Attorney General
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R.I. A.G. Neronha Co-leads Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration for Upending Support for Homeless Americans
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 26 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:* * *
Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against the Trump Administration for upending support for homeless Americans
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit in the federal District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness with abrupt ... Show Full Article PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 26 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025: * * * Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against the Trump Administration for upending support for homeless Americans Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit in the federal District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness with abruptchanges that will limit access to long-term housing and other services.
HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant program in violation of congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funds that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals and putting new unlawful conditions on access to the funding. These requirements include that providers only recognize two genders, mandate residents accept services as a precondition to obtain housing, and punish providers in localities that do not enforce strict anti-homeless laws, all barriers that are in contrast to HUD's previous guidance and Congress' approval.
"This Administration continues to punch down by targeting the most vulnerable Americans, and unfortunately this most recent attack on homeless individuals is consistent with their modus operandi," said Attorney General Neronha. "The President and his Administration don't care about making life easier or better for Americans; they only care about political capitulation, consolidating power, and further enriching the wealthy. If allowed, these cuts and conditions would further exacerbate already dire conditions for homeless Rhode Islanders. We will succeed here, as we have nearly every time in the last 10 months, because we are right on the law. And we will continue to fight for all Americans, especially those who can't fight for themselves."
Previous changes to the grant conditions have been incremental to not disrupt providers' ability to provide housing and to budget for their programs well in advance. These wholesale changes will create administrative chaos and likely result in thousands losing housing.
For decades, HUD has helped local and regional coalitions plan and coordinate housing and services for people experiencing homelessness through Continuum of Care grants, which were created by Congress. Providers pair these grants with other funding sources and rely on the predictability and continuity of the grants to support the unhoused.
HUD has a longstanding policy of encouraging what is known as a "Housing First" model that provides stable housing to individuals without preconditions like sobriety or a minimum personal income. These policies have been proven to improve housing stability and public health while reducing the costs of homelessness to individuals and their communities.
Rhode Island relies on Continuum of Care as a principal source of federal funding for its homelessness programs. Administered through RIHousing, Rhode Island's Continuum of Care grant currently supports permanent housing for at least 273 people in 216 households annually. Overall, 84% of Rhode Island's $17.3 million in Continuum of Care funding is for permanent housing projects, including RIHousing's FY24 contract for $4,964,705. The new cap of 30% would reduce the available amount for the entire state of Rhode Island. This reduction would derail long-term efforts to reduce homelessness and increase burdens on other health, safety, and support services.
Previously, HUD has directed approximately 90% of Continuum of Care funding to support permanent housing, but the agency's new rule - which Congress never authorized - would cut that by two-thirds for grants starting in 2026. Similarly, HUD has long allowed grantees to protect around 90% of funding year to year - essentially guaranteeing renewal of projects to ensure that individuals and families living in those projects maintain stable housing. But HUD has slashed this figure, too, to only 30%. These new policies virtually guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless people in permanent housing nationwide will eventually be evicted through no fault of their own when the funds aren't renewed.
Additionally, HUD is planning to withhold funds to applicants that acknowledge the existence of trans and gender-diverse people, de-prioritize services to people with mental health issues or substance-use disorder, and discriminate against localities whose approach to homelessness differs from the administration's.
The complaint alleges HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes and violated the law by not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions, many of which are directly contrary to congressionally passed statutes and HUD's own regulations. The plaintiffs also argue that HUD's actions are arbitrary and capricious several times over, as HUD has not explained the abandonment of their own longstanding policies or consider the consequences of tens of thousands of vulnerable people being suddenly evicted. The agency explicitly encouraged grantees to implement Housing First policies and to focus on the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals as recently as last year.
The complaint is led by Attorney General Neronha, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-upending
Okla. A.G. Drummond: Multi-County Grand Jury Indicts Coal County Sheriff for Domestic Abuse, Assault
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Nov. 26 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:* * *
Multi-County Grand Jury indicts Coal County sheriff for domestic abuse, assault
Coal County Sheriff Jason Smith has been indicted by the Multi-County Grand Jury on one count of domestic abuse and one count of assault and battery. Related to these allegations, grand jurors also indicted Undersheriff Jesse Yother for intimidating a witness and obstructing an officer.
Moreover, the Multi-County Grand Jury has filed a motion to remove Smith from office for the ... Show Full Article OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Nov. 26 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025: * * * Multi-County Grand Jury indicts Coal County sheriff for domestic abuse, assault Coal County Sheriff Jason Smith has been indicted by the Multi-County Grand Jury on one count of domestic abuse and one count of assault and battery. Related to these allegations, grand jurors also indicted Undersheriff Jesse Yother for intimidating a witness and obstructing an officer. Moreover, the Multi-County Grand Jury has filed a motion to remove Smith from office for theaforementioned counts, habitual drunkenness and sexual harassment of employees.
The abuse and assault charges stem from a July 26 incident in Coalgate in which Smith, 48, allegedly shoved his wife and struck the husband of one of his deputies. Yother, 64, allegedly threatened the deputy to change her witness account and prevented a Coalgate police officer from securing the scene.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the work of the grand jurors in handing down the indictments.
