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States Target School Cell Phone Use At least four states have banned or severely restricted the use of smart phones in schools in the current legislative biennium. Florida became the first state to do...
Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs Creating Headaches for State Regulators With popular weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy in short supply, many doctors, pharmacies and other providers have...
In their seminal book on the American health care system, legendary investigative reporters Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele offered a disturbing metaphor for the illogical nature of medical pricing...
PA Lawmakers Pass Bill Regulating PBMs The Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill ( HB 1993 ) aimed at increasing oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. If signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), the measure...
In a sign of the times, states have begun pursuing bills that require disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence. In March, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed SB 149 , making the state the first...
Last month Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed SB 152, making that state the first in the nation to require teenagers to get permission from their parents before setting up a social media account. Last week Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed SB 396, requiring social media companies to verify the age of new users and obtain permission from parents or guardians of users under the age of 18. Louisiana is considering similar legislation (SB 162).
A bill introduced in Kansas (SB 222), meanwhile, would require online platforms to notify parents when a child downloads their app. And a measure (HB 712) in Iowa would prohibit social media companies from collecting or disclosing data from those under the age of 18 without parental consent. (PLURIBUS NEWS, STATE NET)
Montana became the first state in the nation to pass legislation (SB 419) entirely banning the use of TikTok. Numerous states have banned the use of TikTok on government devices over concerns about the social media platform’s ties to China, but Montana’s measure would prohibit app store providers like Apple and Google from allowing downloads of the TikTok app anywhere in the state. Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has not said whether he will sign the bill, which faces significant implementation and legal challenges. (MISSOULIAN, NPR)
The European Union approved the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry. Among other things the new rules will require crypto platforms to inform users about the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, require issuers of stablecoins to maintain sufficient reserves to handle mass withdrawals, and grant the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) the power to restrict or ban crypto platforms that fail to adequately protect investors or threaten market stability. (CNBC)
Just before closing arguments were about to begin in its lawsuit against Juul Labs for marketing e-cigarettes to teens, Minnesota reached a settlement with the company. The terms of the agreement won’t be released to the public for 30 days. A number of states have sued Juul in recent years, but Minnesota is the only state to actually bring the company to trial. (STAR TRIBUNE)
California lawmakers are considering a bill (AB 1027) that would require social media companies to retain user communications for at least seven days to help police investigate fentanyl-related deaths. The bill’s author, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D), said it was spurred by stories of young people dying after setting up drug purchases through social media. (PLURIBUS NEWS, STATE NET)
–Compiled by KOREY CLARK
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