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Reason Foundation: Examing California's new tech-related laws
LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Examing California's new tech-related laws
California's market size often makes compliance with its laws a national default, so the impact of these new tech laws is likely to extend well beyond the state's borders.
By Nicole Shekhovtsova, Technology Policy Analyst
California wrapped up its 2025 legislative session last September, passing 16 new technology bills and signing them into law. As expected in a state that often veers toward heavy-handed regulation, the new laws raise
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Examing California's new tech-related laws
California's market size often makes compliance with its laws a national default, so the impact of these new tech laws is likely to extend well beyond the state's borders.
By Nicole Shekhovtsova, Technology Policy Analyst
California wrapped up its 2025 legislative session last September, passing 16 new technology bills and signing them into law. As expected in a state that often veers toward heavy-handed regulation, the new laws raisenumerous problems and unanswered questions. But at a time when debates about technology are colored by fear, and both major political parties seem to favor regulatory overreach, the new California laws often managed to avoid sweeping mandates and lean toward narrower tools.
California's new tech laws by topic area
Artificial intelligence
California passed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (Senate Bill 53) after Gov. Gavin Newsom previously vetoed a broader attempt at artificial intelligence (AI) regulation ( Senate Bill 1047 ) in 2024. The law takes a narrower, transparency-focused approach, applying to developers of advanced "frontier" AI models trained using more than 10^26 computing operations. SB 53 requires large developers to publish safety frameworks, issue pre-deployment transparency reports, and notify the Office of Emergency Services of serious safety incidents. The law also adds whistleblower protections and establishes CalCompute, a state-run cloud computing cluster initiative, to expand access to high-performance computing. While critics warn that compliance obligations could favor large firms or devolve into checklist exercises, the law improves on the vetoed SB 1047 and other proposals under debate in the U.S. and Europe by avoiding sweeping mandates.
A separate push for transparency is found in Assembly Bill 853, which expands California's 2024 AI Transparency Act by requiring platforms generating AI content to preserve provenance data and make it visible to users through platform interfaces. Starting in 2028, it also requires new capture devices (such as webcams, phone cameras, and voice recorders) sold in California to be sold with a hidden label or watermark by default, identifying the device manufacturer and recording when the content is created or altered. The problem is that provenance tagging is still a work in progress, rather than a cross-platform default. Only a handful of devices can embed it today, and it's unclear whether any video cameras do. Critics fear that AB 853 will prematurely lock in provenance requirements before the technology is settled, leading to an ambiguous standard that will be hard to comply with in practice.
Assembly Bill 621 expands California's civil liability for nonconsensual, sexually explicit deepfakes and makes it easier for victims to sue not just the creator or uploader, but also certain third parties that keep "deepfake pornography services" operating. The law is notably narrower than the state's older election-deepfake bills, Assembly Bill 2655 and Assembly Bill 2839, both of which were blocked by federal courts. AB 2655 ran afoul of federal Section 230 protections because it effectively tried to force platforms to police user posts. According to the court, AB 2839 violated the First Amendment because it restricted election-related speech, particularly parody and satire, too broadly. By targeting a concrete abuse category with civil remedies rather than creating speech-policing rules, AB 621 represents a step back from the overreach of earlier efforts aimed at deepfakes.
Age verification and child online safety
Concerns about children using chatbots rose in 2025, with several disturbing stories in the media linking teen self-harm and even suicide to interactions with AI "companions." California is among the first states to respond with a new law (Senate Bill 243) requiring operators to disclose that a chatbot is not human whenever a reasonable person could mistake it for a human. The law also requires a written protocol to prevent and respond to prompts about suicide or self-harm, including referrals to crisis services like hotlines or text lines. SB 243 attempts to further set guardrails for chatbot users known to be minors, such as default settings reminding users to take a break every three hours and measures to prevent sexually explicit output content. Current fears about kids and AI-some justified, some exaggerated-make new laws aimed at chatbots inevitable. Compared to the massive overreach of federal proposals like Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley's GUARD Act, effectively an outright ban on chatbot use by minors, SB 243 is a workable path forward.