"There can be no tolerance for a sheriff sworn to preserve the peace but whose actions clearly undermine the law and endanger public safety. These allegations against the sheriff are serious and, if proven true, indicate he is unfit to continue serving the citizens of Coal County," he said.
The case will be prosecuted in Coal County by District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan after the recusal of Coal County District Attorney Tim Webster.
"I thank the grand jury for their work and deliberation, but I will remind you that Sheriff Smith remains innocent until proven guilty," Sullivan said. "We will remain steadfast in prosecuting this as we would any case, regardless of who the defendant is."
The range of punishment for domestic abuse is up to one year in county jail and/or a $5,000 fine, while assault and battery is punishable by up to six months in a county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Both are misdemeanors.
Intimidation of a state witness is a felony punishable by a prison sentence of one to 10 years. Obstruction of an officer, which is a misdemeanor, has a maximum punishment of up to one year in jail and/or a $500 fine.
Every person arrested or indicted is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
Read the Indictment against Smith (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2025/november/Indictment%20-%20Jason%20Smith_Redacted.pdf)
Read the Indictment against Yother (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2025/november/Indictment%20-%20Jesse%20Yother_Redacted.pdf)
Read the Accusation for Removal for Smith (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2025/november/Accusation%20For%20Removal%20-%20Jason%20Smith_Redacted.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2025/november/multi-county-grand-jury-indicts-coal-county-sheriff-for-domestic-abuse-assault.html
N.J. A.G. Platkin Sues Over HUD Policy That Would Put More People Into Homelessness
TRENTON, New Jersey, Nov. 26 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release:* * *
Attorney General Platkin Sues Over HUD Policy That Would Put More People Into Homelessness
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness or otherwise struggling to find stable housing, according to a lawsuit filed today by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and a coalition of 20 other plaintiffs.
HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant program ... Show Full Article TRENTON, New Jersey, Nov. 26 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Platkin Sues Over HUD Policy That Would Put More People Into Homelessness The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness or otherwise struggling to find stable housing, according to a lawsuit filed today by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and a coalition of 20 other plaintiffs. HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant programin violation of congressional policy by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funds that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals and by putting new unlawful conditions on access to the funding. These illegal requirements would mandate residents accept certain services as a precondition to obtain housing, punish housing providers in localities that do not have strict anti-homeless laws, and deny funding to housing providers unless they adopt the Trump Administration's views on gender--all barriers that are in contrast to HUD's previous guidance and Congress' approval.
Previous changes to the grant conditions have been incremental to avoid disrupting housing access and to allow housing providers to budget for their programs well in advance. By contrast, HUD's new wholesale changes will create administrative chaos and likely result in thousands losing housing.
"The Trump Administration is actively engaging in an illegal effort to hamper the work of organizations that battle homelessness in New Jersey and across our country," said Attorney General Platkin. "HUD's changes to anti-homelessness grants are not only unlawful, they will cause more homelessness by blocking numerous New Jerseyans from getting access to housing, all in the name of political games. We are taking the Trump Administration to court and standing up for New Jerseyans for whom this could mean life or death."
For decades, HUD has helped local and regional coalitions plan and coordinate housing and services for people experiencing homelessness through Continuum of Care grants, which were created by Congress. Providers pair these grants with other funding sources and rely on the predictability and continuity of the grants to support the unhoused.
HUD has a longstanding policy of encouraging what is known as a "Housing First" model that provides stable housing to individuals without preconditions like sobriety or a minimum personal income. These policies are proven to improve housing stability and public health while reducing the costs of homelessness to individuals and their communities.
Previously, HUD has directed approximately 90% of Continuum of Care funding to support permanent housing, but the agency's new rule - which Congress never authorized - would cut that by two-thirds for grants starting in 2026. Similarly, HUD has long allowed grantees to protect around 90% of funding year to year - essentially guaranteeing renewal of projects to ensure that individuals and families living in those projects maintain stable housing. But HUD has slashed this figure, too, to only 30%. These new policies virtually guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless people in permanent housing nationwide will eventually be evicted through no fault of their own when the funds are not renewed.
Additionally, HUD is planning to withhold funds to applicants that simply acknowledge the existence of transgender and other gender-diverse individuals, de-prioritize services to people with mental health issues or substance-use disorder and discriminate against localities whose approach to homelessness differs from the administration's.
The complaint alleges HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes and violated the law by not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions, many of which are directly contrary to congressionally passed statutes and HUD's own regulations. The plaintiffs also argue that HUD's actions are arbitrary and capricious several times over, as HUD has made no effort whatsoever to explain the abandonment of their own longstanding policies or consider the obvious consequences of tens of thousands of vulnerable people being suddenly evicted. The agency explicitly encouraged grantees to implement Housing First policies and to focus on the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals as recently as last year.
