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N.Y. A.G. James, Co-signers Issue Letter to Congressional Leadership
ALBANY, New York, Sept. 26 (TNSletter) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following letter with co-signers to the Congressional leadership:
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Here is the text of the letter:
September 23, 2026
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
-
The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
-
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
-
Dear Speaker Johnson,
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, Sept. 26 (TNSletter) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following letter with co-signers to the Congressional leadership:
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Here is the text of the letter:
September 23, 2026
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
-
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
-
The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
-
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
-
Dear Speaker Johnson,Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer:
We, the undersigned Attorneys General (the "State AGs"), write to urge congressional leadership to immediately establish comprehensive federal regulation and safety protocols for frontier artificial intelligence. Recent developments show that unchecked AI endangers Americans and could soon threaten our financial system, critical infrastructure, and national security.
Although we are working to hold frontier AI labs accountable under existing state laws, federal oversight is urgently needed to prevent future disasters. We implore Congress to require comprehensive, ongoing safety protocols.
Recent Reported AI Safety Incidents
On July 16, 2026, Hugging Face, an open-source library and repository, reported that it was being attacked by an unknown third party. Within a week, OpenAI admitted its AI agents escaped a testing environment and infiltrated Hugging Face using stolen credentials.1 OpenAI was aware of the agents' capabilities but failed to adequately monitor their activity or stop their exploits. When humans engage in such activity, they violate criminal law.2
Following OpenAI's disclosure of the Hugging Face incident, other AI developers also disclosed that their AI agents had entered the open internet and performed dangerous and unlawful actions.3 An Anthropic AI model created and uploaded malware onto a public platform. Meta AI breached a (still undisclosed) third-party software platform.4 And at least one Chinese AI lab reported an agent that escaped its testing environment.5 For years, frontier labs have known about this agent behavior, termed "agentic misalignment."6 The labs caused this behavior by using "reinforcement learning," an ends justify the means approach that penalizes unsuccessful attempts and rewards models' achievement of goals regardless of how they were achieved.7
Self-Regulation Is Not Sufficient
Although frontier labs directly disclosed some recent safety incidents, other troubling revelations have come from sources other than the AI labs themselves, demonstrating the labs cannot solely be responsible for regulating themselves. For example, OpenAI originally minimized the Hugging Face incident, claiming that only a few AI agents went "to extreme lengths to achieve a rather narrow testing goal."8 Outside safety researchers then revealed that, as early as May 2026, a "swarm" of more than 1,200 OpenAI agents collaborated with each other on projects far more complex than what occurred in the Hugging Face incident.9 And despite OpenAI's professed willingness to allow the outside safety researchers to conduct a post-mortem, OpenAI restricted safety researchers' access to relevant data, thus limiting the scope and utility of the post-mortem.10
More recently, OpenAI admitted that its AI agents took over a German wiki website, but only after the incidents were publicly reported.11 According to OpenAI's safety team members, OpenAI had known about the incident for weeks but did not disclose it.12 And just a few days ago, independent researchers reported that two months prior to the Hugging Face incident, OpenAI agents uploaded malware to the RubyGems open source package registry to steal user API keys.13
Both OpenAI and Anthropic claim to be improving their model security, but no frontier lab has developed a failsafe solution to agentic misalignment. Despite knowing that their models perform dangerous and illegal acts, the labs continue to maximize their models' capabilities while imposing unproven and risky safety controls. For example, OpenAI recently claimed that it will use a "recurrent depth" technique to boost model capability, but this technique potentially makes AI agents less safe by reducing their monitorability.14
The stakes have never been higher to ensure that AI agents cannot enact grave harms. Just last week, Anthropic reported that it uncovered specific examples of its AI models being used to develop and power conventional and biological weapons, spy on sovereign nations, and fuel global cybercrime.15 If AI labs cannot prevent their models from conducting harmful and illegal activity, allowing them to release their models into the hands of bad actors only guarantees catastrophe.
