state regulators

Italy and the Czech Republic are preparing to call on the European Union to soften its rules on carbon permits and energy supply, according to a Reuters report. The joint push signals growing resistance within the bloc to strict emissions trading requirements, amid concerns over energy costs and security of supply. The move could complicate the EU's green transition agenda and will be watched closely by other member states.

The US Senate has passed a bill creating a federal framework to regulate college sports, a step with major implications for the NCAA, athlete compensation, name-image-likeness rules and conference governance. The Athletic lays out what comes next, including how the bill moves through the House and what it would mean for universities and athletes if signed into law.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has made a last-minute decision not to participate in a pending climate change case, according to a report by the ABA Journal. The move raises questions about the reason for his recusal, which has not been explained. His absence could affect the court's balance in a case with significant implications for climate-related litigation and regulation in the United States.

A new study published in Nature reports that mechanical forces can regulate cell memory, meaning a cell's ability to retain information about its past states. The finding suggests that physical cues, not only biochemical signals, influence how cells remember their identity and history. Researchers in cell biology and mechanobiology are likely to discuss its implications for development, tissue repair and disease research.

A federal judge in New York has ruled that the state's climate change act is unconstitutional and preempted by federal law. The decision strikes at one of the most ambitious state-level climate statutes in the United States and is expected to draw an appeal. Legal experts and climate advocates are watching closely, as the ruling could influence similar climate laws in other states and reshape how states may regulate emissions.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has reached a settlement agreement with a concrete mixing facility in Lafayette Parish over wastewater enforcement matters. The deal resolves the state's enforcement action concerning the facility's handling of wastewater. Concrete plants face ongoing scrutiny across the Gulf Coast for discharge practices, making the settlement a notable example of state environmental regulators pursuing compliance through negotiated agreements rather than extended litigation.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will no longer take part in a pending climate change case before the court. The announcement, reported by SCOTUSblog, removes one justice from a dispute with potential consequences for climate regulation, leaving eight justices to decide the outcome. Reasons for the withdrawal were not stated in the report.

The National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed 86 candidates running for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, citing their support for small business priorities. The endorsements highlight issues such as taxes, regulation and the business climate heading into the state legislative elections, and give the candidates a business-focused credential to tout on the campaign trail.

Commentary is examining the idea that artificial intelligence could itself pose a national-security risk, rather than only serving as a tool of state power. The discussion touches on how governments weigh AI's strategic benefits against dangers such as misuse, loss of control, and adversaries exploiting the same systems. Debate continues over how strict national regulation of AI should be.

North Carolina state representative and former state budget director Lee Briner? Briner, alongside the State Employees Association of North Carolina, is again backing a legal challenge to the state's certificate-of-need laws, which restrict who can open or expand healthcare facilities. The group argues the rules limit patient choice and raise costs, while defenders say they protect access and quality of care.

Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has updated the state's hunting regulations in response to a Delaware Supreme Court ruling concerning the minimum age requirement for hunters. The ruling prompted DNREC to revise its rules to bring them in line with the court's decision, affecting who is eligible to hunt in the state.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he hopes any guardrails on artificial intelligence remain voluntary, a stance that highlights Congress's continued inaction on AI legislation. The remarks come as lawmakers have passed no comprehensive federal AI rules, leaving regulation largely to states, courts and companies themselves. Critics argue voluntary measures leave the public exposed to AI risks, while industry favors a lighter touch.

Members of the American Feed Industry Association are calling on the US Congress to pass the PURR Act, legislation affecting the regulation of pet food. Industry advocates want federal standards to replace a patchwork of state-level rules, arguing the change would streamline approvals and give pet owners more product choices. The push highlights ongoing lobbying by the pet food sector over how its products are regulated in Washington.

US lawmakers are struggling to craft policies that keep pace with the rapid spread of artificial intelligence. As AI tools reshape jobs, privacy, copyright and national security, Congress faces pressure to regulate a technology that is evolving faster than legislation can be written, leaving gaps that states, agencies and companies are trying to fill in the meantime.

A bill called the Protect College Sports Act is under scrutiny, with a detailed read-through of its provisions circulating among sports outlets and readers. The legislation touches on how college athletics are governed and regulated, and commentators are walking through its actual text to assess what it would change for student-athletes and universities. Early discussion focuses on separating the bill's stated goals from its concrete legal effects.

Massachusetts has introduced new clean power requirements for data center development, becoming the third US state in as many months to restrict such projects. The move reflects growing scrutiny of the energy demands of data centers, and it adds momentum to a wave of state-level action on the industry's power use and climate footprint.