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GA.Regulation

Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-6 on dispensing licensees

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-6, governing dispensing licensees. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.

Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
GA.Regulation

Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-7 on independent laboratories

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-7, governing independent laboratories. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.

Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
GA.Regulation

Georgia cannabis commission adopts Rule 351-8-.07 listing grounds for product recalls

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30, 2026, to adopt Rule 351-8-.07. The rule lets the commission require a production or dispensing licensee to recall a product on evidence that it exceeds Rule 351-7-.08 contaminant limits, contains an undeclared allergen, was not made by a Class 1 or Class 2 producer, or has a battery known to explode or ignite. For other risks, licensees get written notice and a chance to respond.

Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
GA.Regulation

Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-8 on enforcement

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-8, governing enforcement. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.

Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
GA.Regulation

Georgia cannabis commission adopts Rule Chapter 351-9 creating cannabis research permits

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt new Rule Chapter 351-9, creating a research-permit pathway for the state's medical cannabis program. The chapter allows Georgia colleges and universities to partner with licensed producers to study cannabis under commission oversight. It was adopted alongside a delivery rule and recall factors as part of a package conforming the commission's rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1.

Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
CAL.Regulation

California requires protective orders for sexually explicit evidence depicting adult victims

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1056 on September 30, 2026. New Penal Code section 1054.11 requires courts, in prosecutions for specified serious felonies involving sexually explicit material depicting an adult victim, to issue a protective order limiting disclosure of that material to safeguard the victim’s privacy while preserving the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Parties may share copies only as the order permits.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, EdSource
ARIZ. CT. APP.Court order

Arizona appeals court vacates manslaughter sentence over reliance on AI victim video impact statement

The Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed Gabriel Horcasitas's manslaughter conviction but vacated his 10.5-year sentence and remanded for resentencing, holding that the trial judge's consideration of an AI-generated video of the deceased victim, Christopher Pelkey, rendered the sentencing fundamentally unfair. The three-judge panel found the video, scripted by Pelkey's sister to depict him addressing the court and forgiving the defendant, lacked sufficient reliability.

Opinion (Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One) → · Reuters, FOX 10 Phoenix, AZFamily
IND.Regulation

Indiana governor extends gas tax suspension through Nov. 4

Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed Executive Order 26-33 on September 30, 2026, renewing the state's energy emergency for 30 days, Oct. 6 through Nov. 4, in all counties. The Gasoline Use Tax and Gasoline Excise Tax are suspended for that period, and the Department of Revenue must not collect them. WDRB reported it is the sixth extension of a holiday that began in April.

Text (Office of the Governor of Indiana) → · Indiana Capital Chronicle, WDRB
IND.Regulation

Indiana governor signs EO 26-34 letting farmers run road trucks on dyed diesel

Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed Executive Order 26-34 on September 30, 2026, suspending the special fuel restriction in Ind. Code § 6-6-2.5-62(c) for farmers and timber harvesters for the duration of the state energy emergency, now renewed through Nov. 4. They may run untaxed dyed diesel in highway vehicles for farm and timber work; motor carrier safety rules other than hours of service still apply.

Text (Office of the Governor of Indiana) → · Indiana Capital Chronicle
UKPeople moves

Lloyds Banking Group names Ajneet Jassey next chief legal officer

Lloyds Banking Group appointed Ajneet Jassey as its next chief legal officer as Kate Cheetham prepares to step down at year-end after more than two decades at the bank, Legal Business reported on September 30, 2026, and The Global Legal Post followed on October 1. Jassey is currently general counsel for disputes and operations and previously worked at the Bank of England and Herbert Smith; Cheetham became CLO in 2019 after joining Lloyds TSB from Linklaters in 2005.

Announcement (Legal Business) → · The Global Legal Post

Rulings this week

All court orders

8TH CIR.Litigation

Justice Department files judicial misconduct complaint against Minnesota federal judges over press interviews

The Justice Department filed a judicial misconduct complaint with Eighth Circuit Chief Judge Steven Colloton against Minnesota federal judges who spoke to the New York Times about immigration enforcement cases. Signed by Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, it accuses Senior Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim and anonymous colleagues of violating the judicial code of conduct and asks that they be required to recuse from Homeland Security cases.