The complaint, led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, was filed this morning in the federal District of Rhode Island. Attorney General Platkin joined the coalition, which also includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
View Complaint (https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases25/2025-1125_Complaint_HUD.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-platkin-sues-over-hud-policy-that-would-put-more-people-into-homelessness/
Md. A.G. Brown Joins Multistate Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration's Dangerous Use of Force Against Peaceful Protesters, Journalists
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:* * *
Attorney General Brown Joins Multistate Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration's Dangerous Use of Force Against Peaceful Protesters, Journalists
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Los Angeles Press Club, et al. v. Kristi Noem, et al. supporting protesters and journalists challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) dangerous use of force during protests in Los Angeles ... Show Full Article BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025: * * * Attorney General Brown Joins Multistate Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration's Dangerous Use of Force Against Peaceful Protesters, Journalists Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Los Angeles Press Club, et al. v. Kristi Noem, et al. supporting protesters and journalists challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) dangerous use of force during protests in Los Angelesthis past summer.
During the largely peaceful demonstrations that arose in response to sweeping immigration raids, federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls, rubber bullets, and other dangerous weapons "indiscriminately and with surprising savagery," injuring peaceful protesters, legal observers, and journalists in the process. In a brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the attorneys general argue that the tactics employed by these federal agents, including their inappropriate use of dangerous crowd control weapons, infringed on the First Amendment rights of protesters and the media, while also failing to accomplish their purported goal of lessening public unrest.
"Peaceful protesters and journalists should never be tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets in America," said Attorney General Brown. "Our Office stands against tactics that endanger reporters and those who raise their voices in protest."
A group composed of the Los Angeles Press Club, NewsGuild - Communications Workers of America, three journalists, two individual protesters, and a legal observer filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The group sought injunctive relief to prevent DHS' use of crowd control weapons and techniques at protests opposing the Trump administration's recent immigration raids in California. The group argued that DHS' practices not only unnecessarily endanger civilians' safety but violate protesters' First Amendment rights and multiple rulings by federal courts regarding appropriate enforcement practices. The district court granted the Plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction. That order has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
In the brief, the coalition of attorneys general urges the Ninth Circuit to uphold the District Court's decision. The attorneys general argue that:
* Crowd control munitions should be deployed narrowly and when other options have been exhausted, as they can unnecessarily restrict First Amendment rights, cause serious injuries, and escalate rather than lessen unrest at protests;
* Law enforcement should proactively protect the press' access to and safety at protests, rather than subjecting them to crowd control or attacks; and
* The DHS practices at issue in this case are not isolated, but instead part of a broader pattern of unlawful, nationwide actions by the federal government tied to the Trump administration's escalation of immigration enforcement.
In filing the brief, Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Joins-Multistate-Amicus-Brief-Challenging-Trump-Administration%e2%80%99s-Dangerous-Use-of-Force-Against-Peac.aspx
Md. A.G. Brown Announces $2.495 Million Judgment in Lawsuit Against Eastern Shore Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Tenants in Violation of Maryland and Federal Fair Housing Laws
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:* * *
Attorney General Brown Announces $2.495 Million Judgment in Lawsuit Against Eastern Shore Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Tenants in Violation of Maryland and Federal Fair Housing Laws
Civil Rights Division Secures Major Victory in Fight Against Gender-Based Housing Discrimination, Providing Relief for 17 Women
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Civil Rights Division won a historic judgment of $2.495 million dollars ... Show Full Article BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025: * * * Attorney General Brown Announces $2.495 Million Judgment in Lawsuit Against Eastern Shore Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Tenants in Violation of Maryland and Federal Fair Housing Laws Civil Rights Division Secures Major Victory in Fight Against Gender-Based Housing Discrimination, Providing Relief for 17 Women * Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Civil Rights Division won a historic judgment of $2.495 million dollarsin a lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, against Eric Sessoms and Mt. Vernon Group, LLC for engaging in a pattern or practice of gender-based discrimination in housing.
Sessoms operates and manages Eastern Shore rental properties owned by Mt. Vernon Group, LLC. The Civil Rights Division's investigation found that Sessoms exploits women facing housing instability, offering reduced rent and other housing benefits in exchange for sexual favors. He subjects tenants and applicants to unwanted sexual advances, coercive conduct, voyeurism, and sexual assault, targeting them based on gender in clear violation of federal and state fair housing laws.
Yesterday, the Wicomico County Circuit Court granted the Civil Rights Division's requests for injunctive relief, restitution for tenants and prospective tenants harmed by Sessoms' conduct, civil penalties, and the costs of the investigation and litigation against Sessom and Mt. Vernon Group, LLC.
The Court's Order found that the defendants, Eric Sessoms and Mt Vernon Group, LLC, violated both the federal Fair Housing Act and Maryland anti-discrimination laws, prohibiting discrimination in housing. In doing so, the Court prohibits Sessoms from working in the residential rental industry in any capacity and requires Mt Vernon Group, LLC to appoint a new resident agent. Mt Vernon Group, LLC is further required to conduct training on an annual basis for all owners, agents, and employees that covers gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in housing.
The Court's order also provides monetary relief to the victims of Sessoms and Mt Vernon Group, LLC's discriminatory conduct; in total, the defendants are required to pay a monetary judgment of $2,495,000. This amount includes $2,325,000 to compensate women tenants and prospective tenants harmed by the defendants' discrimination. The remaining monetary damages include $170,000 in civil penalties to the state to ensure that this gender-based discrimination does not persist. In addition to the $2.495 million judgment, the state was awarded $111,711.25 for the cost of investigation and litigation.
