State AG News
State AG
Morrisey, Capito critical of new EPA rule targeting gas-, coal-fired power plants
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says he will be challenging a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule he says will force power plants fueled by coal or natural gas to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.
State AG
Attorney General Moody Leads Legal Action Against EEOC's Abortion Mandate
Attorney General Ashley Moody, leading a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, has taken legal action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its new rule mandating accommodations for abortion under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. Moody expressed concerns stating, "Unelected commissioners under the Biden administration are seeking to hijack protections for pregnant workers by twisting language into an illegal interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. We are fighting back against the unprecedented, attempted mutation of these...
Latest News
State AG
Brief Filed Asking Wisconsin Supreme Court to Overrule Ban on Drop Boxes in Wisconsin Elections: Statement from Attorney General Kaul
MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a response brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing against the ban on drop boxes in Wisconsin elections. In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the importance of safe, secure, and accessible voting, stating, "Voting should be safe, secure and accessible — and drop boxes are. Unfortunately, the use of drop boxes has been swept into the broader and baseless attacks on our elections and our democracy."The Attorney General further explained the rationale behind the filing, saying, "Through our filing,...
State AG
Attorney General Kaul Releases Update at Three-Year Anniversary of Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative
Attorney General Josh Kaul of Wisconsin has provided an update on the progress of the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative, as the state marks the three-year anniversary of its launch. The initiative aims to address and investigate cases of abuse by clergy and faith leaders in Wisconsin.In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the department's commitment to supporting survivors and conducting independent reviews of abuse cases. He urged individuals with information about clergy and faith leader abuse to come forward, stating, “If you have information about...
State AG
Attorney General Moody Files Lawsuit Against ACC for Withholding ESPN-Related Agreements from Review
Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken legal action against the Atlantic Coast Conference for withholding public records related to ESPN-related agreements. The ACC has allegedly made claims that could potentially cost Florida State University over half a billion dollars. Attorney General Moody initially requested the ACC to produce the contracts in January, but the ACC refused to comply, leading to the lawsuit filed today.In a statement, Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her concerns, saying, “The ACC is asking a state entity—Florida State University—to...
State AG
AG Moody and Palm Beach County Sheriff Urge Participation in National Drug Take Back Day
Attorney General Ashley Moody stressed the importance of participating in the upcoming Drug Take Back Day, urging Floridians to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications. She emphasized, "Florida is losing thousands of people to drug overdose deaths every year." The event is a way for individuals to help prevent misuse of prescription medications, which can often lead to fatal addictions.During the previous National Drug Take Back Day, law enforcement officers collected nearly 600,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs across the country, with over 22,000...
State AG
Attorney General Kaul Urges Congress to Expand Access to Reproductive Health Services
On April 24, 2024, Attorney General Josh Kaul, alongside a coalition of 21 attorneys general, called on Congress to pass the Access to Family Building Act to protect the right to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) nationwide. The move comes in the wake of a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision that placed essential reproductive health services at risk by classifying frozen embryos used during IVF as people.Attorney General Kaul expressed concern over the necessity of such legislation, stating, "It’s stunning that legislation like this has become necessary." He...
State AG
Attorney General Miyares Honors Victims’ Rights Advocates at 7th Annual Unsung Heroes Award Ceremony
Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted the 7th annual Unsung Heroes Award Ceremony, recognizing Virginians who provide exemplary service and support to victims of crime in Virginia. The Office of the Attorney General established these awards to acknowledge Virginians who dedicate their work to support crime victims with trauma-informed responses in their recovery and healing journey."Unsung Heroes wake up each morning, not knowing what horrors or pain the work day could bring, but recognizing that there are crime victims in need of their support, advocacy, and care. The...
State AG
Virginia Receives $123 Million from Tobacco Settlement
Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia announced today that the state has received a payment of $122.5 million from major tobacco companies as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The agreement, finalized in 1998, aimed to address violations of consumer protection laws and deceptive marketing practices by tobacco companies, which led to increased healthcare costs for the state.Over the years, Virginia has received a total of $3.3 billion in payments from the Master Settlement Agreement, with annual payments helping to offset healthcare expenses related to...
