Colorado’s HB1291: A Case of Excessive Regulation That Hurts More Than It Helps

by Jillian Snider - R Street

Although Colorado’s HB1291 (the “Transportation Network Company Consumer Protection” bill) is marketed as a public safety initiative, a closer look reveals a heavy-handed regulatory approach that threatens economic opportunity, consumer choice, and civil liberties. While rideshare safety is important, this bill introduces burdensome and unnecessary directives that could force businesses out of the state, drive up costs for riders, and disproportionately impact low-income workers seeking flexible employment.

Read more: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/colorado-transportation-bill-is-a-case-of-excessive-regulation-that-hurts-more-than-it-helps/

CFPB Finalizes Rule to Remove Medical Bills from Credit Reports

by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that will remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of about 15 million Americans. The CFPB’s action will ban the inclusion of medical bills on credit reports used by lenders and prohibit lenders from using medical information in their lending decisions. The rule will increase privacy protections and prevent debt collectors from using the credit reporting system to coerce people to pay bills they don’t owe. The CFPB has found that medical debts provide little predictive value to lenders about borrowers’ ability to repay other debts, and consumers frequently report receiving inaccurate bills or being asked to pay bills that should have been covered by insurance or financial assistance programs.

Read more: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-finalizes-rule-to-remove-medical-bills-from-credit-reports/

New Florida law requires enhanced background checks for school volunteers

by Brianna Brownlee, WJXT - News4JAX

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new Florida law is now in effect, mandating that school volunteers pass enhanced background checks to ensure the safety and security of students.

The bill, signed into law during the 2023 state legislative session, officially took effect on March 1.

The new requirements apply to both new and existing volunteers who work with students.

Previously, volunteers were required to complete a Level 1 background check, which is name-based only. However, the new law requires volunteers to pass a Level 2 background check, which relies on fingerprints.

Read more: https://www.news4jax.com/news/2025/03/05/new-florida-law-requires-enhanced-background-checks-for-school-volunteers/

New bill would boost safety, background-check requirements for TNCs like Lyft, Uber

by Ed Sealover - The Sum & Substance

Seeking to protect Uber and Lyft customers, a group of Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill Friday that would boost steps companies must take to perform background checks on drivers and ensure unauthorized persons are not picking up rides in place of those drivers.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Jenny Willford of Northglenn and Meg Froelich of Greenwood Village, also would ensure transportation-network-company drivers work no more than 10-hour shifts and would require each ride to be continuously recorded via video and audio. It also would allow people injured by violations of the bill to file civil lawsuits against a TNC or a driver, and it would make violations of the proposed law deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, which allows for much greater financial awards.

Read more: https://tsscolorado.com/new-bill-would-boost-safety-background-check-requirements-for-tncs-like-lyft-uber/

Oregon removes nearly 50K eviction records from background checks

by Sabinna Pierre - MSN

Oregon's state courts have cleared about 47,000 residential eviction records from people's backgrounds, a significant step toward reducing barriers to housing access under a new state law.

The law, ORS 105.164 (House Bill 2001, 2023), requires courts to "set aside" and "seal" past residential evictions that meet specific criteria. These sealed evictions will no longer appear in background checks, legally treated as if they never occurred.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oregon-removes-nearly-50k-eviction-records-from-background-checks/ar-AA1xHIuB

Q&A: Will States Take the Lead in Consumer Protection?

by Jedd Bellman, John Coleman, Amanda Lawrence, Olivia Ragoowansi, Clinton Rockwell, Katy Ryan, John Williams - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP - JD Supra

On Saturday, February 1, Rohit Chopra was dismissed as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), with Secretary Scott Bessent appointed as Acting Director that same day. The following weekend, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought was named the Acting Director and ordered the Bureau to halt virtually all supervisory, enforcement and litigation activity while new leadership reevaluates priorities.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/q-a-will-states-take-the-lead-in-4607676/

California’s AI Laws Are Here—Is Your Business Ready?

by Jeewon K. Serrato, Christine Mastromonaco, Shruti Bhutani Arora, Andrew Caplan, Erin Choo, Mia Rendar, Leighton Watson, Anne M. Voigts, Shani Rivaux, Johnna Purcell, Dayo Feyisayo Ajanaku - Pillsbury

January 1, 2025, marked the start of a series of significant AI laws going into effect in California. California’s 18 new AI laws represent a significant step toward regulating this space, establishing requirements regarding deepfake technology, AI transparency, data privacy and use of AI in the health care arena. These laws reinforce the state’s desire to be a pioneer in this space.

This article provides a detailed look at the enacted legislation, addresses compliance timelines and serves as a guide for businesses as they navigate compliance with California’s evolving AI landscape.

Read more: https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/california-ai-laws.html

Bill proposes changes to Utah’s sex offender registry

by Shara Park - KSL News Radio

SALT LAKE CITY — A controversial bill proposing changes to Utah’s sex offender registry was met with both support and criticism on Capitol Hill Friday.

When SB155 was first released by Senator Todd Weiler last week it was met with harsh criticism, on Friday a substitute bill was presented in the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee. The original version of SB155 focused on moving certain criminal offenses with a lifetime sex offender registration to the list of offenses only requiring a 10-year registration.

Read more: https://kslnewsradio.com/crime-police-courts/changes-to-utahs-sex-offender-registry/2177547/

Oregon courts clear 47K residential eviction records

by Sabrina Pierre - KGW8

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon's state courts have cleared about 47,000 residential eviction records from people's backgrounds, a significant step toward reducing barriers to housing access under a new state law.

The law, ORS 105.164 (House Bill 2001, 2023), requires courts to "set aside" and "seal" past residential evictions that meet specific criteria. These sealed evictions will no longer appear in background checks, legally treated as if they never occurred.

Read more: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-removes-eviction-records-background-checks/283-858aa702-5bf8-4c06-a24e-0be2898cde69

The GDPR Requirement for Maintaining Records of Processing Activities

by Yavor Markov - New Balkans Law Office

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) transformed the data protection landscape by introducing extensive and detailed obligations on personal data controllers. These requirements reflect the level of risk associated with processing personal data, the number of individuals with access, the volume and sensitivity of the data involved, and related considerations. Given these nuanced criteria, determining the applicability of a specific requirement to a particular controller is not always straightforward. Nevertheless, achieving GDPR compliance is crucial, as non-compliance can result in substantial fines and reputational damage.

Read more: https://www.newbalkanslawoffice.com/the-gdpr-requirement-for-maintaining-records-of-processing-activities/