"This $2.49 million judgment puts predatory landlords on notice that we will hold them accountable. These survivors showed tremendous courage coming forward, and today's ruling ensures they receive justice," said Attorney General Brown. "No one should have to endure sexual harassment to keep a roof over their head."
It is unlawful for landlords to sexually harass tenants or prospective tenants or take retaliatory actions against tenants or prospective tenants who refuse or report a landlord's sexual advances. The Attorney General and the Civil Rights Division take allegations of this nature seriously. You can report civil rights violations to the Office of the Attorney General by email at civilrights@oag.maryland.gov, or you can submit a complaint on our website at https://oag.maryland.gov/i-need-to/Pages/civil-rights-division.aspx or by calling 410-576-6300, and an investigator will follow up with you.
In making today's announcement, Attorney General Brown thanks Chief of the Civil Rights Division Jonathan Smith; Deputy Chief Rashida Ogletree-George; Assistant Attorneys General Janee Fountain, Tyler Cochran, and Julianne Cozzetto; Investigator Kelsey Richards; and Paralegal Clarissa Hibler for working to bring this case to judgment and get relief for the women harmed. Attorney General Brown also thanks Maryland Legal Aid for its partnership and commitment to providing free civil legal services to low-income Marylanders.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-$2.495-Million-Judgment-in-Lawsuit-Against-Eastern-Shore-Landlord-for-Sexual-Harassment-an.aspx
HAWAII A.G. LOPEZ JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION CALLING ON SHOPIFY TO CRACK DOWN ON E-CIGARETTE SALES
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov. 26 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release:* * *
ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION CALLING ON SHOPIFY TO CRACK DOWN ON E-CIGARETTE SALES
Attorney General Anne Lopez joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in sending a letter to Shopify Inc. (Shopify), urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes.
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify describes itself as "a commerce platform that ... Show Full Article HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov. 26 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release: * * * ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION CALLING ON SHOPIFY TO CRACK DOWN ON E-CIGARETTE SALES Attorney General Anne Lopez joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in sending a letter to Shopify Inc. (Shopify), urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify describes itself as "a commerce platform thathelps you sell online and in person," and explains that "[e]ntrepreneurs, retailers, and global brands use Shopify to make sales, run stores, and grow their businesses." Shopify's policies already prohibit merchants from using its services for unlawful activities and Shopify has previously terminated e-cigarette sellers that were brought to the company's attention by the California Attorney General's Office on April 15, 2025.
However, in the letter, the coalition highlights that a more comprehensive solution is necessary because merchants continue to use Shopify's services to sell illegal ecigarettes. Accordingly, the coalition requests a meeting with Shopify to collaborate and exchange ideas on what a comprehensive solution could entail.
"Illegal e-cigarette sellers continue to use Shopify's platform to reach consumers, including our keiki. We're urging Shopify to stop the sale of illegal and harmful products at the source and cooperate with our coalition in protecting the well-being of our communities," said Deputy Attorney General Chelsea Okamoto.
In the letter, the coalition:
* Identifies 29 illegal e-cigarette websites that are currently hosted on Shopify's platform. This list is not exhaustive.
* Encloses an exhibit identifying over 200 additional websites known to sell illegal tobacco products. This list is not exhaustive.
* Writes that it would undertake some of the effort needed to further identify illegal sellers to Shopify, if Shopify and the coalition entered into a cooperative agreement.
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and are therefore subject to strict regulation. States in the coalition, as well as local governments within the states, have passed laws to mitigate the sale of e-cigarettes.
For example, the City and County of Honolulu, the County of Hawaii and the County of Maui have passed "trigger ban" bills to end flavored tobacco sales in their communities.
At the federal level, every new tobacco product, such as an e-cigarette, must receive an order from the Food and Drug Administration authorizing its marketing and sale in the United States. To date, the FDA has approved only 39 e-cigarette products, none in any flavor other than tobacco and menthol. E-cigarettes that have not received approval from the FDA, which constitute essentially all e-cigarettes offered by online sellers, are deemed "adulterated." Federal law prohibits the receipt or delivery in interstate commerce of any adulterated tobacco product, and delivery or proffered delivery of adulterated tobacco products is accordingly unlawful under United States law.
Joining Attorney General Lopez in sending the letter to Shopify, which is co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York, are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
A copy of the letter can be found here (https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA_NYC-Letter-to-Shopify.pdf).
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November 24, 2025
Via U.S. Mail and Email
TO: Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department
151 O'Connor Street, Ground Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2L8, Canada
legal@shopify.com
press@shopify.com
RE: ILLEGAL E-CIGARETTE SALES
Dear Sir/Madam:
We are writing on behalf of the States of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the City of New York first to bring to Shopify Inc.'s ("Shopify") attention issues relating to unlawful conduct by online sellers of e-cigarettes that operate through Shopify's e-commerce services and second to request Shopify's assistance in terminating what amounts to pervasive illegality posing an unquestioned public health hazard. California previously identified these issues to Shopify in its April 15, 2025 letters concerning violations of state and federal laws by online sales of e-cigarettes mediated through Shopify's services. See Exhibit 1-2. We are grateful for Shopify's responsiveness in terminating the e-cigarette sellers we identified, but the sheer scope of the conduct and the significant injury to public health accomplished through on-line e-cigarette sales necessitates a more comprehensive solution.