The Digital Age Assurance Act (Assembly Bill 1043) aims to protect kids online without mandating ID checks that can compromise user privacy and free speech. The law requires parents to declare a minor's age during device setup, then generates an encrypted age-bracket signal (e.g., under 13, 13-15, 16-17) that apps and services can use for compliance without collecting additional sensitive identity data. Age-verification systems proposed elsewhere incentivize the collection of driver's licenses, passports, biometrics, or credit-card information to avoid legal liability, something AB 1043 tries to mitigate by barring private lawsuits and placing enforcement in the hands of the state attorney general. Though a meaningful step toward a more privacy-preserving model, California could further strengthen that balance by making the device-level signal optional for parents rather than mandatory.
Privacy
California's privacy bills passed last year share a clear theme: They aim to facilitate the process of exiting and opting out of services and data collection when users often get stuck. The Account Cancellation Act (Assembly Bill 656) requires large social media platforms to place a clear and conspicuous "Delete Account" button directly in the settings menu, and ties account cancellation to California's existing right to delete personal information. The Opt Me Out Act (Assembly Bill 566) is a similar mandate for web browsers. Starting in 2027, browsers must include a preference signal that consumers can select to automatically communicate the choice to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information as they move across websites, but the browsers are shielded from liability if downstream businesses ignore the signal.
Business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, opposed AB 566, stating that a browser opt-out signal could disrupt targeted advertising and other ad services. Furthermore, some studies suggest that companies continue to deliver targeted ads even after opt-out signals are sent, making laws like AB 566 ineffective. The problem persists because enforcement is limited, and companies can ignore or narrowly interpret opt-out signals with relatively low risk.
The Defending Californians' Data Act (Senate Bill 361) takes aim at data brokers-companies that collect and sell personal data without any direct relationship to consumers-by strengthening the state's broker registry and making its one-stop deletion system harder to ignore. It responds to the reality that brokers can use code to keep deletion instructions out of Google search results, preventing users from exercising their rights.
Health AI and privacy
California's bills concerning the use of tech in healthcare target location surveillance around care and AI products, borrowing the authority of medical licensure. Assembly Bill 45 restricts how companies use precise location data around health care facilities, limiting the collection and use of precise geolocation near family planning centers and geofencing around in-person health care providers. It also tightens rules on releasing certain health-related research records when requests are tied to the enforcement of other states' abortion bans. Assembly Bill 489 prohibits AI models from presenting themselves as if a licensed clinician is speaking when no licensed clinician is involved. The goal is to prevent products from borrowing the authority of medical licensure, and the bill avoids the overreach of outright bans passed in states like Illinois.
Other
Assembly Bill 325 makes it easier to sue over suspected price-fixing of any goods and services, especially when rivals use the same "automatic pricing" software and their prices start changing in lockstep. Senate Bill 446 creates clearer deadlines for notifying Californians when a data breach exposes their personal information. Senate Bill 57 asks the Public Utilities Commission to evaluate whether large new data centers could drive up electricity system costs-and whether those costs might be shifted onto other customers. Assembly Bill 979 directs the state cybersecurity office to publish guidance on how government agencies and AI vendors should share threat information and coordinate on security, while also allowing some confidentiality for sensitive vulnerability details.
Additional bills are about keeping responsibility attached to a human, even when AI is doing part of the work. Senate Bill 524 sets rules for AI-assisted police reports: If an officer uses AI to draft or edit a report, the report must clearly say so, identify the tool, and the officer must sign to confirm they reviewed it. Agencies also have to keep the original AI-generated draft and basic records showing how the report was produced. Assembly Bill 316 addresses liability more broadly by preventing defendants from arguing that "the AI did it" to escape responsibility-AI may be involved, but a person or organization still owns the decision to deploy it and the consequences that follow.
