June 25, 2024

Enactment of Social Media Protections for Minors in NY & Planned Legislation to Restrict School Smartphone Use in CA

NY Enacts Social Media Protections for Minors New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed first-in-the-nation legislation ( SB 7694 ) prohibiting social media platforms from providing algorithmic feeds to minors to try to keep them online. But the “Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act” is likely to be challenged by tech companies. Hochul also signed a bill ( SB 7695 ) prohibiting digital services...

June 25, 2024

Changes Coming to Costly CA Labor Law, Amazon Union Joining Forces with Teamsters & More

CA to Make Changes to Labor Law Costing Employers Billions Business and labor groups in California have agreed on changes to the Private Attorney’s General Act, a landmark state law that has allowed workers to sue employers for workplace violations amounting to $10 billion over the past decade, according to one study. The changes include limiting penalties for employers that address alleged violations quickly...

June 25, 2024

PBMs Driving Up Cost of Prescription Drugs, Nixed HHS Guidance on Hospital Web Trackers & More

PBMs Driving Up Prescription Drug Prices The three largest pharmacy benefit managers—CVS Health, Cigna and UnitedHealth Group—often “steer patients toward pricier drugs, charge steep markups on what would otherwise be inexpensive medicines and extract billions of dollars in hidden fees,” according to an investigation by The New York Times . And as a result of recent mergers, the PBMs now collectively...

June 24, 2024

“Food as Medicine” Gains Acceptance in State Legislatures

With America facing an obesity epidemic , it’s no wonder some are embracing the concept that food—simple, healthy, nutritious food—is medicine in and of itself, a philosophy that’s growing in popularity among health care providers. The idea of “ food as medicine ” or “ food is medicine ” is hardly rocket science, although it is founded in science. Studies have found that...

June 18, 2024

Veto of VT’s Tough Privacy Bill, Passage of Social Media Protections for Minors in NY & More

VT Gov Vetoes Tough Privacy Bill Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) vetoed HB 121 , which would have been one of the strongest consumer data privacy laws in the nation, allowing residents to sue data brokers for violations. Scott said the measure would make the state “a national outlier and more hostile than any other state to many businesses and non-profits.” Despite overturning several of Scott’s other...

June 18, 2024

Hospital Cost Transparency Bill in PA, New Law Hindering Nursing Homes Sales in IA & More

Hospital Cost Transparency Bill Advances in PA The Pennsylvania House Health Committee approved a bill ( HB 2339 ) that would require hospitals to publish a list of the standard costs for all of their services on their website. It would also prohibit hospitals that fail to do so from collecting medical debt from patients who receive services from the hospital and from reporting that debt to a credit reporting agency...

June 11, 2024

NY’s First-in-the-nation AI Disclaimer Bills, New Gig Driver Protections & More

AI Disclaimer Bills Draw Support in NY First-of-its-kind legislation introduced last month in New York ( AB 10103 / SB 9450 ) would require generative artificial intelligence systems to notify users that the content they provide “may be inaccurate and/or inappropriate” and make violations subject to penalties of up to $100,000. The sponsors said the bills have quickly drawn lawmaker support, likely due to...

June 11, 2024

FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Against MDMA-Assisted Therapy, OH Effectively Bans Nine Synthetic Opioids & More

FDA Advisory Panel Rejects Use of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD An advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration rejected the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Among other things the panelists raised concerns about the potential for abuse of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or molly, which generates feelings of bliss and well-being. The panel’s vote isn’t...

June 11, 2024

Some State Lawmakers Getting Tougher on Data Privacy

With no action at the federal level, over a dozen states have enacted comprehensive consumer privacy legislation since 2018. Many of these bills, however, have been significantly watered down by the influence of Big Tech. A recent joint report by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) gave six of the 14 state laws that had been enacted at that time a grade of F...

May 29, 2024

Republican AGs Challenge EEOC Rules for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Last June a new federal law went into effect that requires companies with 15 or more employees to provide “reasonable accommodations” for workers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, or who have a related medical condition. Accommodations can include allowing such workers to take more bathroom breaks or sit instead of stand when on the job. Final rules issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity...

May 29, 2024

LA County’s Ambitious Plan to Reduce Medical Debt, AI-in-Health Care Bills in CA & More

LA County Launching Ambitious Plan to Address Medical Debt Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health has developed an ambitious plan to address the problem of medical debt, which impacted one in ten, or about 810,000, residents of the county and totaled over $2.6 billion in 2021. The plan calls for the tracking of patients’ debt and hospitals’ debt collection practices, as well as the forgiveness...

May 29, 2024

Interest in Labor Issues Remains Strong in State Legislatures

Back in November , we told you about a surge in victories by labor unions across the country, both on the picket line and in statehouses. Six months later, labor’s momentum continues—but that’s also sparked a backlash from anti-labor contingents. Anti-Union Legislative Effort Makes Gains in South Three southern states have enacted legislation in the 2023-2024 biennium denying eligibility for state...

May 21, 2024

Homeowners Insurers Struggling in Multiple States & Farmers’ Resumption of Business in CA

Homeowners Insurance Industry Turmoil Spreading to Other States Recent turmoil in the insurance industry related to climate change has largely been concentrated in states like California, Florida and Louisiana. But the problem appears to be spreading to other states, including Arkansas, Ohio and Utah. Last year insurers in 18 states lost money on homeowners coverage, according to analysis by The New York Times . That...

