All articles tagged with #state laws
Amid this weekend's clock change, a policy split deepens as lawmakers push to abandon twice-yearly time shifts. At least 19 states have enacted laws to observe daylight saving time year-round if allowed by federal action, highlighting a broad push to fix the clock-change system.
The New York Times Upshot reports that physician assistants are seeking to rebrand themselves as “physician associates” and win broader clinical powers, a change gaining traction in states like Oregon, New Hampshire, and Maine. The PA workforce has grown dramatically since 2000, but the push to rename the role is contentious among physicians and professional groups. State regulations on supervision, collaboration, and prescribing rights remain varied, meaning the move is as much about professional identity as it is about real authority in practice.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared inclined to uphold state laws that bar transgender girls from girls’ and women’s sports teams, in cases from West Virginia and Idaho that could affect other states with similar bans.
Several key states including Missouri, Nevada, Virginia, Idaho, Oregon, and Nebraska are poised to influence abortion access through upcoming ballot measures in 2026, with debates over constitutional protections, restrictions, and broader reproductive rights amid ongoing legal and political shifts post-Roe v. Wade overturn.
Following the 2024 election, states that voted on abortion rights have seen mixed results, with some expanding access and others facing ongoing legal battles and restrictions, highlighting the ongoing flux in U.S. reproductive law and the potential for further changes in upcoming elections.
Major food companies are lobbying against state regulations on ultraprocessed foods, claiming they will increase grocery prices, while supporting a federal standard to preempt state laws, amid ongoing debates over food safety, health concerns, and affordability.
President Trump's AI czar, David Sacks, has issued an executive order to block state AI regulations, causing controversy within the tech industry and Congress, as it undermines efforts for a unified federal AI policy and sparks political and legal conflicts.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the RAISE Act into law, establishing comprehensive safety regulations for advanced AI models, including incident reporting, risk assessments, and penalties, positioning New York as a leader in AI regulation amid federal delays.
State efforts to regulate AI in housing to prevent discrimination and manipulation face potential disruption from President Trump's executive order, which aims to challenge and limit such state laws, creating legal uncertainty amid ongoing debates over AI's role in addressing housing affordability.
The Trump administration's CFPB is moving to override state laws that protect consumers from having medical debt reported on their credit reports, aiming to establish a uniform national standard under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which could impact millions of Americans with medical debt.
States are increasingly enacting laws to regulate biometric data collection amid a lack of federal regulation, with some cases leading to large settlements with tech companies. However, enforcement is challenging, especially against overseas companies like PimEyes, which operate beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Public concern about privacy and facial recognition technology is growing, but federal legislation remains stalled due to industry lobbying.
State legislatures across the U.S. are proposing and enacting laws to restrict or regulate food dyes and additives, driven by consumer demand and political movements like MAHA, amid debates over scientific evidence and industry impacts, with some states banning certain dyes in schools and others requiring warning labels, while a national standard from the FDA is anticipated.
The failure of a proposed ban on state-level AI regulation in the US Senate has increased pressure for federal AI rules, as states continue to develop their own regulations amid public support for national standards; the debate highlights political divisions and the challenge of regulating AI at the federal level.
The Senate overwhelmingly rejected a proposed 10-year moratorium on state-level AI laws, allowing states to continue regulating AI, which is seen as a victory for consumer protection and safety efforts against unregulated AI development.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to remove a provision from President Trump's tax bill that would have limited U.S. states from regulating artificial intelligence, a move opposed by major tech companies and advocates for AI safety, highlighting ongoing debates over AI regulation at the state and federal levels.