Conclusion
There is a clear pattern in last year's laws: a preference for narrower, more defensible rules, especially where California has already run into vetoes or pushback from courts. SB 53 follows last year's veto of SB 1047 with a more transparency-focused framework. AB 621, rather than repeating the broad approach of some deepfake bills, focused on clearer, narrower liability. SB 243 adopts targeted disclosure and safety-protocol requirements instead of the more expansive chatbot restrictions in other proposals. It remains to be seen whether this approach persists, but because California's market size often makes state compliance a national default, the impact of these laws is likely to extend well beyond the state's borders.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/recapping-californias-2025-tech-policy-bills/
Jed Foundation: Restoring Mental Health Funding Was the Right Move. It Saved Lives
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 16 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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Restoring Mental Health Funding Was the Right Move. It Saved Lives.
[January 15, 2026, New York, New York] -- Last night's decision to restore billions of dollars in federal mental health and substance use grants was necessary. Communities across the country rely on these investments to keep counseling centers open, sustain treatment and recovery programs, retain trained clinicians, and deliver life-saving prevention services. Reinstating the funding averted immediate disruption for thousands of providers
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 16 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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Restoring Mental Health Funding Was the Right Move. It Saved Lives.
[January 15, 2026, New York, New York] -- Last night's decision to restore billions of dollars in federal mental health and substance use grants was necessary. Communities across the country rely on these investments to keep counseling centers open, sustain treatment and recovery programs, retain trained clinicians, and deliver life-saving prevention services. Reinstating the funding averted immediate disruption for thousands of providersand millions of people who depend on them.
But the brief cancellation exposed a dangerous reality: our nation's mental health infrastructure is fragile, vulnerable to abrupt policy shifts that can destabilize care overnight.
According to multiple reports, more than $1.9 billion in grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were abruptly terminated on January 13 across more than 2,800 awards. Programs supporting suicide prevention, youth mental health, overdose prevention, workforce development, domestic violence services, and community recovery were swept into the action. Termination notices landed in inboxes with little warning and limited clarity. Within hours, organizations across the country began preparing for layoffs and service closures.
Even though the funding was restored less than 24 hours later, the disruption was real: trust was shaken, operational planning was destabilized, and frontline providers faced the possibility of essential services vanishing without notice.
"This episode showed how quickly critical mental health infrastructure can be destabilized without clear guardrails," said Dr. Zainab Nneka Okolo, senior vice president of policy, advocacy & government relations at The Jed Foundation (JED). "If we want crisis systems like 988 to work, policymakers must protect the community services that make follow-up care possible. Funding stability is not optional. It is foundational."
We welcome the swift reversal of the funding cuts, and also recognize the bipartisan leadership in Congress that spoke up to protect mental health and substance use investments. But this episode should serve as a clear warning that crisis response alone cannot support the full range of prevention, treatment, and recovery services that youth need, and families depend on.
The federal government has rightly invested in the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has become a vital entry point for people seeking immediate help during moments of acute distress or crisis. Millions of calls, texts, and chats are answered each year, and lives are being saved.
Yet a crisis line cannot function in isolation.
Counselors cannot refer callers to services that no longer exist. Families cannot stabilize loved ones without accessible treatment and follow-up care. Schools and community organizations cannot absorb the downstream impact when prevention programs are stripped away.
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 34. Nearly 50,000 Americans die by suicide each year, and millions more experience suicidal thoughts or attempts. More than 2 in 5 adults personally know someone who has died by suicide, meaning the ripple effects touch tens of millions of families, workplaces, classrooms, and neighborhoods.
Decades of research tell us that suicide risk is not random. It increases when mental health and substance use conditions go untreated, when social connection erodes, when trusted adults, peer supports, and prevention programs disappear, and when follow-up care becomes harder to access after moments of crisis.
What Works: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Community-Based Systems
When funding for prevention and treatment is destabilized, the consequences are predictable. More people reach crisis, and fewer pathways exist to support recovery and stability afterward. Crisis systems become overloaded. Local capacity erodes. The safety net frays and individuals and families are left to shoulder impossible burdens.
In an interdependent mental health ecosystem, the brief cancellation of these grants--even though reversed-- is deeply consequential. It revealed how quickly essential infrastructure can be put at risk and underscored the need for stronger guardrails to protect life-saving services from abrupt disruption.
Mental health and suicide prevention are not discretionary luxuries. They are core priorities for public health and community safety. Protecting lives requires sustained investment across the full continuum of care, from upstream prevention and youth engagement to crisis response and long-term treatment and recovery.
Policymakers and Federal Leaders Should Take Three Immediate Steps
1. Safeguard community-based mental health and substance use funding from sudden destabilization. Providers need predictability to retain staff, serve patients, and plan responsibly.
2. Protect prevention and early intervention infrastructure that reduces suicide risk before a crisis occurs. Cutting upstream supports increases downstream emergencies and costs.
3. Ensure that 988 remains integrated within a functioning system of care. Maintain accessible referral pathways and continuity of services beyond the initial call.
Restoring the funding was the right decision. Now we must ensure this moment becomes a turning point toward greater stability, stronger protections, and a mental health system that is resilient enough to meet the needs of the people it serves.
When suicide prevention is treated as optional, the outcomes are predictable and preventable harm follows. We have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to choose a better path forward.
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About The Jed Foundation
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. We're partnering with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We're equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We're encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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Original text here: https://jedfoundation.org/restoring-mental-health-funding-was-the-right-move-it-saved-lives/
ITIF Says "Build Capacity First, Don't Escalate Tariffs" in Response to Trump Section 232 Proclamation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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ITIF Says "Build Capacity First, Don't Escalate Tariffs" in Response to Trump Section 232 Proclamation
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WASHINGTON-Following the Trump administration's Proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on semiconductors and related equipment, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Vice President Stephen Ezell:
The
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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ITIF Says "Build Capacity First, Don't Escalate Tariffs" in Response to Trump Section 232 Proclamation
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WASHINGTON-Following the Trump administration's Proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on semiconductors and related equipment, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Vice President Stephen Ezell:
TheTrump administration is right that the United States does not manufacture enough semiconductors-and that rebuilding domestic chip capacity is a national priority. But tariffs are not the right way to achieve that goal.
The Section 232 proclamation reflects a serious effort to assess semiconductor-related national security risks, and it correctly recognizes both the need to expand U.S. production and the continued importance of imported chips to America's technology base and AI leadership. The administration has already taken constructive steps to strengthen domestic manufacturing, including tax reforms that enable first-year expensing, permitting reforms to accelerate major projects, and the creation of a U.S. Investment Accelerator to support large-scale investment.
Against that backdrop, it matters that the newly announced 25 percent tariff is narrowly scoped. The tariff applies to a limited set of advanced AI chips intended for re-export to China and does not apply to semiconductors used broadly across the U.S. technology supply chain. That restraint avoided far more damaging outcomes that would have raised costs and disrupted critical industries.
The proclamation also directs U.S. trade negotiators to continue working with partners to reduce barriers in global semiconductor supply chains-an approach that better supports U.S. competitiveness than blunt trade measures.
At the same time, the administration has signaled that broader semiconductor tariffs remain a possibility. That would be the wrong direction. The most effective way to strengthen U.S. semiconductor leadership is through sustained investment in innovation, manufacturing capacity, and workforce development-not expanding trade restrictions.
If this narrow tariff proves to be the final outcome of the Section 232 investigation, the United States will have avoided a much more damaging result. But long-term success in semiconductors will depend on building, not taxing, America's innovation base.
Contact: Austin Slater, press@itif.org
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/01/16/itif-says-build-capacity-first-dont-escalate-tariffs-to-trump-section-232-proclamation/
Health Foundation: Record 12-hour Trolley Waits - a Grim Milestone for the NHS
LONDON, England, Jan. 16 -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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Record 12-hour trolley waits - a grim milestone for the NHS
Responding to the latest NHS monthly performance statistics, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
'The latest NHS data reveal the significant toll winter has taken on the health service, with pressures felt most acutely in A&E.