Filing (U.S. Department of Justice) → · Reuters, Bloomberg Law, CNBC
UKRegulation

SRA pauses COLP and COFA separation rules after small-firm backlash

The Solicitors Regulation Authority paused rules requiring firms to separate the COLP and COFA roles from managers with unilateral decision-making power, the Law Gazette and Legal Futures reported on September 30, 2026. The Legal Services Board-approved rules, due from January 2027 for firms above turnover or client-money thresholds, are on hold while the SRA consults stakeholders. An SME firm alliance welcomed the pause but still plans a Law Society AGM no-confidence vote.

Text (Law Gazette) → · Legal Futures
S.D. FLA.Litigation

SEC settles action against Travel + Leisure over timeshare loan portfolio disclosure omissions

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a settled civil action in the Southern District of Florida against timeshare operator Travel + Leisure Co. over undisclosed loan rescission projects. The SEC alleges that between 2019 and 2021 the company removed more than 2,900 delinquent and defaulted timeshare loans totaling about $77 million to meet its loan loss provision guidance. Without admitting the allegations, Travel + Leisure agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty, subject to court approval.

Filing (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida) → · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Bloomberg Law, TradingView
CAL.Funding

Clio acquires Learned Hand to enter the judicial AI market

Clio acquired Learned Hand, a startup building AI tools for judges and court staff, on September 30, 2026, LawSites, Legal IT Insider, Legaltech News, and Business Insider reported. Terms were not disclosed. Learned Hand’s judicial AI workspace connects to court case-management systems and is already used by U.S. courts including Los Angeles Superior Court; Clio said it will anchor the vendor’s new judiciary business.

Announcement (PR Newswire / Clio) → · LawSites, Legal IT Insider, Business Insider +1
N.D. ILL.Litigation

McDermott and former associate stipulate to dismissal of discrimination lawsuit

McDermott Will & Schulte and a former associate stipulated to dismiss with prejudice a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation, according to a September 30 filing in Chicago federal court. Reuters reported that the parties had resolved the dispute; neither the filing nor the report disclosed financial terms.

Filing (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) → · Reuters
UKPeople moves

A&O Shearman hires Stephenson Harwood secondaries partners as global co-heads

A&O Shearman hired Sarah de Ste Croix and Gabriel Boghossian from Stephenson Harwood as global co-heads of secondaries in London with their team, Global Legal Post and The Lawyer reported on September 30, 2026. They advise on continuation vehicles, LP portfolios, GP stakes, and other liquidity solutions. The firm said the hire places it among a small group of Band 1-ranked secondaries practices.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Law360, Global Legal Post, A&O Shearman
CAL.Regulation

California pilots partial property-tax exemption for moderate-income rental housing

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1294 on September 29, 2026. It adds subdivision (h) to Revenue and Taxation Code section 214, a pilot partial welfare exemption equal to the value of rental units serving low- and moderate-income households. It covers properties in Alameda County, Sacramento County or San Francisco where units are newly built, or converted from commercial use, between January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2030.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California blocks state tidelands infrastructure for new federal offshore oil leases

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1448 on September 29, 2026. The bill amends Public Resources Code section 6245 to bar the State Lands Commission and local trustees from entering new leases or conveyances authorizing new oil and gas infrastructure on tidelands and submerged lands to support Pacific outer continental shelf leases issued after January 1, 2026. Lease renewals tied to such federal leases require an informational agenda item and a 180-day pause before any vote.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California conditions state funding for recovery housing on Housing First core components

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1556 on September 29, 2026. The law adds Health and Safety Code Division 10.95, under which recovery housing programs must satisfy Housing First core components to receive state funding. Programs must offer substance-use-specific peer support, emphasize abstinence, offer permanent or interim housing, treat relapse alone as not grounds for eviction, and allow prescribed medications including buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California caps building-permit plan checks at two and makes postentitlement permit violations Housing Accountability Act violations