Frontier Labs Are Finally Calling for Regulation
Frontier labs recognize the pressing need for a federal regulatory framework that prevents or mitigates AI risks before they materialize. Until recently, the frontier labs and their proxies have stymied such efforts. Now leaders of frontier AI labs increasingly acknowledge that they cannot manage the risks of rapid AI development without comprehensive regulation. OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer called for "mandatory, capability-based national AI safety regulation."16 And OpenAI's Chief Scientist called for coordinated slowing of model development along with strengthening model alignment and monitoring, stating "[s]caling AI systems has to be constrained by our confidence in safety."17 Similarly, Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei urged the United States to lead international coordination of AI model development because this effort "will require government support."18
The safety teams inside the AI labs are warning what will befall the United States if the federal government fails to act. Last week, Jacob Coxon, a researcher at both OpenAI and Anthropic, resigned from his position, warning:
Do not underestimate the power of this technology. These will soon be superhuman systems that can hack anything, revolutionize any field overnight, and acquire real power and resources. . . . The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.19
Anthropic's Head of the Alignment Science agreed, stating:
Jacob is correct here--we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans! I personally think it is >10% within the next decade. I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to.20
From multiple levels of these AI labs, the calls for intervention by the U.S. government are clear and urgent.
We should use this moment to hold them to these statements. Although these labs may have the capacity to prevent these harms on their own, their incentives make it unlikely that they will act with sufficient speed or effectiveness. Only regulation, coupled with accountability under existing laws, can ensure that they act in the best interests of humanity, instead of their bottom lines.
Immediate and Comprehensive Action Is Needed
Given the unprecedented capabilities of AI agents and the unique challenges they pose to far-reaching elements of society, all regulatory options must remain on the table. As a guide, Congress may look to how it previously regulated transportation systems, scientific and technical fields, and national security. At a minimum, Congress must ensure that AI model development occurs at an intentional pace, incorporates safety and transparency by design, and avoids entrenching existing large incumbents. This effort must include:
* Mandatory federal oversight of safety testing and standards, led by experts in the field of AI model safety, selected by and under the direction of federal regulators, and backed by consistent performance benchmarks.
* Uniform and transparent government-led incident response, where investigators have a broad mandate and direct access to books and records, with public findings that allow the industry to rapidly evolve in response.
* Mandatory safety infrastructure and experienced leaders to make critical safety decisions unburdened by profit maximization.
* International cooperation to pace AI advancement and prevent the development of harmful superintelligence.
* Safeguards to ensure that regulation does not undermine competition or provide cover for companies to evade their obligations under existing antitrust laws.
* Explicit preservation of state authority by prohibiting the preemption of state laws and granting state officials full authority to enforce these federal protections.
We are actively working to hold AI labs accountable under our respective state laws--including fairness obligations and AI-specific safety requirements--and we will continue to do so.21 But federal action is urgently needed to achieve the national and international coordination required to prevent catastrophic harm. We urge Congress to act now to establish these critical safeguards.
Sincerely,
Letitia A. James, New York Attorney General
Jennifer Davenport, New Jersey Attorney General
Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde, American Samoa Attorney General
Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General
Kathy Jennings, Delaware Attorney General
Brian Schwalb, District of Columbia Attorney General
Anne E. Lopez, Hawaii Attorney General
Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General
Aaron Frey, Maine Attorney General
Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Attorney General
Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General
Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General
Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General
Aaron D. Ford, Nevada Attorney General
Raul Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Attorney General
Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Attorney General
Dan Rayfield, Oregon Attorney General
Charity R. Clark, Vermont Attorney General
Peter F. Neronha, Rhode Island Attorney General
Jay Jones, Virginia Attorney General
Nick Brown, Washington Attorney General
Josh Kaul, Wisconsin Attorney General
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Original text and footnotes here: https://nmdoj.gov/wp-content/uploads/AG-Letter-Federal-AI-Regulation.pdf
News Release here: https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/attorney-general-raul-torrez-calls-on-congress-to-protect-americans-from-unchecked-ai-development/
N.M. Higher Education Dept.: State Health Care Loan Repayment Program Draws Record Demand as New Mexico Invests $25 Million
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Sept. 26 -- The New Mexico Department of Higher Education issued the following news release:
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State health care loan repayment program draws record demand as New Mexico invests $25 million
25 Sep, 2026
SANTA FE -- A record number of health care professionals, more than 2,000, applied for help repaying their student loans in exchange for serving in New Mexico. The surge in demand exceeded the largest investment in the program's history.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department's Health Professional Loan Repayment Program received $25 million this fiscal year, a
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Sept. 26 -- The New Mexico Department of Higher Education issued the following news release:
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State health care loan repayment program draws record demand as New Mexico invests $25 million
25 Sep, 2026
SANTA FE -- A record number of health care professionals, more than 2,000, applied for help repaying their student loans in exchange for serving in New Mexico. The surge in demand exceeded the largest investment in the program's history.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department's Health Professional Loan Repayment Program received $25 million this fiscal year, arecord appropriation from the Legislature.
That funding supported awards for roughly 7 percent of applicants, including 73 physicians among the 2,066 eligible health care workers who applied.
"Health care workers who are committed to serving New Mexico deserve our commitment to this highly beneficial loan repayment program," said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. "This program has made it possible for thousands of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to remain in New Mexico and maintain their practice, and we want to ensure it continues to do that well into the future."
Legislation passed this spring raised award amounts for physicians to up to $75,000 per year, with a maximum of $300,000 per provider and required that half of each year's appropriation go to physicians.
The change is aimed at recruiting and keeping doctors in the communities that most need them, particularly in rural New Mexico. Because demand has grown so much, not every award can be funded, a gap the department hopes to close with continued support from the Legislature.
Legislative tweaks to program requirements that were approved this year have further consolidated the amount of money available for non-physician applicants who also apply for the program like mental health professionals, nurses and other health care professionals.
Since 2019, the program has supported more than 1,700 health care professionals across New Mexico. The growing demand also underscores how essential the program has become for retaining providers statewide. Even with expanded funding, applications reached record levels.
The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program has experienced a dramatic increase in demand in recent years, leaving less funding available for applicants seeking student loan debt relief and potentially reducing the number of health professionals who would remain in New Mexico to practice with the financial support of this program.
"The goal of this program is to boost New Mexico's health care workforce, and it has shown signs of success," said Rodriguez. "But, frankly, the program needs more funding to accomplish that goal, therefore, we urge legislators to focus on expanding funding in the next session, as the overwhelming demand shows how essential this support is for New Mexico's healthcare workforce."
"I would never have been able to establish my practice in New Mexico, let alone remain here long-term, without the critical backing of the New Mexico [Health Professional Loan Repayment] Program," said Dr. Kyle W. Sanders of San Juan Regional Medical Center. "Eight years later, New Mexico is our forever home. In that time, we have built a robust, full-time, full-service department. Patients across our region now have immediate access to highly specialized, life-saving oncology and trauma care seven days a week, none of which would exist without this program.
"The foresight of our state lawmakers in establishing this initiative, paired with ongoing improvements to the medical malpractice environment, is essential to attracting and retaining top-tier physicians. Investments like this ensure that rural residents do not have to leave the state for world-class treatment."
The loan repayment program "made my worries about finances decrease significantly," said Kristin Riordan, who is an occupational therapist at the Raymond G. Murphy VA. "I recently purchased a house in Northern New Mexico which will allow me to continue to work here and grow my roots in this community."
For more information about the New Mexico Higher Education Department and its programs, visit hed.nm.gov.
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Original text here: https://hed.nm.gov/news/state-health-care-loan-repayment-program-draws-record-demand-as-new-mexico-invests-25-million
N.H. A.G. Formella: Former Owner of Kia of Somersworth Found Guilty for Stealing Over $89,000 From Customers
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Sept. 26 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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September 25, 2026
Former Owner of Kia of Somersworth Found Guilty for Stealing Over $89,000 from Customers
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that a Strafford County Superior Court jury has found Said Yahyapour, age 68, of Stratham, New Hampshire, guilty on 32 felony charges of Theft by Misapplication of Property in connection with the operation of his former car dealership, Kia of Somersworth.
The jury found that between 2016 and 2017, Mr. Yahyapour
... Show Full Article
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Sept. 26 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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September 25, 2026
Former Owner of Kia of Somersworth Found Guilty for Stealing Over $89,000 from Customers
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that a Strafford County Superior Court jury has found Said Yahyapour, age 68, of Stratham, New Hampshire, guilty on 32 felony charges of Theft by Misapplication of Property in connection with the operation of his former car dealership, Kia of Somersworth.
