law-and-policy6.68 min read
Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Climate Liability Lawsuits in Boulder vs. Oil Giants
8 days ago•Source: The Guardian
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7.37 min•9 days ago
Supreme Court Opens Term with Pivotal Climate Liability Hearing
The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term on October 5 by hearing arguments in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, a landmark case determining whether federal law preempts state-level climate damages lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. Boulder seeks billions in damages from ExxonMobil and Suncor for alleged climate-related harms, alleging decades of deception. Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself due to stock holdings, creating a risk of a 4-4 split that would uphold the lower court’s decision without setting a national precedent. The outcome could impact dozens of similar lawsuits across the U.S., including a major suit by California.
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Unlawful and Ineffective: Retired Coast Guard Officers Oppose Sea Drug Strikes
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Dolly Parton’s legacy helps strike down Texas drag ban in court ruling
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DOJ Reaches Landmark Settlement With Texas Children's Hospital Over Pediatric Gender-Affirming Care
The Justice Department announced the first resolution in its national probe into alleged federal-law violations tied to pediatric gender-affirming procedures, with Texas Children’s Hospital agreeing to stop such procedures for minors, pay $10 million in damages and penalties, and fund a detransitioner care clinic; the settlement also involves alleged false billing, the hospital cooperated, and there has been no admission of liability as the investigation continues.
DOJ Moves to Revoke Citizenship for 12 Denaturalization Cases Involving Terrorism and War Crimes
The Department of Justice filed civil denaturalization actions in multiple districts against 12 naturalized U.S. citizens who allegedly concealed criminal histories and ties to terrorism, including cases involving al-Qaida, war crimes, sexual abuse of a minor, and other offenses, seeking to revoke their citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act and restore integrity to the naturalization process.
Lively case spurs push to fix freelance workplace protections
Blake Lively's sexual harassment claim against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni was dismissed, underscoring gaps in federal workplace protections for freelancers and fueling advocacy for updates as gig work becomes more common.
New Hampshire Implements Major Legal Changes in 2026, Including Ending Vehicle Inspections
New Hampshire has enacted over 300 new laws effective in 2026, including bans on gender-affirming care for minors, restrictions on sanctuary city policies, fee increases, bans on ambulance surprise billing, regulations on AI use involving minors, and enhancements to voting and public records access, among others.
Illinois Implements 400 New Laws in 2026
Illinois is implementing over 400 new laws in 2026, covering areas such as victims' rights, education, property, gun safety, and employment, with resources available to help residents understand and navigate these changes.
Key New Laws Coming in 2026: Social Media, Food Delivery, and More
Several significant laws will take effect in 2026, including tax increases and adjustments, social media restrictions for minors, new labor protections, and transgender rights regulations, impacting various aspects of American life from finances to social media use and workplace safety.
Upcoming Colorado Laws: Bison Protection, Transparency, and More in 2026
Colorado is implementing about 20 new laws starting January 1, including expanded repair rights for electronics, additional neonatal care leave, stricter gun show security requirements, rent and fee transparency, and enhanced protection for wild bison, reflecting a broad range of policy updates across various sectors.
Michigan to Implement New Laws and Wage Increases Starting January 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, Michigan will implement new laws including a 24% wholesale tax on recreational cannabis, a raise in minimum wage to $13.73, increased unemployment benefits up to $530 per week, and measures to crack down on ticket bots, along with various safety, education, and infrastructure reforms.
Judge Allows Sharing of Medicaid Data with ICE
A California federal judge allowed the federal government to share basic Medicaid participant information with ICE, but blocked sharing of more sensitive data, citing unclear policies and privacy concerns. The ruling permits sharing of minimal data like citizenship, location, and contact info, while safeguarding more detailed health data, amid ongoing legal disputes over immigration enforcement and data privacy.
Judge Allows Trump Admin to Share Medicaid Data with ICE
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can share Medicaid data with ICE only for certain basic personal information about unlawfully present immigrants, blocking access to sensitive health records and emphasizing the protection of health privacy laws, marking a setback for efforts to use Medicaid data for immigration enforcement.