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Md. A.G. Brown Joins SCOTUS Brief Supporting Responsible and Informed Hazardous Waste Disposal
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 28 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins SCOTUS Brief Supporting Responsible and Informed Hazardous Waste Disposal
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 11 attorneys general in an amicus brief filed today before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the federal government must make informed decisions about how to store, treat, and dispose of hazardous waste.
The case, Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guahan, concerns whether the federal government needs
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 28 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins SCOTUS Brief Supporting Responsible and Informed Hazardous Waste Disposal
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 11 attorneys general in an amicus brief filed today before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the federal government must make informed decisions about how to store, treat, and dispose of hazardous waste.
The case, Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guahan, concerns whether the federal government needsto conduct environmental impact reviews of major projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before it seeks a permit to dispose of hazardous waste. The brief argues that NEPA reviews in conjunction with hazardous waste disposal are valuable for Maryland.
In this case, the Court was asked to decide whether the Air Force can destroy munitions on a beach in Guam without doing an environmental impact review under NEPA. The federal government argues that it does not need to do a NEPA review because it already completed a permit application under a different federal law, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, RCRA considers a narrower set of environmental concerns than NEPA review and occurs at a different stage in the process.
NEPA requires the federal government to analyze environmental impacts before it takes an action requiring a permit to dispose of hazardous waste, while the RCRA permit process narrowly evaluates only the government's chosen waste disposal action. NEPA also requires public input before the federal government's decision is made, ensuring that communities know about the action the government is planning and have input into that decision. NEPA analysis requires the federal government to study alternatives that could be less harmful to the environment, whereas RCRA permits do not require studying alternatives. Without NEPA reviews, states and communities would be left in the dark about crucial decisions that impact them.
In filing the brief, Attorney General Brown was joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Joins-SCOTUS-Brief-Supporting-Responsible-and-Informed-Hazardous-Waste-Disposal.aspx
Va. A.G. Jones Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's Unlawful Conditions for Counterterrorism and Emergency Funding
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 28 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Attorney General Jones Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's Unlawful Conditions for Counterterrorism and Emergency Funding
New conditions would require states to share voter data with the Department of Homeland Security
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Attorney General Jay Jones 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 emergency funds--to coerce states into
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 28 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Attorney General Jones Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's Unlawful Conditions for Counterterrorism and Emergency Funding
New conditions would require states to share voter data with the Department of Homeland Security
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Attorney General Jay Jones 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 emergency funds--to coerce states intocomplying with the administration's political agenda. Part of this change requires states to transmit lists of all registered voters to The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and to assist DHS in enforcing federal immigration law.
"Critical funding for emergencies and counterterrorism efforts is not a bargaining chip, and Virginia will not be threatened or bullied into sharing sensitive voter data with the federal government," said Attorney General Jones. "Donald Trump knows that the People will hold him accountable at the ballot box less than four months from now, so he is doing everything in his power to undermine voters before they get to the ballot box. With these funding conditions, he's prioritizing his partisan agenda over the health and safety of those he serves. We will not let this stand."
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. In 2023, more than $8.7 million were allocated through various federal grant programs to enhance emergency preparedness and security throughout the Commonwealth.
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 assist 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.
The attorney's general argue in this lawsuit that the grant conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution's Spending Clause.
Joining Attorney General Jones in filing the lawsuit are attorneys general of California, Arizona, 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, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3086-attorney-general-jones-files-lawsuit-against-trump-administrations-unlawful-conditions-for-counterterrorism-and-emergency-funding
Okla. A.G. Drummond Demands Release of Overdue Insurance Examination Report
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 28 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Drummond demands release of overdue insurance examination report
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready to immediately release the Oklahoma Insurance Department's long-delayed examination report into insurance companies' roof-claim handling practices, saying Oklahoma homeowners deserve the transparency they were promised.
In a letter to Mulready, Drummond noted that after he filed a lawsuit against State Farm
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 28 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 27, 2026:
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Drummond demands release of overdue insurance examination report
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready to immediately release the Oklahoma Insurance Department's long-delayed examination report into insurance companies' roof-claim handling practices, saying Oklahoma homeowners deserve the transparency they were promised.
In a letter to Mulready, Drummond noted that after he filed a lawsuit against State Farmover their alleged claims-handling scheme practices, Mulready announced that his office had been investigating insurers' market conduct for two years. Mulready pledged to publicly release the findings during the first quarter of 2026. More than six months later and into the third quarter of the year, the report has yet to be released.
"Oklahomans deserve answers, not excuses. The Insurance Commissioner made a promise and, once again, broke it, and every month of delay is a month insurance companies collect record high premiums," Drummond said. "He was elected to protect Oklahoma homeowners, not insurance company profits. Now, he's running out of time to do the right thing."
Drummond requested that Mulready publicly release the examination report, investigative findings and supporting workpapers by Friday.
Also in the letter, he further criticized the commissioner for repeatedly delaying a public hearing on insurance market competition while homeowners continue to face soaring insurance costs. Drummond first requested the hearing in an April 17 letter that outlined concerns about the unprecedented rise in homeowners insurance rates. By law, Mulready had 30 days to hold the hearing or to issue an order denying it. He denied the taxpayers request and, when Drummond called him out about it, Mulready drug his feet and has since announced plans for a September hearing.