'The NHS reported 554,018 trolley waits of more than 12 hours in 2025, the highest number since current records began. This is a grim milestone and a sign of just
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Jan. 16 -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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Record 12-hour trolley waits - a grim milestone for the NHS
Responding to the latest NHS monthly performance statistics, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
'The latest NHS data reveal the significant toll winter has taken on the health service, with pressures felt most acutely in A&E.
'The NHS reported 554,018 trolley waits of more than 12 hours in 2025, the highest number since current records began. This is a grim milestone and a sign of justhow bad things have become for our emergency services. Behind each statistic is a patient waiting an unacceptably long time for the care they need, with staff delivering care in impossible conditions.
'November saw a welcome fall in the waiting list for routine hospital treatment to 7.31 million and a substantial drop in the number of patients waiting over 52 weeks, despite industrial action by resident doctors. Nevertheless, the interim recovery targets set for March 2026 - a key marker of progress on the government's pledge to restore the 18-week standard by 2029 - will remain difficult to meet.
'These pressures expose the NHS's fragility. While rising flu cases and cold weather have added to the strains on health services, the NHS has to be resilient enough to avoid patient care being severely disrupted by what has been a fairly typical winter. Even allowing for the additional impact of industrial action, the current situation exposes inherent weaknesses that have been building for years, including chronic workforce shortages and insufficient hospital and social care capacity.
'What we are seeing now is largely the result of a decade of underinvestment, compounded by the pandemic. Achieving lasting improvements will require a concerted focus on addressing the root causes. Without this, we risk normalising delays that would have been unthinkable just 10 years ago.'
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Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/record-12-hour-trolley-waits-a-grim-milestone-for-the-nhs
Germany's BMZ, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and WFP Launch New School Meals Accelerator to Help Governments Reach an Additional 100 Million Children With Nutritious Meals
NEW YORK, Jan. 16 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release:
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Germany's BMZ, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and WFP Launch New School Meals Accelerator to Help Governments Reach an Additional 100 Million Children With Nutritious Meals
BERLIN -- The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Food Programme (WFP) launch a first-of-its-kind School Meals Accelerator today to reach an additional 100 million children by 2030. The Accelerator, which gets off
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Jan. 16 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release:
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Germany's BMZ, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and WFP Launch New School Meals Accelerator to Help Governments Reach an Additional 100 Million Children With Nutritious Meals
BERLIN -- The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Food Programme (WFP) launch a first-of-its-kind School Meals Accelerator today to reach an additional 100 million children by 2030. The Accelerator, which gets offthe ground with more than US$80 million from the four founding partners, with additional support from France and the Global Partnership for Education, will connect countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean with technical assistance to strengthen and scale national school meal programmes. By pooling resources and expertise, the four founding partners seek to unlock the full potential of national school feeding programmes to combat hunger and poverty, while strengthening food and nutrition security around the world.
Announced during the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, Germany, BMZ's participation in the Accelerator underscores the country's commitment to innovation in development cooperation. Through this initiative, Germany is backing a new model that taps into the growing demand by governments to expand home-grown school meals and integrate them into broader strategies for food systems transformation, fostering equity and resilience.
"School meals are more than just a plate of food. They are a significant game changer in our global fight for better education, empowerment, health and for a better future together," said Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Germany strongly supports this initiative, which combines innovation and partnership to fight hunger and poverty."
"Governments are leading an unprecedented transformation in school meal programmes," said Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director Partnerships and Innovation of the World Food Programme (WFP). "The Accelerator supports that ambition -- working alongside WFP and other partners to help countries turn their commitments into sustainable systems that support children and communities and strengthen education and food security."
"Healthy diets in childhood are the foundation for lifelong health," said Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. "The Accelerator will help countries design programmes that improve nutrition and prevent chronic disease."
