Featured Stories
AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
OLYMPIA, Washington, July 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
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The Washington State Attorney General's Office has agreed to an assurance of discontinuance with the homebuilder Hayden Homes and its nonprofit partner First Story, requiring them to stop adding illegal private transfer fees to properties and to pay back Washington homeowners who paid the fees. This settlement concludes the office's investigation and avoids litigation.
"Under
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OLYMPIA, Washington, July 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
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The Washington State Attorney General's Office has agreed to an assurance of discontinuance with the homebuilder Hayden Homes and its nonprofit partner First Story, requiring them to stop adding illegal private transfer fees to properties and to pay back Washington homeowners who paid the fees. This settlement concludes the office's investigation and avoids litigation.
"UnderWashington law, no one can force you to pay fees to a third party when you sell your home," said Attorney General Nick Brown. "Our agreement makes the affected homeowners whole and stops these suspect business practices."
Between 2006 and 2025, Hayden Homes put covenants on 7,627 Washington properties it sold to homebuyers. These covenants required every homeowner to pay 0.125% of the property's sales price to First Story every time a homeowner sold one of these properties. First Story is a nonprofit lending corporation founded by the CEO of Hayden Homes. More than 2,000 Washingtonians paid these fees upon selling their home. Some of the homeowners filed complaints with the AG's office, prompting this investigation.
Under the law, "charitable covenants" that require home sellers to donate to a nonprofit organization are only legal if the donations are used to directly benefit the property being sold. One of First Story's primary purposes is to lend money to people purchasing Hayden Homes, a program unrelated to the property of the homeowner paying the fee. First Story used the money to make donations to other nonprofits that homeowners did not select and often did not know about. Because First Story is so closely associated with Hayden Homes, the AG's office alleged that the payments essentially allowed Hayden Homes to take money from their client homebuyers and use it to burnish Hayden Homes' public image.
Specifically, the AG's office contended that the covenants requiring homeowners to pay a fee to First Story violated Washington's Private Transfer Fee Obligation Act and the Consumer Protection Act. The AG's office also contended that within the covenants attached to each property, Hayden Homes and First Story included threats to take legal action against homeowners if they refused to pay the fee, a deceptive practice which violated the Consumer Protection Act, since the fees were legally unenforceable.
The agreement between the AG's office and Hayden Homes requires Hayden Homes to pay $1.6 million in restitution to homeowners who paid the fee, which includes full refunds plus interest. Hayden Homes must also cease the use of these covenants and remove existing covenants from all other properties they have built or sold in Washington.
Read the agreement.
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Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ
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Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-s-office-secures-16-million-washington-homeowners-who-were-charged-illegal
Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, July 27 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
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#Griffin: 'Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937'
LITTLE ROCK - Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and 41 other state attorneys general reached a settlement with the genetic-testing company 23andMe:
"This settlement brings finality to an issue
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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, July 27 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
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#Griffin: 'Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937'
LITTLE ROCK - Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and 41 other state attorneys general reached a settlement with the genetic-testing company 23andMe:
"This settlement brings finality to an issuethat started in 2023 when 23andMe discovered a data breach that impacted 6.9 million consumers, including more than 48,000 Arkansans. The breach exposed a wide range of customer data, including, in some cases, genetic ancestry information. After initially denying the breach, the company then blamed customers for how they had set up their accounts. In March 2025, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection, and states subsequently filed claims related to the data breach investigation. Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937.
"23andMe also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in bankruptcy court to provide relief to affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by February 17, 2026.
"I am pleased to see this issue resolved and 23andMe held accountable for its failure to protect Arkansans' data."
To read the settlement agreement, click here.
To download a PDF version of this release, click here.
About Attorney General Tim Griffin
Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state's 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas's Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.
Griffin is currently an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and holds the rank of colonel. Griffin served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.
His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master's degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.
Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.
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Original text here: https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/attorney-general-griffin-announces-multistate-settlement-with-23andme-over-genetic-data-breach/
Attorney General Tong Issues Statement Following Federal Court's Decision Upholding Connecticut's Handgun Age Restriction
HARTFORD, Connecticut, July 27 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Tong Issues Statement Following Federal Court's Decision Upholding Connecticut's Handgun Age Restriction
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Attorney General William Tong today announced a major victory defending Connecticut's firearm safety laws after a federal court upheld the state's restrictions on possession and purchase of handguns by individuals under the age of 21.
In Succow v Bondi, U.S. District Judge Sarala Nagala ruled that Connecticut's age-based handgun restrictions do not violate
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HARTFORD, Connecticut, July 27 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Tong Issues Statement Following Federal Court's Decision Upholding Connecticut's Handgun Age Restriction
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Attorney General William Tong today announced a major victory defending Connecticut's firearm safety laws after a federal court upheld the state's restrictions on possession and purchase of handguns by individuals under the age of 21.
In Succow v Bondi, U.S. District Judge Sarala Nagala ruled that Connecticut's age-based handgun restrictions do not violatethe Second Amendment. The lawsuit was filed by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League (CCDL), the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and two Connecticut residents, Zachary Succow and Samuel Towne, who claimed Connecticut's laws prohibiting individuals under 21 from obtaining pistol permits or possessing handguns violated their constitutional rights.
"This is a major victory for commonsense gun safety and for Connecticut families. The court rejected another radical challenge to dismantle Connecticut's gun safety laws and affirmed what we've argued from the start. These age restrictions are constitutional and they save lives. We will continue to fight the reckless attempts to weaken Connecticut's gun safety protections," said Attorney General Tong.
Following a two-day bench trial, the judge ruled in favor of the State on every major issue, finding that Succow lacked standing to bring this challenge and that Connecticut's laws are consistent with the nation's history of regulating under-21-year-olds' ability to obtain and carry handguns. The court also upheld the constitutionality of federal laws restricting the sale of handguns to under-21-year-olds.
Deputy Associate Attorney General and Chief of the Special Litigation Section Maura Murphy, Assistant Attorneys General Blake Sullivan, James Belforti, and Tim Holzman assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
Facebook: CT Attorney General
#Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
#Consumer Inquiries:
860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov
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Original text here: https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-issues-statement-following-federal-decision-upholding-handgun-age-restriction
AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
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Boston -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced a $2.4 million assurance of discontinuance with student transportation services company Beacon Mobility Corporation, which operates through subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc., (collectively, "Beacon"), to resolve
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
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Boston -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced a $2.4 million assurance of discontinuance with student transportation services company Beacon Mobility Corporation, which operates through subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc., (collectively, "Beacon"), to resolveallegations that the company colluded to allocate contracts-raising prices-and made false statements regarding school bus transportation contracts in the City of Lynn and Towns of Dedham and Saugus.
In addition to the $2.4 million monetary payment, the majority of which will be distributed to the affected municipalities, the settlement requires Beacon to maintain an antitrust compliance program for at least five years, to notify the Attorney General's Office (AGO) of any acquisitions of other transportation companies for ten years, to cooperate with the AGO in future investigations, and to notify the AGO of any efforts by a competitor to enter into or enforce any agreement to allocate contracts, fix prices, rig bids, or share competitively sensitive information related to student transportation contracts in Massachusetts.
"When companies engage in unlawful collusion that increase costs for municipalities, it reduces their ability to fund other critical programs including our libraries, public safety agencies and schools," said AG Campbell. "My office is committed to investigating and eliminating illegal anticompetitive agreements that harm our communities."
"This vendor's corrupt exploitation of our district's efforts to get some of our most vulnerable students to school is shameful," said Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. "We very much appreciate the Attorney General and her team for holding them accountable and returning their ill-gotten gains back to our taxpayers."
"As have many of our peers in the Commonwealth, Dedham has struggled with unsustainable cost increases for many goods and services, especially since the pandemic. In order for us to provide safe and reliable services to our residents, we must have trust in our vendors and contractors, and this includes fair and transparent pricing because profits cannot come before people," said Dedham Town Manager Leon I. Goodwin. "It is reassuring to see the Attorney General's Office investigate one of the root causes of this issue and hold a company liable for their illegal actions."
Beacon is a student transportation services company registered in Delaware that provides special education transportation services to school districts in Massachusetts through its subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc.
Through the Assurance, the AGO alleges that in 2022, Beacon colluded with another student transportation services company in the region to raise prices on school districts by allocating contracts for the transportation of special education students in Saugus, Lynn, and Dedham. Beacon did so by agreeing not to compete with the other company for contracts in certain towns in exchange for not facing competition from that company in other municipalities. The AGO also alleges that Beacon made false claims for payment by concealing its collusion and signing a certificate of non-collusion in Lynn.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Katherine Krems and Division Chief Anthony Mariano of the AGO's Antitrust Division.
If you are aware of anticompetitive agreements to fix prices, allocate markets, rig bids, or share competitively sensitive information in restraint of trade, please reach out to the AGO's Antitrust Division at antitrust@mass.gov or by calling (617) 727-8400.
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ag-campbell-secures-24-million-settlement-with-school-bus-company-for-colluding-to-allocate-government-contracts-raising-prices-for-municipalities
W.Va. Secretary of State Kris Warner Issues a Statement Regarding Delegate David Elliott Pritt's Candidacy Status for the General Election
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 25 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news:
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WV Secretary of State Kris Warner issues a statement regarding Delegate David Elliott Pritt's candidacy status for the General Election
WV Secretary of State Kris Warner, along with his legal team, is aware of and has thoroughly researched the serious allegations raised against Delegate David Elliott Pritt.
Secretary Warner released the following statement:
"Our Office has received numerous calls from West Virginia citizens regarding Delegate Pritt's status on the general election
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CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 25 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news:
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WV Secretary of State Kris Warner issues a statement regarding Delegate David Elliott Pritt's candidacy status for the General Election
WV Secretary of State Kris Warner, along with his legal team, is aware of and has thoroughly researched the serious allegations raised against Delegate David Elliott Pritt.
Secretary Warner released the following statement:
"Our Office has received numerous calls from West Virginia citizens regarding Delegate Pritt's status on the general electionballot in light of the reprehensible allegations raised against him. As we all are aware, these serious allegations have received significant public attention.
A felony conviction is a disqualifying factor for candidates seeking elected office. However, candidates awaiting trial who have not been convicted of a disqualifying offense remain eligible to seek elected office, assuming no other disqualifier exists, such as no longer residing in the district they seek to represent. Under our system of justice, every person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If a candidate voluntarily withdraws from the ballot, that creates a vacancy that cannot be filled by the candidate's political party. This is a new provision of West Virginia election law enacted through House Bill 4350 (2024), which became effective January 1, 2025. In that circumstance, the candidate's political party would not have a nominee for that office on the general election ballot.
Accordingly, if Delegate Pritt withdraws from the ballot, the Republican Party cannot appoint a replacement candidate.
A political party may appoint a replacement nominee only if a vacancy results from a candidate's disqualification, such as ineligibility to hold office, before the 84th day prior to the General Election--which is August 11, 2026--or if the vacancy results from the candidate's death.
A candidate's disqualification must be determined either by a court of competent jurisdiction, such as through a qualifying conviction, or by the State Election Commission upon a written request establishing that the candidate is ineligible to hold office. To allow a political party to fill the vacancy for the 2026 General Election, that disqualification must occur no later than August 11, 2026.
We share the deep concerns of West Virginia citizens regarding the nature of the allegations against Delegate Pritt. My legal team will continue to monitor the situation closely and will respond as appropriate under West Virginia law."
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Original text here: https://sos.wv.gov/article/wv-secretary-state-kris-warner-issues-statement-regarding-delegate-david-elliott-pritts
Va. A.G. Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the manufacturers of mifepristone in Louisiana v. FDA. In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reject Louisiana's request to reinstate overly burdensome and medically unnecessary requirements
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the manufacturers of mifepristone in Louisiana v. FDA. In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reject Louisiana's request to reinstate overly burdensome and medically unnecessary requirementsthat are intended to prevent access to reproductive healthcare. This filing comes as the case returns to the Fifth Circuit for a merits determination after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed continued access to mifepristone in May 2026 while the litigation proceeds.
"Reproductive healthcare decisions are deeply personal and should be left to individuals, families, and their medical providers. That includes the medically-directed use of Mifepristone, which is a safe and potentially life-saving medication," said Attorney General Jones. "As Republican states continue to attack access to reproductive healthcare, my office will fight to ensure that Virginians and their rights are protected."
In the amicus brief, Attorney General Jones and the coalition argue that:
* Mifepristone is a safe and effective medication, as demonstrated by decades of research and clinical experience demonstrating its safety.
* The FDA's decision to remove the burdensome and medically unnecessary dispensing requirement for mifepristone was supported by scientific evidence and helped expand access to medication abortion, particularly for people facing barriers like distance, cost, and limited provider availability.
* Reinstating the unnecessary dispensing requirement would harm States' efforts to protect access to reproductive healthcare by creating unnecessary barriers for patients, straining healthcare systems, and limiting access to other essential services provided by reproductive health clinics, such as pre- and postnatal care, family planning, cancer screening, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
* Louisiana seeks to improperly elevate the policy preferences of States that have banned or restricted abortion over the preferences of other States that have made the different but equally sovereign determinations to promote access to abortion care.
In filing this amicus brief, Attorney General Jones joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3085-attorney-general-jay-jones-files-amicus-brief-supporting-continued-access-to-mifepristone-as-case-returns-to-fifth-circuit
Hawaii State Education Dept.: $140M Worth of Summer Campus Maintenance Projects Underway
HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 25 -- The Hawaii State Department of Education issued the following news:
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$140M worth of summer campus maintenance projects underway
While students and teachers have been on summer break, facilities crews have been working on more than 150 campus maintenance projects at Hawaii's public schools statewide. From flooring, roofing, air conditioning and pavement repairs to electrical, plumbing and painting improvements, the work is focused on extending the lifespan of school facilities while creating environments where students can focus on learning and achieve their
... Show Full Article
HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 25 -- The Hawaii State Department of Education issued the following news:
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$140M worth of summer campus maintenance projects underway
While students and teachers have been on summer break, facilities crews have been working on more than 150 campus maintenance projects at Hawaii's public schools statewide. From flooring, roofing, air conditioning and pavement repairs to electrical, plumbing and painting improvements, the work is focused on extending the lifespan of school facilities while creating environments where students can focus on learning and achieve theiracademic goals.
The summer break provides an ideal window to complete critical work that could disrupt teaching and learning during the school year. Completing these projects during the summer minimizes impacts on students and staff from construction noise, dust and other disruptions that might interfere with classroom instruction and daily school operations.
Over $140 million dollars is dedicated to maintenance projects underway this summer to provide preventive repairs, safety upgrades and building maintenance designed to keep school facilities safe, functioning and ready to support student success.
By investing in essential maintenance, the Hawai'i State Department of Education is helping ensure campuses remain safe, functional and welcoming for students and teachers when they return for the new school year.
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Original text here: https://hawaiipublicschools.org/2026-summer-maintenance/
Gov. Pritzker Announces Ability Engineering Technology's Expansion in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, July 25 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Governor Pritzker Announces Ability Engineering Technology's Expansion in Illinois
Advanced manufacturer to modernize South Holland operations and establish new offices at the IQMP in South Chicago
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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that Ability Engineering Technology, Inc. (AET) will expand and modernize its Illinois operations through a two-location investment, in South Holland and in
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, July 25 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Governor Pritzker Announces Ability Engineering Technology's Expansion in Illinois
Advanced manufacturer to modernize South Holland operations and establish new offices at the IQMP in South Chicago
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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that Ability Engineering Technology, Inc. (AET) will expand and modernize its Illinois operations through a two-location investment, in South Holland and inChicago at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), strengthening the state's manufacturing supply chain and supporting its growing quantum ecosystem.
"I'm proud that Ability Engineering Technology is choosing to deepen its commitment to our state and become the next major tenant at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park - helping grow our economy and solidify our quantum leadership," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Their world-renowned precision manufacturing and engineering operations will be integral in unlocking our quantum future and the transformational growth and world-changing advancements that come with it."
"Ability Engineering Technology's expansion in South Holland and at IQMP demonstrates the value of strong partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and economic growth," said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "Cook County is proud to support investments that strengthen our regional economy, create job opportunities for residents, and reinforce Illinois' position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies."
AET is the second announced tenant of the IQMP FaQtory, a building to house suppliers that are manufacturing equipment and components for companies at the Park. FaQtory is being partially funded by the CQE-led Bloch Quantum Tech Hub and partially funded by State quantum funds. The State previously announced a Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act (MICRO) agreement for Zero Point Cryogenics, who will also be a tenant at the IQMP FaQtory.
"For nearly 80 years, Ability Engineering Technology has built a global reputation for precision manufacturing and engineering excellence in South Holland," said Ability Engineering Technology President Eugene Botsoe. "This expansion builds on that legacy while advancing Illinois' ambition to lead in quantum technology. Investments in our South Holland facility will enhance our ability to deliver the highest levels of quality and capability, while our presence at the IQMP FaQtory places us at the center of Illinois' growing quantum ecosystem, where we can collaborate with leading researchers and innovators. We are grateful to Governor Pritzker and DCEO for their partnership in supporting this investment."
Headquartered in South Holland since 1947, AET is an advanced manufacturing and engineering firm that designs and manufactures engineered-to-order process equipment for cryogenic, vacuum, and other industrial applications. As part of the project, AET will establish a satellite office at the IQMP in Chicago. The new location will focus on rapid prototyping, small-scale fabrication, equipment modification, and workforce training to support IQMP tenants and affiliated research institutions. AET's expansion will support Illinois' end-to-end quantum ecosystem, creating new opportunities for manufacturers, researchers, workers, and communities across the state.
"Illinois is building the nation's leading quantum ecosystem by connecting world-class research with the manufacturers and suppliers that will bring these technologies to market," said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. "With support from the EDGE program, Ability Engineering Technology's expansion demonstrates the momentum we are creating at the IQMP, where we are strengthening a robust supplier network that will support quantum companies while creating new opportunities for Illinois manufacturers, workers, and communities."
The company will also modernize its existing 35,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in South Holland through a comprehensive upgrade that includes structural improvements, new machinery and equipment, enhanced crane and material handling systems, and workflow improvements. The modernization of AET's longstanding South Holland manufacturing facility alongside the establishment of a new satellite operation at IQMP, will further connect Illinois' manufacturing base with its rapidly growing quantum ecosystem.
"This is exactly why we're designing the IQMP to include space for suppliers on campus - so they can work alongside the customers and partners they serve, advancing the development and commercialization of quantum in a collaborative space," said Harley Johnson, CEO of the IQMP. "AET has been part of Illinois' broader ecosystem for nearly a century, creating essential equipment for industrial applications. We're thrilled to play a role in this next chapter of their business as they locate a satellite office at the Park."
With support from the State's Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, AET has committed to investing at least $1.8 million, creating at least five new full-time jobs, and retaining 23 positions. A link to the full agreement can be found here. So far in 2026, companies participating in the EDGE program have committed to creating more than 5,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in investments. The agreement builds on DCEO's longstanding support of AET, which has included export assistance for more than a decade to help the company reach international customers and strengthen its Illinois operations.
"Illinois EDC was proud to have supported AET's growth and entry into the IQMP," said Illinois EDC President and CEO Christy George. "AET's expansion strengthens the domestic supply chain essential for a thriving quantum ecosystem and shows how Illinois is connecting its long tradition of manufacturing excellence with tomorrow's technologies."
The announcement comes as Illinois welcomes global leaders to Chicago for the second annual Global Quantum Forum, which brings together experts from government, industry, and academia to advance collaboration in the quantum industry. Illinois' growing innovation ecosystem, including AET's investment at the IQMP, highlights the state's role as a leading destination for quantum research, commercialization, and manufacturing.
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Original text here: https://www.illinois.gov/news/release.html?releaseid=32752
Gov. Pillen & Sen. Bostar Ceremonially Sign Landmark Law to Shield Nebraska from Foreign Threats
LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 25 -- Gov. Jim Pillen, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release:
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Gov. Pillen & Sen. Bostar Ceremonially Sign Landmark Law to Shield Nebraska from Foreign Threats
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CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
LINCOLN, NE - Friday, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Eliot Bostar, FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, and national security advocates for a ceremonial signing of LB 1096. Brought at the request of Governor Pillen and introduced by Sen. Bostar, LB 1096 enacts sweeping protections to defend Nebraska's agricultural economy, energy and utility
... Show Full Article
LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 25 -- Gov. Jim Pillen, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release:
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Gov. Pillen & Sen. Bostar Ceremonially Sign Landmark Law to Shield Nebraska from Foreign Threats
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CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
LINCOLN, NE - Friday, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Eliot Bostar, FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, and national security advocates for a ceremonial signing of LB 1096. Brought at the request of Governor Pillen and introduced by Sen. Bostar, LB 1096 enacts sweeping protections to defend Nebraska's agricultural economy, energy and utilitygrids, public records, and communications infrastructure against hostile foreign adversaries and biological threats.
"Let's be blunt: nations like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are actively probing American infrastructure every single day. The CCP has made no secret of its desire to undermine American agriculture and infiltrate our technological backbone," said Gov. Pillen. "Nebraska will not sit back and wait for crisis to happen. We are taking offensive action to secure our fields, our grids, and our networks right now."
LB 1096 establishes comprehensive statewide defense measures against nations like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that seek to infiltrate, disrupt, or compromise essential American infrastructure and food production.
"I'm appreciative of everything that we've accomplished in LB 1096 this year. The security of our agriculture, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and financial systems is a necessary priority for our state. I'm thankful for all of the state, federal, and law enforcement partners who continue to support our efforts to protect Nebraskans," added Sen. Bostar
The new law establishes four critical areas of protection across state operations. Under the PLANT Act, LB 1096 safeguards Nebraska's top industry against biological sabotage by making the unpermitted importation of high-risk pathogens or pests a Class III felony. The law elevates the offense to a Class IIA felony if it involves origin concealment, foreign adversary funding, or causes over $1 million in economic damage to Nebraska's agricultural sector.
"The FBI is focused on stopping hostile intelligence operations and cyberattacks from foreign adversaries-but we can't do it alone. Hackers backed by the People's Republic of China have targeted critical U.S. infrastructure, including water systems, the power grid, pipelines, transportation networks, the telecommunications sector, and even home routers and cameras," said FBI Agent Kowel.
"Here in the heartland, a major cyber or bioterrorism attack on the agriculture sector, whether from a criminal actor or a foreign adversary, could be devastating. Our robust partnership with state government, private industry, law enforcement, and academia is our most powerful asset in combatting these threats."
To protect essential utilities and power networks, LB 1096 establishes strict contractual prohibitions. Governmental entities and critical infrastructure companies are prohibited from entering into contracts that allow foreign principals or hostile nations direct or remote system access. This prohibition applies to 911 dispatch networks, high-voltage electric grids, water and hazardous waste treatment facilities, and telecommunications systems.