"As Oklahoma's chief law officer, I have a statutory duty to protect the collective interests of Oklahomans," Drummond said. "Transparency is not optional. Hardworking Oklahomans are paying the price for the commissioner's refusal to comply with the law."
Drummond first sent a letter to the Commissioner nearly one year ago, demanding action to address Oklahoma's skyrocketing homeowners insurance premiums and the practices driving those increases.
Read the Letter (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/july/Letter_%20Comm%20Mulready%20RE%20Release%20Rprt%2007.27.2026.pdf)
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INFODOC: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/july/Letter_%20Comm%20Mulready%20RE%20Release%20Rprt%2007.27.2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/july/drummond-demands-release-of-overdue-insurance-examination-report.html
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
Attorney General Paxton Protects Texas Women by Launching Landmark Investigations into Popular Women's Brands Over Toxic Chemicals in Their Products
AUSTIN, Texas, July 27 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Paxton Protects Texas Women by Launching Landmark Investigations into Popular Women's Brands Over Toxic Chemicals in Their Products
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Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into popular products to protect women's health. The OAG is investigating a number of feminine care and cosmetic product brands, including lip balm, lipstick, and other product manufacturers. These industry-wide investigations will determine whether companies are deceiving consumers about
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AUSTIN, Texas, July 27 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Paxton Protects Texas Women by Launching Landmark Investigations into Popular Women's Brands Over Toxic Chemicals in Their Products
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Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into popular products to protect women's health. The OAG is investigating a number of feminine care and cosmetic product brands, including lip balm, lipstick, and other product manufacturers. These industry-wide investigations will determine whether companies are deceiving consumers aboutthe presence of toxic chemicals in their products.
Lip products are designed and marketed to be applied multiple times a day. Reports have revealed that many lip products likely contain harmful ingredients, such as titanium dioxide and other petroleum-based ingredients. Even though these materials are genotoxic, many brands market their lip products to children. They also partner with iconic food brands, which may mislead consumers to believe these products are safe to eat. Even more, lip products are applied to sensitive dermal tissue, which has a significantly higher absorption capacity and permeability than other skin on the body. Studies show that as many as 3,000 particles of microplastics are found in each application, along with synthetic dyes that have not been adequately studied for their long-term health impacts.
The Office of the Attorney General has also launched an industry-wide investigation into manufacturers and sellers of feminine care products following reports that some products may contain dangerous heavy metals. A 2024 study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, detected measurable concentrations of all 16 heavy metals tested-including lead, cadmium, and arsenic-in more than 30 tampon products across 14 brands. Public health authorities have consistently maintained that there is no known safe level of lead exposure. In addition to major suppliers of feminine care products, other "clean" and "non-toxic" women's brands, such as LOLA and L., have emerged that promote a health-conscious alternative. However, many of the safety and ingredient claims associated with these products have not been independently verified or investigated. As part of this investigation, the OAG has issued Civil Investigative Demands ("CIDs") to Tampax, Kotex, L., and LOLA.
"I will continue to work tirelessly to help Make America Healthy Again by stopping companies that illegally put toxic heavy metals and dangerous chemicals in their products," said Attorney General Paxton. "Many corporations have neglected the health of women by using harmful ingredients in their everyday products, but my office will fight to defend Texas women and their health. No corporation should mislead women about the safety of its products, and my office will thoroughly investigate any company that harms the health of Texans."
These investigations will focus on potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act ("DTPA"), including whether consumers were misled regarding the safety, quality, or chemical composition of these products.
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Original text here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-protects-texas-women-launching-landmark-investigations-popular-womens-brands
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.
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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
Mo. A.G. Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
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Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that, following a jury trial, Miguel Melendez Torres was found guilty of two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of attempted robbery in the first degree. The verdict follows a multi-agency investigation and prosecution effort spanning several years.
"Today's verdict delivers accountability
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
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Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that, following a jury trial, Miguel Melendez Torres was found guilty of two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of attempted robbery in the first degree. The verdict follows a multi-agency investigation and prosecution effort spanning several years.
"Today's verdict delivers accountabilityand affirms that violence in our communities will be met with the highest degree of the law," said Attorney General Hanaway. "Our thoughts remain with the victims' families and loved ones, who have carried a heavy burden throughout this joint pursuit of justice. My office will continue to protect the public by holding violent offenders accountable and getting dangerous criminals off our streets."
On July 23, 2026, a Taney County jury found that Torres approached the victims, Rocky McMahan and Krystle Buhl, behind a Famous Dave's restaurant on May 29, 2021, intending to rob them. During the encounter, Torres shot and killed both victims. McMahan was taken to a hospital, where he died several hours later, while Buhl was pronounced deceased at the scene.
"I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the loved ones of both Rocky and Krystle. They have been through a lot since 2021, including the mistrial in January. Unfortunately, nothing can bring Rocky and Krystle back, but I hope this conviction provides some sense of justice and comfort as they continue to heal from these losses," said Taney County Prosecutor Brad Hughes.
The case was investigated by the Branson Police Department with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and was tried by Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Hughes with the assistance of Assistant Attorney General Paige Wheeler. Attorney General's Office Investigators David Southard and Deborah Wade also assisted in the prosecution.
Formal sentencing is set for October 6, 2026, at the Taney County Courthouse in Forsyth.
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Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-announces-guilty-verdict-in-taney-county-double-murder-case/