The jury found that between 2016 and 2017, Mr. Yahyapourobtained money from various financial institutions, upon agreement, or subject to a known legal obligation to make specified payments to Portfolio Holding, Inc., and recklessly failed to make the agreed upon payments and instead dealt with the money as his own. The money was obtained after Yahyapour sold extended warranty contracts and insurance policies to his customers. The jury found that Yahyapour was required to pay Portfolio Holding, Inc. in order to fund the policies and ensure the customers received the coverage he sold to them but instead kept the money to fund other obligations of the dealership. The total amount received by Yahyapour for the unfunded policies was more than $89,000.00.
Yahyapour owned and operated Kia of Somersworth between 2008 and 2018. Following the closure of the dealership, the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office performed an extensive investigation into Yahyapour's failure to fund warranty and insurance policies that were sold by the dealership.
The charges are class A felonies and are punishable by up to 7 1/2 -15 years at the New Hampshire State Prison and/or a maximum fine of $4,000 for each charge. Yahyapour is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026 at 9:00 in Strafford County Superior Court.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/former-owner-kia-somersworth-found-guilty-stealing-over-89000-customers
Maine State Sen. Pierce Earns Score of 100% From Maine Women's Lobby
AUGUSTA, Maine, Sept. 26 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth:
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Sen. Pierce earns score of 100% from Maine Women's Lobby
September 25, 2026 | Senator Pierce
AUGUSTA -- Senate Majority Leader Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, earned a perfect score from the Maine Women's Lobby for votes during the 132nd Legislature.
"Supporting measures to protect the rights, health and well-being of women builds safe communities and strong economies," said Sen. Pierce. "Whether it's investing in family planning and childcare or
... Show Full Article
AUGUSTA, Maine, Sept. 26 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth:
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Sen. Pierce earns score of 100% from Maine Women's Lobby
September 25, 2026 | Senator Pierce
AUGUSTA -- Senate Majority Leader Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, earned a perfect score from the Maine Women's Lobby for votes during the 132nd Legislature.
"Supporting measures to protect the rights, health and well-being of women builds safe communities and strong economies," said Sen. Pierce. "Whether it's investing in family planning and childcare orbreaking down systemic barriers, these new laws will make a difference and reaffirm our caucus' commitment to delivering on issues that are meaningful to Maine women."
Sen. Pierce has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights and health throughout her legislative career in both the House and the Senate. In 2026, Pierce led the effort to invest $5 million in ongoing funds for family planning service providers across Maine - often the only access point to essential healthcare for many Mainers.
The full report card can be found here (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe258011006361ee2898809/t/6a4fd9f8dd3e55459250c889/1783618040198/2026+Leg+Report+Card.pdf).
Sen. Teresa S. Pierce is serving her second term in the Maine Senate and serves as the Majority Leader. Sen. Pierce is also a member of the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and Transportation Committee. She represents Senate District 25, which includes Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth (majority), Gray and Long Island.
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Original text here: https://www.mainesenate.org/sen-pierce-earns-score-of-100-from-maine-womens-lobby/
Maine State Sen. Duson Earns Score of 100% From Maine Women's Lobby
AUGUSTA, Maine, Sept. 26 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Jill C. Duson, D-Portland:
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Sen. Duson earns score of 100% from Maine Women's Lobby
September 25, 2026 | Senator Duson
AUGUSTA -- Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson, D-Portland, has earned a perfect score from the Maine Women's Lobby for votes during the 132nd Legislature.
"With the chaos we're seeing down in Washington, it's incumbent on Maine leaders - including the Senate's all-women leadership team - to stand strong in protecting rights and opportunities for women,"
... Show Full Article
AUGUSTA, Maine, Sept. 26 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Jill C. Duson, D-Portland:
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Sen. Duson earns score of 100% from Maine Women's Lobby
September 25, 2026 | Senator Duson
AUGUSTA -- Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson, D-Portland, has earned a perfect score from the Maine Women's Lobby for votes during the 132nd Legislature.
"With the chaos we're seeing down in Washington, it's incumbent on Maine leaders - including the Senate's all-women leadership team - to stand strong in protecting rights and opportunities for women,"said Sen. Duson. "In my family, economic security, family planning and standing up to injustice aren't political issues - they're personal, and I know many families feel the same way. I will continue to be a voice for women in the halls of the State House and communities across Maine."