May 21, 2024

CO’s Sweeping New AI Law, VT’s Strong Data Privacy Bill & More

CO Enacts Sweeping AI Law Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed SB 205 , the most sweeping artificial intelligence legislation in the country so far. In a letter to lawmakers, the governor said he was signing the measure in the hope of furthering the national conversation about AI regulation but that he was doing so “with reservations,” and he called on lawmakers to “significantly improve” on...

May 21, 2024

AL Allows Off-Label Medical Treatment & U.S. Facing $478B in “Avoidable” Expenses from Mental Health Inequities

AL Enacts Bill Allowing Off-Label Medical Treatment Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed a bill ( SB 72 )—passed unanimously by both legislative chambers—that bars the state’s Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission from taking adverse action against doctors for prescribing or recommending off-label medical treatments. The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Arthur Orr (R) said it “just...

May 21, 2024

Plastic Pollution May Be Bigger Legislative Priority Than You Knew

For more than half a century Americans have been talking about recycling. Yet in 2024 pollution remains a top priority for state lawmakers across the country as they grapple with plastic pollution and “ forever chemical ” contamination—dual dilemmas that plague our bodies as well as the planet. Earlier this year Safer States , a national alliance of environmental health organizations, analyzed 2024...

May 14, 2024

Bills Aiding Insurers in LA, Bill Regulating ‘Bitcoin ATMs’ in VT & More

LA Enacts Bills Aiding Insurers Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed a trio of bills aimed at addressing the state’s insurance crisis, with insurers failing and fleeing the market and rates skyrocketing, as in other states at high risk of extreme weather due to climate change. HB 611 will phase out the state’s “three-year rule,” preventing insurers from dropping or raising the deductibles...

May 14, 2024

CO’s Sweeping New AI Bill, MD’s Enactment of Data Privacy and Youth Online Protection Bills & More

CO Lawmakers Pass Sweeping AI Bill Colorado lawmakers have passed the most sweeping artificial intelligence legislation (SB 205 ) in the country to date. The bill was patterned after a bill ( SB 2 ) introduced in Connecticut this year by Sen. James Maroney (D), who had hoped to create a template for AI regulation other states could follow. But the Connecticut Senate only managed to pass a scaled-down version of the...

May 14, 2024

Psychedelics, Nurse Licensing and Breast Exam Insurance Coverage Bills in AK & More

Bills Dealing with Psychedelics, Nurses and Breast Exam Insurance Coverage Near Enactment in AK Alaska’s Senate passed a pair of health care bills that originated in the House ( HB 228 and HB 237 ), sending them to Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R). A third health care-related House bill ( HB 285 ) awaits Senate committee approval. HB 228 would create a task force to recommend regulations for the use of psychedelic medicines...

May 14, 2024

State Lawmakers Take Aim at Junk Fees

Restaurateurs are accusing the California attorney general of a bait and switch on legislation targeting bait-and-switch pricing practices employed by car rental companies, hotels and other businesses—and it could have serious ramifications nationwide. In October California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law SB 478 , banning so-called “junk fees” or surcharges that businesses tack onto the cost...

May 01, 2024

CA’s Cap on Health Care Providers’ Annual Price Increases, IVF Protection Bill in LA & More

CA to Cap Health Care Providers’ Annual Price Increases at 3% California’s Health Care Affordability Board voted to limit annual price increases from doctors, hospitals and health insurers to 3%, about 2.4% below the annual rate of those increases over the past twenty years. The cap would be phased in over five years, beginning at 3.5% next year. But members of the board said the cap probably won’t...

May 01, 2024

VT Retailers’ Opposition to Data Privacy Bill, Minors’ Social Media Access Bill in AK & More

VT Retailers Fight Data Privacy Bill Orvis and other online retailers based in Vermont are mounting an effort to scale back comprehensive consumer data privacy legislation ( HB 121 ) that has been passed by the state’s House. The opposition campaign is similar to one L.L. Bean and other companies successfully waged against a consumer data privacy measure ( HB 1270 a ) in Maine earlier this year. The bills in...

April 30, 2024

Climate Change Legislation Continues to Flood Statehouses

Even as states are falling behind on their greenhouse gas emissions goals , that topic remains a top priority in legislatures across the country. Numerous bills have been introduced this year that would establish new renewable energy targets and mitigate carbon emissions. Here’s a look at the legislative climate in statehouses nationwide. States Look to Revise Climate Goals and How to Reach Them Perhaps...

April 24, 2024

Loosening of State Occupational Licensing Laws, CA’s ‘Right to Disconnect’ Bill & More

States Loosening Occupational Licensing Laws In an effort to boost their workforces, states are advancing legislation to loosen their occupational licensing laws. For example, the Louisiana House passed HB 933 , which would end licensure requirements for florists. Illinois’ Senate passed SB 3740 , which would make it easier for real estate brokers licensed in other states to practice in Illinois. And Maine’s...

April 24, 2024

ME’s Restrictive Data Privacy Bill, AR Revisiting Crypto Mining Regulation & More

ME House Passes Restrictive Data Privacy Bill Maine’s House narrowly approved a bill ( LD 1977 ) that would impose restrictions on the digital information that companies can collect. Businesses would only be allowed to collect “personal data” that is “reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide or maintain a specific product or service requested by the consumer” and only be permitted...