State AG
Attorney General Moody Announces Arrest of Two Seminole County Residents for Medicaid Fraud
Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her dismay at the actions of Debora Behnke and Suman Bhattacharjee, who were arrested for their involvement in a Medicaid fraud scheme that siphoned off over $250,000 from the Medicaid program. Moody highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “Conspiring together, these individuals defrauded Medicaid out of more than $250,000." She commended the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies that led to the apprehension of the culprits, emphasizing that the fraudulent scheme has now come to an end.The Medicaid...
State AG
Attorney General Moody Honors Victim Advocates and Law Enforcement During 2023 Crime Victims’ Rights Awards Ceremony
Attorney General Ashley Moody highlighted the dedication and commitment of individuals who have gone above and beyond to assist crime victims during the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony. Moody expressed her appreciation for the award recipients, stating, “This year’s Distinguished Victim Services Award recipients have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help crime victims through their darkest days. I’m honored to highlight their incredible stories and the vital selfless work they do to help victims.”Among the recipients of the Attorney General’s...
State AG
Drug Take Back Day is April 27
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that this upcoming Saturday, April 27, 2023, is National Drug Take Back Day. Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Cleaning out your medicine cabinet to get rid of unused and unwanted medications can help with the fight against the opioid epidemic.” Wisconsinites are encouraged to participate in the more than 135 events planned across the state, in collaboration with over 248 participating law enforcement agencies.The initiative aims to provide a safe, convenient, and...
State AG
AGs urge federal court to review EPA’s new tailpipe emissions rules
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a group of 25 states calling on a federal appeals court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule on car tailpipes.
State AG
Attorney General Moody Challenges Biden Administration's Electric Vehicle Mandate
Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with a multistate coalition, has taken legal action to block a new Environmental Protection Agency emissions rule that aims to increase the production of electric vehicles (EVs) significantly. The lawsuit is in response to the Biden Administration's push for stricter emissions standards on gas and diesel-powered vehicles, with the goal of having EVs account for nearly 70% of car sales in less than a decade.In a statement, Attorney General Moody criticized the EPA's approach, saying, "Biden’s EPA continues to push radical Green New Deal...
State AG
Florida Law Enforcement Welcomes New Officers and Honors Sarasota Police Department
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody welcomed new law enforcement officers to Florida and honored the Sarasota Police Department for their exceptional efforts in reducing crime. The ceremony, which took place at the Sarasota Police Department, saw the swearing-in of nine officers, with six of them hailing from out-of-state.In her address, Attorney General Moody expressed pride in Florida's pro-law enforcement stance, stating, “Only in Florida can you host a swearing-in ceremony where more than half of the new officers are from out-of-state. This is a testament...
State AG
Law Enforcement Agencies Awarded Grants from State Opioid Settlement Funds
Twelve Tribal nations, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies have been awarded grants from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to address the dangers of opioid use in their communities. The projects funded by these grants focus on prevention, intervention, and treatment activities aimed at combating the opioid epidemic.Attorney General Josh Kaul highlighted the importance of law enforcement agencies in the fight against the opioid epidemic, emphasizing the significance of prevention and intervention efforts. Governor Tony Evers acknowledged the...
State AG
Morrisey hails USSC ruling letting Idaho enforce ban on transgender medical treatment
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has praised a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says Idaho can enforce its ban on providing puberty blockers or hormones to minors.
State AG
Morrisey leads multistate coalition in urging Congress to scrap DEI bills
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a coalition of 19 states asking Congressional leadership to reject two Democrat-sponsored bills that would codify diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly known as DEI – into law.
State AG
Office of School Safety Provides Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management Training Ahead of 25th Anniversary of Columbine Shooting
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) is conducting a Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) training in Appleton, Wis. as part of preparations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.Attorney General Josh Kaul highlighted the importance of such trainings, stating, "It has been 25 years since the Columbine tragedy, and, sadly, violence in schools hasn’t gone away. The need to be vigilant about school safety has only become clearer... we must take a proactive approach to keeping kids safe in school."...
State AG
2024 Human Trafficking Summit Speaker Proposals and Reservations Now Available
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today announced that 2024 Human Trafficking Summit reservations and speaker proposals are now available. Every year, the Summit brings together community leaders and stakeholders dedicated to the fight against trafficking. By participating in the Summit, speakers can share knowledge on the latest developments in the fight to end human trafficking to concerned citizens. Anyone interested in serving as a speaker at this year’s event should apply by April 30."Every year, our Human Trafficking Summit brings together local, state...