"School meals are one of the most powerful and underleveraged investments in development," said Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of Programs at The Rockefeller Foundation. "The Accelerator will help countries unlock the full potential of national school feeding programmes for their communities -- turning political commitment into sustainable systems that nourish children, support farmers, and strengthen food and nutrition security. The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support this effort as part of our $100 million commitment to regenerative school meals."
School meals have evolved into a global policy priority. Since 2020, global funding for school meals has nearly doubled -- from $43 billion to $84 billion annually -- with 99 percent now coming from domestic budgets. Today, at least 466 million children benefit from school meals--80 million more than four years ago. However, even as these programmes become increasingly popular, integrating school meals into national systems and securing long-term, sustainable financing can prove challenging.
The Accelerator was born out of the School Meals Coalition, a network of more than 110 governments and over 150 non-profit, philanthropic, and research partners, hosted by WFP as its Secretariat, working to prioritize school meals as a strategic investment. To date, 60 countries have submitted national commitments with concrete targets.
The School Meals Accelerator:
This innovative collaboration gets off the ground with the support of its four founding partners, as well as the co-chairs of the School Meals Coalition -- France, Finland and Brazil -- and inputs from many organizations and networks. These include the School Meals Coalition initiatives, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, the Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil, the International Development Research Centre, and the Global Partnership for Education, which supported inception efforts through its technical assistance facility and will continue to be a main partner, connecting the education sector to this work.
The School Meals Accelerator will aim to help governments unlock the full potential of national school feeding programmes and reach an additional 100 million children with more nutritious school meals by 2030 by:
* Bringing together governments, non-profit, and philanthropic partners to integrate school meals programmes into broader strategies, so they become a driver of systemic change rather than isolated interventions.
* Pooling expertise, resources, and innovations to foster cross-sector collaboration, advance implementation efforts, and strengthen national capacities.
* Prioritizing demand-driven support to ensure that technical assistance responds to and is reflective of countries' specific needs and contexts.
School meals programmes offer a reliable pathway out of poverty by building the skills children need to succeed later in life. They are among the most cost-effective ways to improve education quality, with measurable gains in cognitive skills, mathematics and literacy. By increasing both school participation and learning outcomes, they support future productivity and economic growth. These programmes strengthen food systems by sourcing locally and sustainably, creating markets for farmers and stimulating rural economies. They are drivers of climate resilience and regenerative agriculture, linking global sustainability goals with local livelihoods. For additional information on the opportunities provided by school meals programmes, visit School Meals Coalition | A healthy meal every day for every child.
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About Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ)
Within the German government, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is responsible for Germany's development policy. The ministry's efforts are focused on fighting poverty and hunger and ensuring that people can lead healthy lives in a healthy environment. The BMZ understands itself as a transformation ministry globally engaged in advancing the transition to sustainable economies which are compatible with the protection of the global climate and the natural environment, and simultaneously working to strengthen peace, freedom and human rights.
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About Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.
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About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity in food, health, energy, and finance, including through our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.
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About the World Food Programme (WFP)
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and recurring shocks. In 2024, 119 million children in 78 countries received school meals through national programmes supported by WFP, while reaching 20 million children directly.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/germanys-bmz-novo-nordisk-rockefeller-foundation-wfp-launch-school-meals-accelerator-help-reach-additional-100m-children/
Canada banned flavored vapes. Cigarette sales surged.
LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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Canada banned flavored vapes. Cigarette sales surged.
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New research has added to the already substantial body of evidence showing that banning flavored e-cigarettes increases traditional combustible cigarette sales. Policymakers should reconsider flavor restrictions in light of mounting evidence that such policies generate unintended consequences that undermine their public health objectives.
A November 2025 study by economists Brad Davis, Abigail Friedman, and Michael Pesko, analyzing Canadian sales
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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Canada banned flavored vapes. Cigarette sales surged.
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New research has added to the already substantial body of evidence showing that banning flavored e-cigarettes increases traditional combustible cigarette sales. Policymakers should reconsider flavor restrictions in light of mounting evidence that such policies generate unintended consequences that undermine their public health objectives.