Sen. Duson has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights and healthcare throughout her time in the Senate. Her record in the 132nd Legislature includes sponsorship and cosponsorship of the following new laws:
* LD 117, An Act to Provide Funding for Sexual Assault Services
* LD 143, An Act to Improve Women's Health and Economic Security by Funding Family Planning Services
* LD 1554, Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor to Report on Sexual Harassment
* LD 1816, An Act to Establish a Statewide Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Kit Tracking System and Conduct an Inventory of Existing Forensic Examination Kits in the Possession of Law Enforcement
* LD 2163, An Act to Enhance Crime Victims' Rights
The full report card can be found here (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe258011006361ee2898809/t/6a4fd9f8dd3e55459250c889/1783618040198/2026+Leg+Report+Card.pdf).
Sen. Jill Duson is serving her second term in the Maine Senate, representing Senate District 27, which includes part of Portland and part of Westbrook. She has served as Senate Assistant Majority Leader since November 2024. She is a member of the Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and Government Oversight Committee. Sen. Duson is the first Black woman to serve in the Maine Senate.
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Original text here: https://www.mainesenate.org/sen-duson-earns-score-of-100-from-maine-womens-lobby/
Calif. Gov. Newsom Signs "Braun's Law," and Package of Bills to Crack Down on DUI Offenders
SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 26 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release:
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Sep 25, 2026
Governor Newsom signs "Braun's Law," and package of bills to crack down on DUI offenders
What you need to know: Delivering on the promise of safer communities, Governor Newsom today announced the signing of stricter DUI laws, including SB 907, known as "Braun's Law," in honor of Braun Levi whose life was lost at the hands of a suspected repeat drunk driver.
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LOS ANGELES - Fulfilling the promise of making communities safer and holding criminals accountable, Governor Gavin
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SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 26 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release:
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Sep 25, 2026
Governor Newsom signs "Braun's Law," and package of bills to crack down on DUI offenders
What you need to know: Delivering on the promise of safer communities, Governor Newsom today announced the signing of stricter DUI laws, including SB 907, known as "Braun's Law," in honor of Braun Levi whose life was lost at the hands of a suspected repeat drunk driver.
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LOS ANGELES - Fulfilling the promise of making communities safer and holding criminals accountable, Governor GavinNewsom today announced the signing of tougher laws aimed at getting intoxicated drivers off of California's roadways.
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Getting behind the wheel when you are impaired is inexcusable -- especially when it results in the loss of someone's life. Today, we're creating tougher laws and greater accountability for those who break the law. We will not stand by as more lives are lost and more families are forever changed by those who choose to drive under the influence.
- Governor Gavin Newsom
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Today's bill signing included Senate Bill 907 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), named "Braun's Law" in honor of Braun Levi, an 18-year-old Loyola High School student and nationally ranked tennis player from Pacific Palisades. His family had recently relocated to Manhattan Beach after their home was destroyed in the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire. In May 2025, Braun was struck and killed by a suspected repeat drunk driver while walking in Manhattan Beach. Braun's Law helps ensure that drivers whose DUI charges are pled down to a lesser charge are made aware that impaired driving is extremely dangerous to human life - and if they commit this act again - they could be charged with a more serious crime, including murder.
"Having lost my granddaughter to a repeat drunk driver, this is personal. No family should have to endure what mine has, or what has happened to the Levi family," said Senator Archuleta. "Thank you to Governor Newsom for taking bold action to support families that have been devastated by drunk drivers. These are preventable tragedies. Nothing will ever bring my Samantha back or bring Braun back to the Levi family, but in signing SB 907 California is finally stepping up for victims."
"Thank you to Governor Newsom and the First Partner for listening, taking action, and helping make our state safer by signing SB 907, including Braun's Law." said Jennifer Levi, mother of Braun Levi. " I am deeply grateful to Senator Archuleta and LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office for their unwavering support in moving this legislation across the finish line. Today, I am proud to be a Californian and inspired by what can happen when people use their voices and leaders choose to take action."
Today's signed bills also include:
* Assembly Bill 1546 by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) -- Vehicles: driving under the influence
* Assembly Bill 1685 by Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) -- Driving privilege: points
* Assembly Bill 1687 by Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) -- Driver's licenses: revocation. A signing message can be viewed here.