Furthermore, the law authorizes state entities to withhold sensitive technical records concerning critical water, telecommunications, and broadband infrastructure to prevent hostile actors from mapping system vulnerabilities through public record requests. Finally, LB 1096 enforces a strict deadline of Nov. 8, 2026, for communications providers to strip all hardware and software manufactured by prohibited foreign vendors from Nebraska towers, backed by civil enforcement through the Attorney General and Public Service Commission (PSC).
"This is the fourth year in a row where Nebraska has led the nation," said founder, CEO, and Chairman of State Armor Michael Lucci. "Nowhere are there better state leaders than here in Nebraska for these critical issues.
"Nebraska's 1096 provides the best state solution for all of these problems, removing those technologies that we know provide a backdoor into our critical infrastructure, and removing the allowance for the privilege for financial technology companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party to harvest the data of Nebraskans. This law sets the example for the rest of the country," continued Lucci.
"The continued effort of legislation with real teeth that this bill represents to impose deadlines on telecommunications carriers to actually remove the problematic ear is extremely important," said Jackie Deal, also with State Armor. "It's helping accelerate implementation of a bill that's actually taking too long to get implemented at the federal level and that would be the secure and trusted Telecommunications Act that was originally proposed in 2019 and passed in 2020."
With the enactment of this bill, Nebraska sets a new national benchmark for state-level defense against foreign hostile regimes. By taking proactive measures to shield its fields, power grids, and digital networks today, the state ensures that its critical assets remain secure, sovereign, and resilient for generations to come.
"Homeland security starts at home," Gov. Pillen added. "We will continue to be a national leader in protecting our state against foreign threats."
Eugene Kowel from the FBI speaks at signing of LB 1096
Michael Lucci from State Armor speaks at signing of LB 1096
Gov. Pillen presents copy of LB 1096 to Sen. Bostar
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Original text here: https://governor.nebraska.gov/gov-pillen-sen-bostar-ceremonially-sign-landmark-law-shield-nebraska-foreign-threats
Ariz. Supreme Court Clarifies How Qualifying Agricultural Property Must Be Valued for Property Tax Purposes
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- The Arizona Supreme Court issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies How Qualifying Agricultural Property Must Be Valued for Property Tax Purposes
The Arizona Supreme Court today held that for property tax purposes, orchard trees, vineyard vines, and other permanent crops that qualify as agricultural property under Arizona law must be valued under the same income-based methodology that applies to qualifying agricultural land and may not be separately valued at market value.
The case arose after Cochise County valued
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- The Arizona Supreme Court issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies How Qualifying Agricultural Property Must Be Valued for Property Tax Purposes
The Arizona Supreme Court today held that for property tax purposes, orchard trees, vineyard vines, and other permanent crops that qualify as agricultural property under Arizona law must be valued under the same income-based methodology that applies to qualifying agricultural land and may not be separately valued at market value.
The case arose after Cochise County valuedagricultural land using the statutory income approach but also assigned separate market values to orchard trees and vineyard vines, increasing the taxable value of the properties. Agricultural landowners challenged that practice, arguing it conflicted with Arizona's agricultural-property tax statutes.
The Supreme Court concluded that Arizona's agricultural-property statutes create a unified framework. One statute identifies what property qualifies for agricultural classification, while another prescribes the exclusive method for valuing that property--an income approach based on the property's agricultural use rather than market influences. Reading those statutes together, the Court held that permanent crops are part of the qualifying agricultural property and are not subject to a separate tax.
Justice Maria Elena Cruz, writing for the unanimous Court, explained that allowing assessors to assign a separate market value to permanent crops would reintroduce market considerations that the Legislature expressly directed assessors to disregard when valuing agricultural property. It also determined that separately valuing the crops after applying the statutory income approach would effectively subject the same agricultural value to two valuation methodologies, contrary to the Legislature's prohibition against double taxation.
The Court further held that although the Arizona Department of Revenue has authority to issue manuals and guidance implementing the tax statutes, administrative guidance cannot alter or expand the valuation methods established by the Legislature. Accordingly, the Court ruled that the Department's Agricultural Property Manual is unenforceable to the extent it requires assessors to separately assign market values to permanent crops in addition to valuing qualifying agricultural property under the statutory income approach.