A November 2025 study by economists Brad Davis, Abigail Friedman, and Michael Pesko, analyzing Canadian salesdata from 2018 to 2023, finds that provincial e-cigarette flavor restrictions increased cigarette sales by nearly 10 percent. Of the six provinces analyzed, three banned all flavored e-cigarettes, with the other three limited flavored vape sales to adult-only vape shops. Two provinces, Ontario and Saskatchewan, also had exemptions for mint/menthol flavors.
When provinces eliminated flavored e-cigarettes from convenience stores and gas stations-which accounted for 98 percent of vape sales in the study sample-flavored vape sales fell by more than 96 percent for menthol products and 99.9 percent for other flavored varieties. Some vapers switched to tobacco-flavored or unflavored vapes, which saw sales rise by 123 percent. But many others returned to traditional cigarettes, the most dangerous way to consume nicotine.
Canada has some of the world's strictest tobacco regulations. Unlike the United States, Canada bans menthol cigarettes nationwide, restricts flavored cigars, mandates plain packaging for combustible tobacco, and caps nicotine levels in vaping products. If flavor bans were going to work anywhere without triggering substitution back to cigarettes, Canada would be a leading candidate.
"These findings suggest that policymakers should proceed with caution in restricting NVP [nicotine vaping products] flavors: Harm due to these policies' unintended effects on cigarette consumption may outweigh the public health benefits from their impact on NVP use," the study's authors write in their conclusion.
Previous studies of U.S. sales data also found that e-cigarette flavor restrictions increased cigarette purchases, with approximately 12 additional cigarettes sold for every e-cigarette pod no longer sold due to flavor bans. Research examining young adults aged 18-29 found that flavor bans reduced daily vaping by 3.6 percentage points while increasing daily cigarette smoking by 2.2 percentage points. There are now multiple studies using different methodologies and datasets reaching the same conclusion: When you ban e-cigarette flavors, a large portion of vapers don't quit nicotine-they switch to cigarettes.
E-cigarettes, though not risk-free, are safer than combustible cigarettes, according to the Food and Drug Administration and Canada's own public health agency, Health Canada. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., with approximately 480,000 Americans dying annually from smoking-related disease. The same is true for Canada, with about 48,000 deaths per year due to tobacco use. When people substitute cigarettes for e-cigarettes, they're trading a significantly less harmful alternative for a far more dangerous one.
Seven U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and over 185 U.S. localities have already implemented some kind of e-cigarette flavor restrictions. This year, we could see more states considering the same policies. The trap policymakers often fall prey to when considering how to regulate e-cigarettes is treating vaping primarily as a youth initiation problem while ignoring its role in harm reduction for adult smokers. Flavors surely appeal to some youth, but they also appeal to adult smokers who switch away from cigarettes. Banning flavors removes a tool that helps people quit the most dangerous form of nicotine consumption.
Furthermore, banning flavors isn't necessary to curb youth vaping. In the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and many other jurisdictions where flavors are widely available, youth vaping is minimal. In 2019, the federal government raised the tobacco age to 21 to address concerns around youth vaping. Continued enforcement of laws already on the statute books, as well as education to prevent youth from starting any nicotine use, can protect youth without taking away safer alternatives from adult smokers. Policies that drive people from vaping back to smoking don't protect public health-they endanger it. Under current patterns of e-cigarette use, vaping is estimated to avoid 1.8 million premature deaths between 2013 and 2060, with 38.9 million life years gained. State legislatures considering e-cigarette flavor bans should learn from the mistakes in Canada and other U.S. jurisdictions that opted for the blunt tool of prohibition over harm reduction.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/canada-banned-flavored-vapes-cigarette-sales-surged/
Asthma & Allergy Foundation: Amid COVID-19 Vaccine Confusion, New Tool Helps Guide Decision-Making
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 16 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issued the following news release:
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Amid COVID-19 Vaccine Confusion, New Tool Helps Guide Decision-Making
AAFA releases decision aid to provide information, guide conversations with doctors
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Washington D.C. -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) announces the release of a new COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Aid, designed to help people decide if they should get the vaccine this year. The decision aid is endorsed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), the American Academy
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 16 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issued the following news release:
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Amid COVID-19 Vaccine Confusion, New Tool Helps Guide Decision-Making
AAFA releases decision aid to provide information, guide conversations with doctors
*
Washington D.C. -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) announces the release of a new COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Aid, designed to help people decide if they should get the vaccine this year. The decision aid is endorsed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), the American Academyof Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), and the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST).