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1621 on September 29, 2026. Local and state agencies may not require more than two plan check and specification reviews for a building permit application. Failing to comply with any postentitlement phase permit requirement in Government Code section 65913.3, subdivisions (b) to (e), now counts as disapproving a housing development project under the Housing Accountability Act.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California disqualifies decertified officers, including federal immigration enforcers, from peace-officer service

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1627 on September 29, 2026. It amends Government Code section 1029 to disqualify from peace-officer service anyone listed in the National Decertification Index whose certification was revoked in any jurisdiction. Beginning January 1, 2028, anyone previously employed as a sworn officer or contractor and personally engaged in immigration enforcement is disqualified unless approved to enter a POST basic course.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California imposes 25% annual tax on private detention facility operators from 2028

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1633 on September 29, 2026. The Private Detention Facility Tax Law, Revenue and Taxation Code section 53000 and following, imposes an annual tax on private detention facility operators equal to 25% of their California-derived gross income, beginning July 1, 2028, whether the contracting agency is federal, state or local. The CDTFA administers the tax, and revenue goes to the Due Process for All Fund.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires agency decals on rented vehicles used for detentions and arrests

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1650 on September 29, 2026. It adds Civil Code section 1939.36, requiring privately owned vehicles rented by or furnished to law enforcement agencies to detain, arrest or transport people to display a temporary agency decal legible at 50 feet in daylight. It applies to rental contracts entered on or after January 1, 2027, with exceptions for plainclothes, undercover, exigent, tactical and protective operations.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California keeps CalWORKs eligibility for members detained in federal immigration custody

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1655 on September 29, 2026. It amends and adds Welfare and Institutions Code section 11269 so that a CalWORKs assistance-unit member detained in an immigration detention facility is treated as temporarily absent, and the household stays eligible. A written sworn statement is sufficient to establish the detention. The rule becomes operative July 1, 2027, or when the automation system is ready, whichever is later.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California extends property-tax welfare exemption for conservation lands through 2032

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1668 on September 29, 2026, as an urgency tax levy that took effect immediately. It amends Revenue and Taxation Code section 214.02 to keep the property tax welfare exemption for land used exclusively to preserve native plants, animals and open space through the 2032 lien date, with repeal on January 1, 2033. The state will not reimburse local agencies for lost revenue.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California extends CEQA exemption for affordable housing to 2037 and adds public university housing

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1732 on September 29, 2026. It amends Public Resources Code section 21080.40 to extend the CEQA exemption for qualifying affordable housing projects until January 1, 2037, and to expand it to public university and public college housing projects. Projects must meet labor standards, site and location criteria, recorded affordability requirements and, for vacant sites, tribal cultural resource conditions.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California penalizes drone flights that interfere with wildfire suppression

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1749 on September 29, 2026. The bill adds Civil Code section 1714.57, prohibiting knowingly or recklessly operating a drone to interfere with wildfire suppression or related emergency response, including under an FAA temporary flight restriction. The Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney may sue, with prevailing plaintiffs recovering civil penalties up to $75,000 per violation plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires ministerial approval of qualifying townhome subdivisions

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1751, the Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act, on September 29, 2026. New Government Code sections 66499.45 and following subject qualifying townhome subdivisions to ministerial approval on sites zoned for multifamily use or underutilized single-family-only sites. New parcels must be at least 600 square feet, with units in fee-simple, condominium, community-land-trust, limited-equity-cooperative or tenancy-in-common ownership, and tenant, rent-control and demolition protections apply.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires 180-day public notice before approving private immigration-detention buildings

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1801 on September 29, 2026. It amends Civil Code section 1670.9 to bar cities, counties and public agencies from approving the building or reuse of buildings by private companies to detain people in civil immigration custody until they give 180 days' public notice, including weekly radio broadcasts and written notices in the area's top five languages, and hear comments at two public meetings. It applies to charter cities.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires a state prosecutor to investigate immigration-officer shootings that kill unarmed civilians

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1806 on September 29, 2026. New Government Code section 12525.4 requires a state prosecutor, the Attorney General unless another is named, to conduct an independent investigation of any shooting by an immigration enforcement officer that kills an unarmed civilian, and to prepare a written report with a statement of facts and a detailed analysis and conclusion on each investigatory issue.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor