Public Policy

  • April 13, 2026

    Legislative Update: Cannabis And Psychedelics Bill Roundup

    Massachusetts legislators sent a bill making numerous changes to the state's cannabis regulatory scheme to the governor, Oregon and Louisiana advanced legislation to expand medical marijuana access to seriously ill patients in healthcare facilities, and Virginia's governor approved legislation paving the way for medical psilocybin if the drug's federal status should change. Here are the major moves in cannabis and psychedelics legislation from the past week.

  • April 13, 2026

    White House Study Minimizes Stablecoin Risk, ABA Says

    The American Bankers Association pushed back Monday on a recent White House study that found banning stablecoin yield programs wouldn't have much benefit for bank lending, saying the study downplayed the risks from such programs by asking the "wrong question" about them.

  • April 13, 2026

    FCC Plans To Create Portal For E-Rate Bids

    The Federal Communications Commission plans to vote this month to make changes to the E-rate program, which subsidizes internet service for schools and libraries, that it says will simplify the program and make it harder for people to commit fraud.

  • April 13, 2026

    Maryland Urges Court To Block ICE Detention Center Project

    Maryland told a federal court once again that it must stop the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency from converting a local commercial warehouse into an immigrant detention center, arguing that the planned center will pollute the environment, hurt wildlife and endanger public health.

  • April 13, 2026

    Spirit Airlines Owes Millions In Fees To TSA, 11th Circ. Says

    The Eleventh Circuit ruled Monday that Spirit Airlines must remit all security fees to the Transportation Security Administration from customers who canceled flights and did not use their credits within the airline's 60-day expiration period.

  • April 13, 2026

    Texas AG Says Lululemon Clothes Have 'Forever Chemicals'

    The Texas attorney general on Monday accused Lululemon USA Inc. of selling activewear tainted with so-called forever chemicals, announcing that his office will investigate the company for allegedly misleading Texas consumers.

  • April 13, 2026

    NRA Fights To Keep Suit Against Foundation Alive

    The National Rifle Association has urged a Washington, D.C., federal judge to preserve its trademark and breach of contract suit against its charitable arm, saying the NRA has the right to bar the charitable organization from using its intellectual property.

  • April 13, 2026

    State Telecom Roundup: X Case Widens Jurisdiction Fight

    After a federal judge tossed a Washington man's suit accusing Twitter of illegally collecting his phone number, the user argued the case shouldn't have been moved to federal court anyway, and the federal courts have wrongly extended Article III jurisdiction to the lawsuit. Here's a breakdown of the problem over standing that some officials say they see coming.

  • April 13, 2026

    Engineers Ask To Add Whistleblower To TikTok Sale Case

    Software engineers from Alphabet and Meta are asking the D.C. Circuit for permission to update their petition challenging the Trump administration's handling of the TikTok U.S. divestiture, saying whistleblower allegations from a former ByteDance employee bolster their claim that the deal doesn't comply with Congress' mandate.

  • April 13, 2026

    SEC Frees Some Crypto Apps From Broker Registration

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday cleared a regulatory hurdle for some websites and smartphone applications that aid investors trading in cryptocurrencies, saying those meeting certain conditions will not have to register as brokers.

  • April 13, 2026

    DOD Asks To Keep Escort Requirement For Reporters

    The U.S. Department of Defense has asked a D.C. federal judge to allow it to continue requiring journalists to be escorted while in the Pentagon, arguing that it is essential for preventing national security leaks.

  • April 13, 2026

    NJ Man Who Sought To DQ US Atty Leadership To Plead Guilty

    A criminal defendant who joined a pending bid to disqualify assistant U.S. attorneys overseeing the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and escalated a constitutional challenge to its leadership structure told a federal judge Saturday he plans to plead guilty in his drug case. 

  • April 13, 2026

    FCC Picks Nonprofit As New Admin For Cyber Trust Mark

    The Federal Communications Commission has selected a nonprofit group focused on security of the Internet of Things as the next entity to run the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a government-endorsed seal of approval for devices.

  • April 13, 2026

    DC Judge Won't Stay Broadband Grants Suit Against Trump

    A D.C. federal judge on Monday declined to pause a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's termination of broadband infrastructure grants while the D.C. Circuit considers a separate challenge over environmental grant cuts, saying the cases are substantially different.

  • April 13, 2026

    Bay Area Trains To Get Upgrade After FCC Rule Waiver

    The Federal Communications Commission has approved a rule waiver for Hitachi Rail that will let Bay Area Regional Transportation upgrade a half-century-old train control system.

  • April 13, 2026

    Inventors Face Bayh-Dole Act Reporting Issues, GAO Says

    Universities and businesses that hold on to patent rights after receiving federal funds for developing the inventions have pointed to problems with the reporting requirements, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

  • April 13, 2026

    Scholars Say Punitive Third-Country Removals Are Unlawful

    A group of five immigration and constitutional law scholars have told the Maryland federal judge overseeing Kilmar Ábrego García's habeas case that removing noncitizens to third countries they have no ties to is unconstitutional when done as clear punishment.

  • April 13, 2026

    11th Circ. Backs FDA's Ban Over Drug Tester's Conviction

    The Eleventh Circuit on Monday backed a U.S. Food and Drug Administration order barring a former pharmaceutical worker from future interaction with the agency after she was convicted of lying during an investigation of her company, rejecting her bid for judicial review of the decision.

  • April 13, 2026

    Judge Quizzes Feds On Outsourcing College Data Survey

    A Boston federal judge on Monday questioned the Trump administration's plan to lean on a contractor to handle college admissions data as the U.S. Department of Education shrinks itself, asking a government lawyer if it was "lawful" to outsource the work.

  • April 13, 2026

    Former Pardon Atty Says Trump's Clemency Grants Hurt DOJ

    Former U.S. Department of Justice pardon attorney Liz Oyer spoke recently with Law360 about how the pardon process has changed, the impact the shift might have on the DOJ and how the system could be reformed.

  • April 13, 2026

    Group Fighting DC Sports Gambling Laws Appeals Suit Toss

    A group hoping to use a 1700s law to stop sportsbooks from operating in Washington, D.C., filed an appeal on Monday of a federal judge's decision to throw out its suit against the city and the sportsbooks.

  • April 13, 2026

    Trump Picks DOL Workers' Comp Official For NLRB Seat

    President Donald Trump tapped a U.S. Department of Labor workers' compensation official Monday to serve on the National Labor Relations Board in a move that could avert another quorum lapse and facilitate a shift away from the labor-friendly policy of the last administration.

  • April 13, 2026

    5th Circ. Finds Ban On Home Distilling Unconstitutional

    A federal ban on home distilleries that dates to the early temperance movement violates the U.S. Constitution's limits on congressional taxing power, the Fifth Circuit said in siding with hobbyists, including one who said he wants to experiment with apple-pie vodka recipes in his garage.

  • April 13, 2026

    DOJ Seeks OK On Blackstone's LivCor Rent Price-Fixing Deal

    The Justice Department has asked a North Carolina federal court to grant final approval to its settlement with LivCor LLC, a subsidiary of Blackstone, which would resolve allegations that the landlord used RealPage's revenue management software to fix rent prices.

  • April 13, 2026

    University Stiffed Energy Firm On Audit Work, Suit Says

    An energy firm says the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs refused to pay for years of completed audit work, raising objections only after the final report was delivered and invoices came due, according to a suit filed in Colorado state court.

Expert Analysis

  • How Cos. Can Prepare For 'Made In America' Ad Scrutiny

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    The Trump administration's executive order to combat fraudulent "Made in America" claims in consumer-facing advertising, along with actions by the Federal Trade Commission, suggest a potential increased focus on consumer protection and pricing-related matters, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Opinion

    FTC Case Risks Redefining Price Discrimination

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    Federal Trade Commission v. Southern Glazer puts a spotlight on the blurry line between illegal price discrimination and ordinary competition, and could potentially set a precedent that puts nearly any manufacturer at risk of Robinson-Patman Act enforcement, says Jeremy Sandford at Econic Partners.