The COVID-19 vaccine is proven to help prevent severe illness from COVID. It reduces the chances of hospitalization and/or death related to COVID. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance on COVID vaccination to rely on individual decision-making. This decision aid is the first such tool to help guide patients with chronic allergic, immunologic, and respiratory diseases regarding this choice.
"The virus that causes COVID-19 continues to spread in multiple waves per year and affects people of all ages and health status," said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA. "People with chronic lung disease have higher odds of serious illness or persistent symptoms (long COVID). Our new tool can be used by anyone who is evaluating their plan to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy."
The decision aid is designed for:
* People who are unsure if they want to get the COVID vaccine this year
* People who are at high risk for severe COVID or other health problems
* People worried they could have a severe case of COVID, or pass it to a loved one
* People who have had side effects from the COVID vaccine in the past, and wonder if it is worth trying again
* People who had COVID-19 in the past, even though they were vaccinated, and wonder if it is worth getting the vaccine
"This decision aid is a starting point for thinking about a person's COVID risks and the potential benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine," said Matthew Greenhawt, MD, chief medical officer at AAFA. "The vaccine is safe, with only a few common side effects. The decision aid helps you decide if you want to get a COVID vaccine each year, as the CDC now says getting a COVID vaccine is a personal decision. However, the CDC offers limited guidance to inform patient decisions. AAFA, AAAAI, ACAAI, and CHEST are the only organizations to offer a resource to help patients make this decision. We recommend talking with your doctor about your personal situation and how getting vaccinated may help keep you healthy."
People at increased risk of severe sickness or health complications from COVID include people over 65 years of age and people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, COPD, and cancer. Other high-risk factors include stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, disabilities, HIV infection, mental health conditions, tuberculosis, pregnancy, overweight/obesity, immunocompromised, organ transplant, or current or former smoker.
"The COVID-19 vaccine can be a key part of an overall approach to protecting your health," said Greenhawt. "Complications from COVID can be serious, even life-threatening. Getting the vaccine helps reduce the risk of these complications."
The COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Aid is available for download at aafa.org/covid or directly via this link: https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/covid-19-vaccine-decision-aid.pdf. People can print or use the aid digitally to walk through steps to assess risk and benefits.
Hospital systems, clinics, community health centers, and departments of health are encouraged to add this tool to their patient education libraries. Contact AAFA for interest in adding this decision aid to electronic health record systems or other licensing requests: aafa.org/contact
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About AAFA
Founded in 1953, AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma, allergies, and related conditions through research, education, advocacy, and support. AAFA offers extensive support for individuals and families affected by asthma and allergic diseases, such as food allergies and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Through its online patient support communities, network of regional chapters, and collaborations with community-based groups, AAFA empowers patients and their families by providing practical, evidence-based information and community programs and services. AAFA is the only asthma and allergy patient advocacy group that is certified to meet the standards of excellence set by the National Health Council. For more information, visit: aafa.org and kidswithfoodallergies.org
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About ACAAI
ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter/X.
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About AAAAI
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is the leading membership organization of more than 7,000 allergists / immunologists (in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries) and patients' trusted resource for allergies, asthma and immune deficiency disorders. This membership includes allergist / immunologists, other medical specialists, allied health and related healthcare professionals--all with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases.
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About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians(R) (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education, communication, and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 18,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians and its family of journals, including the flagship journal CHEST(R), visit chestnet.org.
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Original text here: https://aafa.org/amid-covid-19-vaccine-confusion-new-tool-helps-guide-decision-making/