The Court affirmed the tax court's judgment. Although the Court agreed with the court of appeals' ultimate decision, it vacated that opinion and replaced it with its own reasoning.
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Original text here: https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/NewsReleaseCourtClarifiesHowQualifyingAgriculturalPropertyMustBeValuedforPropertyTaxPurposes.pdf
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration's continued efforts to use federal funds--specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds--to coerce states into complying with the administration's political and policy priorities.
Mayes and the coalition's lawsuit filed today challenges decisions
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PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration's continued efforts to use federal funds--specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds--to coerce states into complying with the administration's political and policy priorities.
Mayes and the coalition's lawsuit filed today challenges decisionsby the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose unlawful conditions on billions of dollars in federal funds that Congress appropriated for states to use in preparing for and responding to emergencies and natural disasters, including acts of terrorism. The conditions challenged in the lawsuit would require the states to change the way they conduct elections, including by transmitting lists of all registered voters to DHS, and to assist DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. They would also permit DHS to terminate any federal grant at any time and for any reason.
"Congress appropriated these funds to help protect our communities from terrorism, cyberattacks, and natural disasters--not to give the federal government leverage to force states to adopt unrelated political agendas," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "The Trump administration cannot hold Arizona's public safety funding hostage to coerce states into changing their election laws or diverting law enforcement resources away from the work that keeps our communities safe. We have successfully challenged these unlawful funding conditions before, and we are now going back to court to ensure Arizona receives the critical resources Congress intended and to defend the constitutional limits on federal power."
Mayes joined two similar and successful lawsuits in 2025, each in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, challenging DHS's efforts to condition billions in federal emergency funding on states' agreement to enforce federal immigration law and DHS's subsequent attempt to unlawfully reallocate federal homeland security funding away from jurisdictions it viewed as insufficiently supportive of the President's political agenda.
Now, DHS and FEMA have established grant conditions for 2026 funding that again attempt to coerce the states into complying with the administration's policy priorities. The conditions in total affect billions of dollars in funding, including over a billion dollars in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funding that states use to support security measures and protect residents from terrorism, cyberattacks and more.
First, DHS and FEMA have again threatened to impose the same immigration conditions that they attempted to impose in 2025 on all federal grant programs. The conditions would require states to devote scarce law-enforcement resources to assisting DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. These conditions were found to be unlawful and were enjoined by a district judge last year.
Second, DHS and FEMA threaten to withhold 20% of each state's counterterrorism funding if states do not change state election law to conform to the administration's policy goals. The attorneys general assert that these requirements would force states to abandon years of work and millions of dollars of investments in their elections systems, all to obtain unrelated funding that Congress earmarked for the prevention of terrorist attacks.
Specifically, the challenged funding conditions would require states to transition to paper-ballot systems, conduct a mandatory 5% manual audit of voting systems, reconcile voters and ballots using a methodology DHS has not disclosed, and use DHS's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify the citizenship of every election worker and every registered voter in state's voter databases. If states do not comply, DHS and FEMA will withhold at least 20% of each state's HSGP funding.
Finally, the challenged funding conditions unlawfully claim effectively unfettered power to terminate these grants on a whim. The agencies are attempting to add a condition that would allow FEMA to terminate any grant program for any reason. This constant threat of termination undermines the stability and reliability that these critical programs rely on to be effective. Indeed, a federal court recently rejected the Trump administration's attempts to interpret an existing regulation to have that effect.
The attorneys general argue in today's lawsuit that the grant conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution's Spending Clause.
Joining Attorney General Mayes in filing the lawsuit are attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
A copy of the complaint is available here (https://us.list-manage.com/6K_0eEFGPtt?e=b0dbe1a1e5&c2id=09345700d02fac819a23d47fdcb56250).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-files-lawsuit-challenging-unlawful-conditions-federal