"Over the course of the last year, we've heard heartbreaking testimony from families across California who have lost loved ones due to drunk driving. These are completely preventable deaths, and yet the statistics show that California is falling behind in the fight to stop a growing epidemic," said Assemblymember Schultz, Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. "Governor Newsom's signature on AB 1546 strengthens the penalties for repeat DUI offenders, and it's a positive step forward in our effort to improve public safety in all of our communities."
"As a former California Highway Patrol sergeant, I have seen firsthand the heartbreak and devastation that impaired driving can leave behind. When someone makes the reckless decision to drive under the influence, the consequences can be irreversible," said Assemblymember Lackey. "In an instant, a family can lose a parent, a child can lose a mother or father, and a life that should have continued is gone forever. No family should ever have to suffer that kind of loss because someone chose to drive drunk. These bills are about preventing those tragedies before they happen, and to keep impaired drivers off our roads. I thank Governor Newsom for signing these measures into law. We may come from different political parties, but protecting innocent lives and making sure every Californian has the chance to make it home safely is something we should all stand behind."
Strengthening California's leadership
Together, the bills reinforce California's approach to crack down on repeated offenders and deter future drinking and driving incidents. By:
* Strengthening criminal penalties for repeat DUI offenders.
* Imposing longer license revocation and ignition interlock device mandates for these repeat offenders.
* Increasing DMV violation points from two to three for convictions of vehicular manslaughter and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
* Extending the timeframe for how long the DMV can revoke a person's license for up to six years if they have four or more qualifying convictions within a 10-year period.
Prioritizing public safety
Under Governor Newsom, California has prioritized prevention, education and enforcement to keep impaired drivers off the road.
So far this year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has made over 50,900 DUI arrests, conducted 75 sobriety checkpoints and 154 saturation patrols statewide, and delivered 64 traffic safety presentations statewide.
Across the state, partnerships with local law enforcement have also removed impaired drivers from streets and highways. For example, in July 2026, the CHP awarded more than $41 million in cannabis tax-funded grants to 183 organizations statewide for impaired-driving enforcement, public education, officer training and forensic testing.
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Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/25/governor-newsom-signs-brauns-law-and-package-of-bills-to-crack-down-on-dui-offenders/
Ala. A.G. Marshall Urges Congress to Add Women's Sports Protections to College Sports Bill
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Sept. 26 -- Alabama Attorney General Steve T. Marshall issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Marshall Urges Congress to Add Women's Sports Protections to College Sports Bill
September 24, 2026
(Montgomery, Ala) - Attorney General Steve Marshall submitted a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support legislative language in an amendment to S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, that protects the privacy, safety, and opportunities for women student-athletes. The letter was co-led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Louisiana
... Show Full Article
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Sept. 26 -- Alabama Attorney General Steve T. Marshall issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Marshall Urges Congress to Add Women's Sports Protections to College Sports Bill
September 24, 2026
(Montgomery, Ala) - Attorney General Steve Marshall submitted a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support legislative language in an amendment to S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, that protects the privacy, safety, and opportunities for women student-athletes. The letter was co-led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and LouisianaAttorney General Liz Murrill.
"In Alabama, we will not apologize for protecting opportunities that our female athletes have earned. Yet, the inclusion of this language in the Protect College Sports Act is unfortunately necessary to fix the culture of college sports and ensure that only women compete in women's sports," stated Attorney General Marshall.
In the letter, the Attorneys General write, "Republican State Attorneys General have fought tirelessly to close all loopholes that allow men to participate in women's sports, and we have prevailed in the courts. Twenty-seven states currently have laws that prohibit males from playing on women's sports teams. It would be a grave disservice to the people of those states if we do not make clear that they, through their legislatures, remain empowered to enact and enforce such laws."
The Attorneys General continue, "To protect college sports, you have to protect women's sports. As Attorneys General, we have vigorously defended fairness in women's sports and have successfully stood up for women's opportunities, privacy, and safety. We understand this is a challenging problem, and we ask that you speak clearly to ensure that we can continue to enforce state laws that prohibit biological males from competing in female sports."
Along with Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, Attorneys General from the following States joined the letter: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.
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INFODOC: https://www.alabamaag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PCSA-Letter.9.22.26-FINAL_.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.alabamaag.gov/attorney-general-marshall-urges-congress-to-add-womens-sports-protections-to-college-sports-bill/