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and are therefore subject to strict regulation under federal, state, and local laws. Every new tobacco product, such as an e-cigarette, must receive an order from the federal Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") authorizing its marketing and sale in the United States. See 21 U.S.C. Sec. 387j(a)(2)(A). To date, the FDA has approved only 39 e-cigarette products, none in any flavor other than tobacco and menthol./1
E-cigarettes that have not received approval from the FDA, which constitute essentially all e-cigarettes offered by online sellers, are deemed "adulterated."
21 U.S.C. Sec. 387b(6)(A). Federal law prohibits the receipt or delivery in interstate commerce of any adulterated tobacco product, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 331(c), and delivery or proffered delivery of adulterated tobacco products is accordingly unlawful under United States law. Of equal weight, the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 ("PACT Act"), 15 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 375-378 and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1716E, regulates online e-cigarette sales, imposing stringent requirements on online sellers that include use of age verification practices, labeling and weight requirements, and compliance with "all State, local, tribal, and other laws generally applicable to sales [of ecigarettes]". 15 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 376a, (a), (a)(3) (emphasis added). Online sellers rarely if ever comply with the PACT Act, or any of its requirements. For example, any online sale of a flavored e-cigarette into California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or New York City violates the "flavor" bans enacted in each jurisdiction and as a result also violates the PACT Act.
Our request below - that Shopify terminate its services to e-cigarette sellers - is not a request for Shopify to act alone. The undersigned states and New York City have undertaken extensive efforts against online e-cigarette sellers. For example, California filed actions against such sellers as www.ejuicesteals.com, www.ejuicevapor.com, and www.flawlessvapedistro.com, all of which operated through Shopify./2 New York City has filed actions against www.pricepoint.com, and Newyorkvapeking.com, both of which operated through Shopify, and against www.wevapeusa.com, hosted by a different online platform./3 As noted in the complaints of both California and New York City, these web-sellers made e-cigarette sales in violation of nearly every applicable federal, state and local law regulating e-cigarettes, even after being repeatedly warned of their unlawful conduct. Most of these sellers appear to have closed as a result of the State and City's litigation.
We also point out that California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York City engaged with the United States Postal Service, initially through litigation, but now cooperatively, to develop methods to prevent the illegal shipment of cigarettes through the mails. Those cooperative efforts stand as a goal we hope to replicate with Shopify.
The list of additional illegal e-cigarette websites hosted on Shopify's platform is extensive, including, but not limited to ejuicestore.com; zuluvape.com; csvape.com; ejuice.deals; fattyfog.com; hazetownvapes.com; juicefly.com; kadobarofficial.com; lighterusa.com; myvpro.com; vapenear.com; vapeszn.com; vapecentralgroup.com; vaporpuffs.com; 2ndwifevape.com; buyvapesusa.com; cass-smokeshop.com; discountvapepen.com; dragonvape.ca; getpop.co; puffbar.com; vapecityusa.com; divineliquors.com; jommso.com; shopcalismokes.com; misthub.com; highclassvapeco.com; vapemania.com; and eightvape.com. See Exhibit 3. In addition, the enclosed Exhibit 4 identifies websites that use Shopify services to sell unlawful e-cigarette products, including those websites that received warning letters from the FDA in the last four years. This list is not exhaustive. If we are able to enter into a cooperative arrangement with Shopify, we would undertake some of the effort needed to identify illegal sellers to Shopify.
For the reasons discussed above, the States of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the City of New York request a meeting with Shopify to discuss a comprehensive solution to address illegal online e-cigarette sales, with the ultimate goal of having Shopify terminate services to (1) the websites on the Non-Compliant List distributed to Shopify by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; (2) to the websites identified in this letter; and (3) to additional sellers that our governments would commit to identifying to Shopify going forward./4
Please provide a response outlining your availability within 15 days of this letter. Shopify's response should be directed to Lesya Kinnamon at Lesya.Kinnamon@doj.ca.gov and Eric Proshansky at eproshan@law.nyc.gov.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lesya N. Kinnamon, Deputy Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General, 1300 I Street, Suite 125, Sacramento, CA 95814
/s/ Eric Proshansky, Deputy Chief, New York City Law Department,100 Church Street, Room 3-211 New York, NY 10007
/s/ Douglas Lau, Unit Chief - Tobacco Enforcement Unit, Office of the Arizona Attorney General, 2005 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004
/s/ Heather Wilson, Deputy Section Chief for Tobacco Enforcement, Connecticut Office of the Attorney General 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
/s/ Vanessa L. Kassab, Ian R. Liston, Director of Impact Litigation, Vanessa L. Kassab, Deputy Attorney General, Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington, DE 19801
/s/ Meryl D. Grenadier, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 400 Sixth Street NW, 820 N. French Street, Washington, D.C. 20001
/s/ Kara Burges, Deputy Attorney General, Office of Attorney General Todd Rokita, IGCS 5th Floor, 302 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
/s/ Elizabeth Reardon, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Maine Attorney General, 6 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
