryland and Oregon as the first states to prohibit the sale of information that provides the precise geographic location of a device, object or user through GPS , IP address tracking , Wi-Fi triangulation or cellular network signals , among other means . Maryland’s and Oregon’s bans were only recently enacted...

February 11, 2026

Controversial Insurance Bill in FL & More

Insurance Bill Raises Concerns in FL A fast-moving bill ( SB 1028 ) in Florida, sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters (R), chairman of the Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee, would require Citizens Property Insurance, the state’s insurer of last resort, to set up a clearinghouse for commercial property coverage. But Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said setting up a clearinghouse could cost...

February 11, 2026

PBM Reform Bill in MS & More

MS House Passes PBM Reform Bill Mississippi’s House of Representatives passed a bill ( HB 1665 ) that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from employing clawbacks when patients’ copayments exceed the actual cost of their drugs. The bill would also require PBMs to reimburse independent pharmacists within 7 days of receiving electronic claims from them. ( MAGNOLIA TRIBUNE ) NM Enacts Interstate Doctor...

February 11, 2026

Momentum Around Data Center Legislation Grows

In June, Kansas became the 37th state to offer tax incentives to data centers, underscoring how the massive warehouse-like facilities that support the internet have become a priority for states and state legislators across the country. Indeed, the National Conference of State Legislators predicts that a litany of issues surrounding data centers will be big in 2026, from tax incentives and prevailing wage requirements...