  • Parsing Rule 12(c) Motion Overuse In Securities Class Actions

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    Defendants in securities class actions have more frequently been filing motions for judgment on the pleadings following the denial of motions to dismiss, but courts have recently demonstrated an increasing willingness to reject these previously rare motions, finding them transparent attempts to relitigate already-decided issues, say attorneys at Labaton Keller.

  • Preparing For New Calif. Pay Data Reporting Requirements

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    California's S.B. 464 overhauls the state's pay data reporting framework by requiring employers to use job categories that are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, increasing both the potential visibility of pay disparities and the complexity of compliance, say attorneys at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • Series

    Mich. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    Michigan's financial services sector saw several significant developments in 2026's first quarter, including the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services' issuance of a bulletin on the use of artificial intelligence and the Michigan House's introduction of a bill based on the Model Money Transmission Modernization Act, say attorneys at Dykema.

  • Justices' Ruling Stresses Quick Action Against Absconders

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    Following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent holding in Rico v. U.S. that a supervised release term is not automatically extended when a defendant absconds, probation officers and prosecutors risk being unable to address later violations if they don't act promptly to secure warrants, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • New DOD Framework Offers Key Guidance On PFAS Disposal

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    The U.S. Department of Defense's recently updated guidance on disposal of materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ends its moratorium on incineration of PFAS-containing waste, but contractors must be ready to demonstrate stringent compliance with the department's new permitting system, operational controls and data practices, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • How Cos. Can Navigate The Patchwork Of AI Safety Bills

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    In the first few months of 2026, state and federal lawmakers introduced hundreds of bills to address the perceived safety risks of artificial intelligence, so companies should assess whether existing or planned services could be scoped into AI safety legislation across jurisdictions, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • Unpacking FCC's Proposed Rules For Offshore Call Centers

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    The Federal Communications Commission recently proposed rules that would restrict the use of offshore customer service operations, citing consumer frustration, data security risks and fraud as core reasons for the sweeping regulatory move, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    As usual, California remained a hub for financial services activity in the first quarter of 2026, with key developments including the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's eye on consumer issues, a bill targeting "pig butchering" schemes, and jam-packed courts, say attorneys at Joseph Cohen.

  • Series

    Ultramarathons Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Completing a 100-mile ultramarathon was tougher, more humbling and more rewarding than I ever imagined, and the experience highlighted how long-distance running has sharpened my ability to adapt to the evolving nature of antitrust law and strengthened my resolve to handle demanding, unforeseen challenges, says Dan Oakes at Axinn.

  • Key Takeaways From The 2026 ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting

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    Last week's American Bar Association Spring Meeting revealed an antitrust landscape defined by heightened friction and tension — between federal and state enforcers, domestic and international regimes, competing political visions, and traditional enforcement tools and novel challenges, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • State FARA Laws Pose Unique Constitutional Challenges

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    Several states have recently enacted foreign agent registration and disclosure regimes that were modeled after the Foreign Agents Registration Act, but these state laws raise several constitutional questions, including concerns about preemption, speech and petition, and vagueness, says Alexandra Langton at Covington.

  • Series

    Pa. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    The first quarter of 2026 brought several consequential developments for Pennsylvania financial institutions, including the state banking department's first assessment overhaul in 10 years, a bill prohibiting interchange fees on card transaction sales taxes and a federal appeals court's upholding of a $52 million enforcement action, say attorneys at Gross McGinley.

  • Informal Announcements Are Reshaping FDA Regulations

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    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent shift toward using press releases, podcasts and other informal channels to announce major policy changes reflects a valid desire to modernize and accelerate regulatory efforts, but it could lead to diminished transparency, increased industry burden and reduced policy durability, says Rachel Turow at Skadden.

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