s/ John M. Leovy, Division Chief, Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, 200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
/s/ Alda Chan, Assistant Attorney General, Massachusetts Office of Attorney General ,One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
/s/ Michael R Bell, Assistant Attorney General, Michigan Department of Attorney General, 2nd Flr, G. Mennen Williams Bldg. 525 West Ottawa St., P.O. Box 30754 Lansing, MI 48909
/s/ Eric J. Maloney, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, Saint Paul, MN 55101
s/ Julie Ann Meade, General Counsel, New Mexico Department of Justice, State 408 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
/s/ Leslieann E. Cachola, Deputy Bureau Chief, New York, Office of the Attorney General, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005
/s/ Charles White, Assistant Attorney General, North Carolina Department of Justice, 114 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
/s/ Christopher Gawronski, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 30 E. Broad Street, 26th Floor Columbus, OH 43215
/s/ Jackson Garcia, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Oregon, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
/s/ Edmund "Tad" Berger, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania, 15th Floor Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120
/s/ Adam D. Roach, Special Assistant Attorney General, Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
/s/ Kathryn L. White, Assistant Utah Attorney General, Utah Attorney General's Office, 160 East 300 South, 5th Floor P.O. Box 140874 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0874
/s/ Rosemary M. Kennedy, Assistant Attorney General, Vermont Office of the Attorney General, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
/s/ S. Todd Sipe, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Attorney General's Office, 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000 Seattle, WA 98104
/s/ Gregory A. Myszkowski, Assistant Attorney General, State of Wisconsin Department of Justice, 17 West Main Street, P.O. Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707-7857
/s/ Zulma Carrasquillo Almena, Senior Attorney and Special Prosecutor Diana Jordan-Gonzalez Attorney, Office of Monopolistic Affairs Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, PO Box 9020192 San Juan, PR 00902
cc:
Via U.S. Mail
Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department, 131 Greene Street, 800 New York, NY
Via U.S. Mail
Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department, 85 10th Ave, Suite 10012 New York, NY 10011
* * *
1 See https://digitalmedia.hhs.gov/tobacco/hosted/Authorized-ENDS-July2025.pdf.
2 See The People of The State of California v. Ejuicesteals.com et. al., Case No. 1:23-CV-01726KES-CDB (E.D. Cal. 2023); The People of the State of California v. E-Juice Vapor, Inc., et al., Case No. 8:23-cv-02372 JWH (KESx) (C.D. Cal. 2023).
3 See City of New York v. Pricepoint Distributors, Inc., et al. 2:24-cv-07762-JMW (E.D.N.Y. 2025); City of New York v. Enviromd Grp. LLC, et al, 1:24:-cv-5161-GHW-JW (E.D.N.Y. 2024).
4 We recognize that the termination of Shopify's service to e-cigarette sellers could have the effect of driving those sellers to other providers. It is our intention to seek equivalent termination of ecigarette sellers from other providers of web-hosting services.
* * *
Original text here: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/News-Release-2025-96.pdf
Ariz. A.G. Kris Mayes Calls on Shopify to Crack Down on Vape Sales
PHOENIX, Arizona, Nov. 26 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:* * *
Attorney General Kris Mayes Calls on Shopify to Crack Down on Vape Sales
Attorney General Kris Mayes today joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in sending a letter to Shopify Inc. (Shopify), urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes or vapes.
"Shopify is currently hosting a countless number of merchants illegally selling nicotine ... Show Full Article PHOENIX, Arizona, Nov. 26 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025: * * * Attorney General Kris Mayes Calls on Shopify to Crack Down on Vape Sales Attorney General Kris Mayes today joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in sending a letter to Shopify Inc. (Shopify), urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes or vapes. "Shopify is currently hosting a countless number of merchants illegally selling nicotinevapes or e-cigarettes. It is blatant law-breaking and a danger to the young people and teens who should not have access to these harmfully addictive tobacco products," said Attorney General Mayes. "I'm proud to be part of a coalition of both Democratic and Republican states asking Shopify to work with us to come into compliance with the law."
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify describes itself as "a commerce platform that helps you sell online and in person" and explains that "[e]ntrepreneurs, retailers, and global brands use Shopify to make sales, run stores, and grow their businesses." Shopify's policies already prohibit merchants from using its services for unlawful activities, and Shopify has previously terminated e-cigarette or vape sellers that were brought to the company's attention by the California Attorney General's Office on April 15, 2025.
However, in today's letter, the coalition highlights that a more comprehensive solution is necessary because merchants continue to use Shopify's services to sell illegal e-cigarettes or vapes. Accordingly, the coalition requests a meeting with Shopify to collaborate and exchange ideas on what a comprehensive solution could entail.
In today's letter, the bipartisan coalition:
* Identifies 29 illegal e-cigarette or vape websites that are currently hosted on Shopify's platform. California recently placed these websites on notice for operating in violation of federal and state laws. This list is not exhaustive.
* Encloses an exhibit identifying over 200 additional websites known to sell illegal tobacco products. This list is not exhaustive.
* Writes that it would undertake some of the effort needed to further identify illegal sellers to Shopify, if Shopify and the coalition entered into a cooperative agreement.
