How Enviro Regulation And Review May Shift In Blue Texas

With Texas voters handing statewide leadership to Democrats in the midterm elections, businesses operating in the state face changes in regulatory oversight, permitting practices, enforcement priorities and the judiciary, which could substantially affect how environmental policies are administered, enforced and interpreted, say attorneys at Beveridge & Diamond.

Opinion

NY Must Limit Interlocutory Appeals

The New York Legislature should act to reduce the Appellate Division's outsize caseload of interlocutory civil appeals in order to develop a faster, less expensive, fairer and more coherent civil justice system, says New York Supreme Court Justice Gerald Lebovits.

New Mexico PFAS Labeling Injunction Leaves Reporting Intact

After a New Mexico federal court's ruling enjoining enforcement of the state's requirement for labels on products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, businesses need to distinguish the suspended labeling mandate from the compliance obligations that remain in place, say attorneys at Gordon Rees.

8 Ways To Prep For Calif. Fair Mortgage Lending Exams

California financial institutions face a new fair lending examination framework in January that adds formal reviews for certain banks and makes violating applicable mortgage nondiscrimination laws independently enforceable under California banking statutes, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

Opinion

Large Meta Penalties Shouldn't Shape State AG Playbook

Meta Platforms' $17.1 billion settlement in California federal court and two New Mexico verdicts against the company resulting in large penalties are drawing renewed attention to the question of how state attorneys general should calculate civil penalties, but regulators and companies should treat the decisions as outliers, not a template, say attorneys at Troutman.

McDonald's Antitrust Suits Spotlight Risks Of AI Pricing Tools

A pair of recent class actions filed against McDonald's in Illinois federal court show how antitrust challenges can arise when companies use artificial intelligence pricing tools and personalize prices for individual consumers, say attorneys at Patterson Belknap.

Planning Personal Phone Collections Before Discovery Begins

For counsel planning a personal phone collection as part of the litigation discovery process, it's important to take early steps to ensure that necessary information will be obtained without exposing unrelated information or running into access issues, says Jeremy Horowitz at MARA Forensics.

Conn. Financial Cos. Must Make AI Plans Exam-Ready

Connecticut's new artificial intelligence guidance for covered financial institutions is notable for its specificity and its broad inclusion of any AI system that materially influences business operations or risk management, detailing the need for written plans covering risk tiering, human oversight and vendor controls, says James Williams at Venable.

How Product Recalls Expose Insurance Coverage Gaps

The recent Cyclospora outbreak in iceberg lettuce highlights the potential insurance risks of a contaminated ingredient or defective product creating a ripple effect throughout an entire supply chain, leaving companies with substantial costs that standard policies may not cover, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

Meta, TikTok Cases Show How AGs May Redefine Governance

The Meta Platforms settlement and TikTok lawsuit addressing social media harms to minors highlight that state attorneys general are not merely extracting payments, but are also using litigation and settlements to impose durable product, institutional and policy change, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

How NYC Consumer Bill Could Expand Private Claims

New York City's proposed Power Act could expose companies to sweeping private claims under its prohibition on unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices, making regulatory compliance reviews and litigation-risk planning essential for businesses serving city residents, says Brian Turetsky at Hinshaw.

Key Themes In State Bank Supervisors' AI Exam Framework

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors' artificial intelligence supervisory framework introduces a set of optional questions and procedures for examiners, and it may bring meaningful consistency in how financial institutions' AI use and integration will be examined, say attorneys at Cooley.

How Feds' Shifting Guidance Hits Bank-Fintech Partnerships

A slew of recent Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reforms will ultimately give banks and fintechs more flexibility in third-party oversight and supervisory information sharing, but institutions still must document risk-based decisions and engage proactively with regulators, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

What To Watch As Florida Stablecoin Framework Takes Shape

As Florida's new payment stablecoin licensing framework enters its second month, requiring issuers to map applicable state and federal obligations and account for certification and rulemaking uncertainty, businesses should build core controls while keeping launch plans and contracts flexible, says Rob Brighton at Becker.

FTC Letters Expand Hospitals' Pricing Transparency Risks

A wave of warning letters recently sent by the Federal Trade Commission to healthcare service providers makes it clear that, in addition to complying with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' regulations, health systems must now account for the legal standards and broad investigatory power of a second enforcer, say attorneys at King & Spalding.