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AG Chronicles: a monthly newsletter breaking down State Attorneys General consumer protection issues and highlighting news from the states.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
South Carolina Attorney General's Office: Consumer Protection in South Carolina and IRS Regulations Affecting Consumer Protectio
Webinar: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
Please join us for a webinar featuring special guest speakers South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and Assistant Deputy of the Consumer Protection Division Jared Libet, as they join Kelley Drye State Attorneys General Practice Chair Paul Singer, Special Counsel Abby Stempson, Special Counsel Beth Chun, and Associate Andrea deLorimier.
General Wilson and Mr. Libet will share insights into current consumer protection priorities and discuss South Carolina consumer protection law. The webinar will also feature a discussion of IRS regulations affecting consumer protection settlements. In 2021, the IRS promulgated regulations with substantial implications for consumer protection settlements involving state attorneys general or other governmental entities. With a few years of implementation now behind us, this session offers a timely opportunity to assess how these regulations have influenced the handling of consumer settlements. Mr. Libet will provide a thorough analysis of the regulations, emphasizing their impact on the tax treatment of settlement payments. The presentation will also address the reporting obligations of attorneys general and other governmental entities, and outline key considerations for businesses negotiating consumer protection settlements with an attorney general's office.
Register here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In the latest webinar in our 2025 State AG Webinar series on consumer protection priorities, our State AG team welcomed guest speakers Yael Shavit, Chief of the Consumer Protection Division in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office
To view the full webinar recording, click here.
Read the key takeaways here.
IN THE NEWS AND LATEST UPDATES
Multistate Coalition Sends CFPB Letters Opposing Proposals Shrinking Bureau Authority
Late last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with Democrat attorneys general from 18 other states and the District of Columbia, sent multiple letters to the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau opposing advanced notices of proposed rulemakings that would shrink the CFPB's oversight of the automobile finance, consumer reporting, debt collection, and international money transfer services markets. In August, the Bureau issued four ANPRs inviting comments on whether it should reduce the Bureau's "Larger Participant" supervisory authority in these four markets by increasing the transaction threshold that determines when a company becomes subject to CFPB supervision.
Two state attorneys general took actions in September to protect kids by requiring businesses to, among other things, verify the ages of their users. Specifically, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued certain pornography websites for violating Florida's Age Verification Law, and New York Attorney General Letitia James proposed rules pertaining to New York's SAFE for Kids Act.
Montana Announces Multistate Investigation of Big Tech Renewable Energy Claims
Attorney General Austin Knudsen of Montana announced a 16-state Republican investigation into four "big tech" companies regarding purportedly deceptive renewable energy claims. AG Knudsen and the states sent a letter to the companies to "raise serious concerns and request further information" regarding claims that the companies are 100% powered by renewable energy. The AGs request a response to a list of questions by October 27.
When Efforts to Support a Charity Take a Wrong Turn: Takeaways from the Kars-R-Us FTC Settlement
Companies regularly engage in cause marketing, supporting charitable causes through a variety of marketing initiatives, and a recent action brought by the FTC and attorneys general from 19 states provides a roadmap for how not to navigate those campaigns. Kars-R-Us.com, Inc. and its owners settled with the regulators for over $3.8 million (partially suspended) for allegedly engaging in deceptive charitable fundraising practices in violation of federal and state laws.
FTC and AGs Rally for Fans in Ticketmaster and Live Nation Lawsuit Over Bots and Fees
The FTC and a bipartisan coalition of seven state attorneys general sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation in the Central District of California. The FTC and most of the states brought actions under their state UDAP statutes and the federal Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act). The BOTS Act prohibits circumventing security or technological measures on a ticket website that enforces ticket limits or other purchase rules. It also prohibits selling a ticket obtained through such violations if the seller participated in or had the ability to control the conduct, or knew or should have known of the violation. The government Plaintiffs assert that Defendants have publicly claimed they prioritize getting tickets to fans and blame scalpers and resale sites for high prices. However, in actuality Defendants allegedly secretly worked with the scalpers to extract additional profit against artists' wishes resulting in consumers incurring extra costs.
NEWS FROM THE STATES
Alaska
Consumer Alert: Attorney General Warns Alaskans About Automatic Utility 'Round-Up' Programs
Arizona
Kansas
Kobach sues Snapchat for deceptive practices that harm children
Black Hills Energy ordered to pay $325K for alleged violations of Kansas Consumer Protection Act
Michigan
Attorney General Nessel Files Consumer Protection Lawsuit Against Lawn Care, Pool Company
Nebraska
Attorney General Hilgers Sues Lorex for Selling Cameras that Put Nebraskans' Security at Risk
Oregon
Attorney General Rayfield Doubles Down on Protecting Oregonians against Scams, Predatory Practices
Tennessee
Tennessee Attorney General Stands Up for Parents against Big Tech's Legal Challenge
Texas
UPCOMING EVENTS
Members of our team will be attending these upcoming conferences, in addition to RAGA and DAGA events:
- NAAG Fall Consumer Protection Conference – October 21-23, Washington, D.C.
- NAAG Capital Forum – December 8-10, Washington, D.C.
If you are interested in how we can help at these meetings, connect with us!
For more information about the State Attorneys General Practice group, click here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
