Compliance Stuff

Tennessee has joined an increasing number of states specifically regulating use of AI in the mental healthcare space. In particular, Tennessee recently enacted Senate Bill 1580 (the “Bill”), which provides that a person who develops or deploys AI in the mental healthcare space may not advertise or represent to the public that the AI is or is able to act as a qualified mental health professional .[1] Failure to comply with the Bill carries serious risks, with the Bill specifying that violations constitute deceptive trade practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and authorizing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation.[2] The Bill is significantly abbreviated when compared to legislation in other states, such as Illinois,[3] Nevada,[4] and Utah.[5] For example, Nevada prohibits the advertisement of AI as being capable of providing professional mental or behavioral health care, and a chatbot or other avatar from providing such care.[6] Similarly, Utah requires that mental ...

On March 14, 2026, the West Virginia Legislature passed a  bill  (House Bill (HB) 4009) to allow employers to contribute to a worker’s portable benefit account while still classifying that worker as an independent contractor. The bill is likely to be especially impactful for rideshare and food delivery companies that rely heavily on gig workers for app-based services. 0:00 4:27 Quick Hits West Virginia legislators passed a bill (HB 4009) that permits companies to provide portable benefit accounts for workers without needing to classify those workers as employees. Governor Patrick Morrisey has not signed or vetoed the bill yet. If enacted, the bill would take e ffect for taxable years starting on January 1, 2026, or later. Portable benefits are benefits that stay with the individual and accumulate based on hours worked or a percentage of transaction fees. They can function similar to a 401(k), paid time off program, or health savings account (HSA). Instead of benefits offered...

AI is reshaping how we work, learn, and interact, but the law is scrambling to keep up. In 2025, states rolled out a mix of AI regulations, from broad “privacy style” frameworks to narrowly targeted rules for healthcare, therapy, and online platforms. Understanding this patchwork is essential for businesses, professionals, and consumers alike, particularly for those operating in multiple states. In this post, we break down the key AI laws recently passed or updated across the United States in 2025, highlighting key provisions and why they matter. California The  California   AI Transparency Act , initially passed in 2024, was amended by  AB 853  to delay implementation until August 2, 2026. In addition, the bill requires that, beginning in 2027, any online platform that distributes content to more than 2,000,000 unique monthly users per year must be able to detect “provenance data,” which is metadata that shows when content was generated or modified. Also starting i...

An in-house attorney recently sued his former employer in a Utah federal district court for discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging he was unlawfully fired after posting social media remarks criticizing gender-affirming care for transgender people and opposing a Utah nonprofit organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Quick Hits A former employee in Utah recently brought a federal lawsuit, claiming he was fired for criticizing on social media a LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit that partnered with his employer . The gay Christian employee is alleging sex, sexual orientation, and religious discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . The case is in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. On May 22, 2025, a former employee for a Utah-based software company sued the company for discrimination and retaliation after he was fired a few months after he posted comments on social media criticizing gender-affirmi...

  Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming recently passed laws aligning with recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump defining sex as binary and immutable. Quick Hits Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming lawmakers recently enacted state laws recognizing only two genders, male and female. The state legislators acted after President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing that the federal government’s new policy is to recognize only two sexes, male and female, despite contravening federal law. The three states restrict transgender and nonbinary individuals from using public school bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined  Iowa  and other states in passing state laws redefining gender as binary (e.g., male and female only) and immutable, thus attempting to reject governing Supreme Court of the United States case law recognizing gender identity as a protected characteristic under Title VII of t...