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and are therefore subject to strict regulation. States in the coalition, as well as local governments within the states, have passed laws to mitigate the sale of e-cigarettes. In Arizona, we recently raised the tobacco sales age to 21, in part to curb youth access to nicotine products like e-cigarettes or vapes.
At the federal level, every new tobacco product, such as an e-cigarette or vape, must receive an order from the Food and Drug Administration authorizing its marketing and sale in the United States. To date, the FDA has approved only 39 e-cigarette products, none in any flavor other than tobacco and menthol. E-cigarettes that have not received approval from the FDA, which constitute essentially all e-cigarettes offered by online sellers, are deemed "adulterated." Federal law prohibits the receipt or delivery in interstate commerce of any adulterated tobacco product, and delivery or proffered delivery of adulterated tobacco products is accordingly unlawful under United States law.
Attorney General Mayes has also filed actions against individual e-cigarette or vape sellers, as part of her crack down on vape stores in Arizona selling tobacco products to youth. She's pursuing civil complaints against two of the businesses that most persistently and recklessly sell tobacco nicotine products to underage Arizonans. The complaints detail how specific shops that sell vapes in Arizona consistently either refuse to check identification, or when faced with the knowledge that a patron is under the legal age of sale, sells the tobacco or nicotine product anyway.
Joining Attorney General Mayes in sending today's letter to Shopify, which is co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York, are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
A copy of the bipartisan letter is here (https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=3ad89037d2&e=9153ff6c96).
* * *
November 24, 2025
Via U.S. Mail and Email
TO: Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department
151 O'Connor Street, Ground Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2L8, Canada
legal@shopify.com
press@shopify.com
RE: ILLEGAL E-CIGARETTE SALES
Dear Sir/Madam:
We are writing on behalf of the States of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the City of New York first to bring to Shopify Inc.'s ("Shopify") attention issues relating to unlawful conduct by online sellers of e-cigarettes that operate through Shopify's e-commerce services and second to request Shopify's assistance in terminating what amounts to pervasive illegality posing an unquestioned public health hazard. California previously identified these issues to Shopify in its April 15, 2025 letters concerning violations of state and federal laws by online sales of e-cigarettes mediated through Shopify's services. See Exhibit 1-2. We are grateful for Shopify's responsiveness in terminating the e-cigarette sellers we identified, but the sheer scope of the conduct and the significant injury to public health accomplished through on-line e-cigarette sales necessitates a more comprehensive solution.
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and are therefore subject to strict regulation under federal, state, and local laws. Every new tobacco product, such as an e-cigarette, must receive an order from the federal Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") authorizing its marketing and sale in the United States. See 21 U.S.C. Sec. 387j(a)(2)(A). To date, the FDA has approved only 39 e-cigarette products, none in any flavor other than tobacco and menthol./1
E-cigarettes that have not received approval from the FDA, which constitute essentially all e-cigarettes offered by online sellers, are deemed "adulterated."
21 U.S.C. Sec. 387b(6)(A). Federal law prohibits the receipt or delivery in interstate commerce of any adulterated tobacco product, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 331(c), and delivery or proffered delivery of adulterated tobacco products is accordingly unlawful under United States law. Of equal weight, the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 ("PACT Act"), 15 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 375-378 and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1716E, regulates online e-cigarette sales, imposing stringent requirements on online sellers that include use of age verification practices, labeling and weight requirements, and compliance with "all State, local, tribal, and other laws generally applicable to sales [of ecigarettes]". 15 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 376a, (a), (a)(3) (emphasis added). Online sellers rarely if ever comply with the PACT Act, or any of its requirements. For example, any online sale of a flavored e-cigarette into California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or New York City violates the "flavor" bans enacted in each jurisdiction and as a result also violates the PACT Act.
Our request below - that Shopify terminate its services to e-cigarette sellers - is not a request for Shopify to act alone. The undersigned states and New York City have undertaken extensive efforts against online e-cigarette sellers. For example, California filed actions against such sellers as www.ejuicesteals.com, www.ejuicevapor.com, and www.flawlessvapedistro.com, all of which operated through Shopify./2 New York City has filed actions against www.pricepoint.com, and Newyorkvapeking.com, both of which operated through Shopify, and against www.wevapeusa.com, hosted by a different online platform./3 As noted in the complaints of both California and New York City, these web-sellers made e-cigarette sales in violation of nearly every applicable federal, state and local law regulating e-cigarettes, even after being repeatedly warned of their unlawful conduct. Most of these sellers appear to have closed as a result of the State and City's litigation.
We also point out that California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York City engaged with the United States Postal Service, initially through litigation, but now cooperatively, to develop methods to prevent the illegal shipment of cigarettes through the mails. Those cooperative efforts stand as a goal we hope to replicate with Shopify.
The list of additional illegal e-cigarette websites hosted on Shopify's platform is extensive, including, but not limited to ejuicestore.com; zuluvape.com; csvape.com; ejuice.deals; fattyfog.com; hazetownvapes.com; juicefly.com; kadobarofficial.com; lighterusa.com; myvpro.com; vapenear.com; vapeszn.com; vapecentralgroup.com; vaporpuffs.com; 2ndwifevape.com; buyvapesusa.com; cass-smokeshop.com; discountvapepen.com; dragonvape.ca; getpop.co; puffbar.com; vapecityusa.com; divineliquors.com; jommso.com; shopcalismokes.com; misthub.com; highclassvapeco.com; vapemania.com; and eightvape.com. See Exhibit 3. In addition, the enclosed Exhibit 4 identifies websites that use Shopify services to sell unlawful e-cigarette products, including those websites that received warning letters from the FDA in the last four years. This list is not exhaustive. If we are able to enter into a cooperative arrangement with Shopify, we would undertake some of the effort needed to identify illegal sellers to Shopify.
For the reasons discussed above, the States of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the City of New York request a meeting with Shopify to discuss a comprehensive solution to address illegal online e-cigarette sales, with the ultimate goal of having Shopify terminate services to (1) the websites on the Non-Compliant List distributed to Shopify by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; (2) to the websites identified in this letter; and (3) to additional sellers that our governments would commit to identifying to Shopify going forward. 4
Please provide a response outlining your availability within 15 days of this letter. Shopify's response should be directed to Lesya Kinnamon at Lesya.Kinnamon@doj.ca.gov and Eric Proshansky at eproshan@law.nyc.gov.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lesya N. Kinnamon, Deputy Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General, 1300 I Street, Suite 125, Sacramento, CA 95814
/s/ Eric Proshansky, Deputy Chief, New York City Law Department,100 Church Street, Room 3-211 New York, NY 10007
/s/ Douglas Lau, Unit Chief - Tobacco Enforcement Unit, Office of the Arizona Attorney General, 2005 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004
/s/ Heather Wilson, Deputy Section Chief for Tobacco Enforcement, Connecticut Office of the Attorney General 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
/s/ Vanessa L. Kassab, Ian R. Liston, Director of Impact Litigation, Vanessa L. Kassab, Deputy Attorney General, Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington, DE 19801
/s/ Meryl D. Grenadier, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 400 Sixth Street NW, 820 N. French Street, Washington, D.C. 20001
/s/ Kara Burges, Deputy Attorney General, Office of Attorney General Todd Rokita, IGCS 5th Floor, 302 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
/s/ Elizabeth Reardon, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Maine Attorney General, 6 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
s/ John M. Leovy, Division Chief, Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, 200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
/s/ Alda Chan, Assistant Attorney General, Massachusetts Office of Attorney General ,One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
/s/ Michael R Bell, Assistant Attorney General, Michigan Department of Attorney General, 2nd Flr, G. Mennen Williams Bldg. 525 West Ottawa St., P.O. Box 30754 Lansing, MI 48909
/s/ Eric J. Maloney, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, Saint Paul, MN 55101
s/ Julie Ann Meade, General Counsel, New Mexico Department of Justice, State 408 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
/s/ Leslieann E. Cachola, Deputy Bureau Chief, New York, Office of the Attorney General, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005
/s/ Charles White, Assistant Attorney General, North Carolina Department of Justice, 114 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
/s/ Christopher Gawronski, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 30 E. Broad Street, 26th Floor Columbus, OH 43215
/s/ Jackson Garcia, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Oregon, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
/s/ Edmund "Tad" Berger, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania, 15th Floor Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120
/s/ Adam D. Roach, Special Assistant Attorney General, Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
/s/ Kathryn L. White, Assistant Utah Attorney General, Utah Attorney General's Office, 160 East 300 South, 5th Floor P.O. Box 140874 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0874
/s/ Rosemary M. Kennedy, Assistant Attorney General, Vermont Office of the Attorney General, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
/s/ S. Todd Sipe, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Attorney General's Office, 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000 Seattle, WA 98104
/s/ Gregory A. Myszkowski, Assistant Attorney General, State of Wisconsin Department of Justice, 17 West Main Street, P.O. Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707-7857
/s/ Zulma Carrasquillo Almena, Senior Attorney and Special Prosecutor Diana Jordan-Gonzalez Attorney, Office of Monopolistic Affairs Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, PO Box 9020192 San Juan, PR 00902
cc:
Via U.S. Mail
Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department, 131 Greene Street, 800 New York, NY
Via U.S. Mail
Shopify Inc.
Attn: Legal Department, 85 10th Ave, Suite 10012 New York, NY 10011
* * *
1 See https://digitalmedia.hhs.gov/tobacco/hosted/Authorized-ENDS-July2025.pdf.
2 See The People of The State of California v. Ejuicesteals.com et. al., Case No. 1:23-CV-01726KES-CDB (E.D. Cal. 2023); The People of the State of California v. E-Juice Vapor, Inc., et al., Case No. 8:23-cv-02372 JWH (KESx) (C.D. Cal. 2023).
3 See City of New York v. Pricepoint Distributors, Inc., et al. 2:24-cv-07762-JMW (E.D.N.Y. 2025); City of New York v. Enviromd Grp. LLC, et al, 1:24:-cv-5161-GHW-JW (E.D.N.Y. 2024).
4 We recognize that the termination of Shopify's service to e-cigarette sellers could have the effect of driving those sellers to other providers. It is our intention to seek equivalent termination of ecigarette sellers from other providers of web-hosting services.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-kris-mayes-calls-shopify-crack-down-vape-sales