California Set to Restrict AI Use in the Workplace With “No Robo Bosses” Act: 4 Key Steps Employers Should Take to Comply

by Fisher Phillips, Usama Kahf, Chelsea Viola, David Walton - JD Supra

California lawmakers just passed a law that could soon require employers to not only provide notices to applicants and workers when AI is used in workplace decision-making, but would also prohibit the use of AI for certain workplace actions. The “No Robo Bosses” Act (SB 7), which aims to regulate the use of automated decision systems (ADS) in the workplace, now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk after passing the legislature late Friday. If signed, SB 7 will take effect on January 1, 2026, alongside a wave of other AI-related employment regulations that will create a complex compliance landscape for employers using AI in the workplace. Here’s what you should know about the new law and the four steps you should take to get ready for compliance.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/california-set-to-restrict-ai-use-in-2591672/?origin=CEG&utm_source=CEG&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CustomEmailDigest&utm_term=jds-article&utm_content=article-link

Massachusetts AG Approves Ballot Petition to End $1.6B Adult-Use Cannabis Market

by Tony Lange - Cannabis Business Times

No state citizenry has backtracked on cannabis legalization after a licensed and regulated program was implemented, but prohibitionists are hoping to offer Massachusetts voters the opportunity.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell certified two versions of a 2026 ballot initiative petition on Sept. 3 that intends to repeal state laws governing the commonwealth’s commercial adult-use cannabis marketplace, including licensed cultivation and dispensary operations.

Read more: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/us-states/massachusetts/news/15754703/massachusetts-ag-approves-ballot-petition-to-end-16b-adultuse-cannabis-market

Fentanyl Positivity Is More Than Seven Times Higher in Random Tests vs. Pre-Employment Drug Screening, Finds 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index

by Quest Diagnostics - PR Newswire

SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The percentage of employees in the general U.S. workforce testing positive for fentanyl in random drug tests far exceeded those in pre-employment testing, according to the 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ from Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services.

The new report reveals changing patterns of drug use by the nation's workforce. While the analysis of more than 8 million drug tests shows that overall workplace urine drug positivity declined slightly last year, to 4.4% from 4.6%, the sharp increase in fentanyl in random drug checks suggests more workers are using the highly addictive opioid after they have passed pre-employment screens. Random drug testing involves unscheduled and unannounced drug tests of employed individuals after they have presumably passed pre-employment drug screens.

Read more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fentanyl-positivity-is-more-than-seven-times-higher-in-random-tests-vs-pre-employment-drug-screening-finds-2025-quest-diagnostics-drug-testing-index-302543110.html

Texas Responsible AI Governance Act compliance: A sample policy framework

The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act will take effect 1 Jan. 2026; it applies broadly to all businesses operating in Texas that use an artificial intelligence system in the state as well as companies whose products or services are used by Texas residents.

The TRAIGA targets AI systems, defined as "any machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the inputs the system receives how to generate outputs, including content, decisions, predictions, or recommendations that can influence physical or virtual environments." Its scope includes both the developer and deployer of the AI system. Businesses can use the following sample policy framework as a starting point for TRAIGA compliance.

Read more: https://iapp.org/news/a/texas-responsible-ai-governance-act-compliance-a-sample-policy-framework/?mkt_tok=MTM4LUVaTS0wNDIAAAGcTaV3-LiT2VpeFnqkeconUm4w8bJwgs3RBQC20pl6pZ4psgjjwx0y7fG_ClVOBYY76Q2svnpD9HDYJcFcif_80sr922ilAb8AHC-Ks2Bd0sQI

The EU and the US reached a transatlantic data privacy framework agreement to further ensure the privacy security of EU residents.

by Mash Yang - Mashdigi

The European Union recently announced that it has reached a consensus with the United States toNew transatlantic data privacy framework (Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework) to ensure the privacy security of users in the EU.

The main reason for establishing this data privacy framework is that the flow of information between Europe and the United States is quite large, and it has become the main driving force of important economic activities in the transatlantic range, even generating economic benefits of up to US$7.1 trillion.

Read more: https://mashdigi.com/eu-u-s-data-agreement-an-important-milestone-for-data-protection-microsoft-is-committed-to-doing-our-part/

Massachusetts Would Recriminalize Recreational Marijuana Sales Under 2026 Ballot Initiatives Being Reviewed By Attorney General

by Kyle Jaeger - Marijuana Moment

The attorney general of Massachusetts has published dozens of proposed initiatives for the 2026 ballot—including a pair that would roll back adult-use marijuana legalization in the state.

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s (D) office released a total of 47 initiative petitions filed by 19 groups ahead of a deadline on Wednesday. It will now review each of them to determine if they can be legally certified.

Read more: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-would-recriminalize-recreational-marijuana-sales-under-2026-ballot-initiatives-being-reviewed-by-attorney-general/

Gov. Lombardo signs Miya’s Law, mandating background checks for apartment maintenance workers

Press Release - CarsonNow.org

Las Vegas, NV — On Monday, August 4, 2025, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo officially signed Senate Bill 114, also known as Miya’s Law, into law during a ceremonial event in Las Vegas.

Championed by Senator Julie Pazina, the legislation strengthens tenant protections across Nevada by requiring background checks for apartment maintenance workers and establishing rigorous key security protocols in residential complexes.

Read more: https://www.carsonnow.org/08/05/2025/gov-lombardo-signs-miyas-law-mandating-background-checks-for-apartment-maintenance-workers

White House unveils AI Action Plan

by Caitlin Andrews - IAPP

The White House released its vision for artificial intelligence policy 23 July with a heavy focus on breaking down barriers to the technology’s innovation and adoption, including another attempt to stop states from enacting their own AI regulation.

The 28-page "America’s AI Action Plan" stems from President Donald Trump's January executive order on AI and is part of a marked tone shift toward policy aimed at fostering U.S. AI dominance in the face of fierce competition from China. Trump directed agencies to come up with a plan after extensive public comment from academia, civil society and industry. Additional executive orders putting some of the plan's points into action are expected, Reuters reports.

Read more: https://iapp.org/news/a/white-house-unveils-ai-action-plan/?mkt_tok=MTM4LUVaTS0wNDIAAAGb12ALkJUmpPwqxHP5doh6taqE7sHKN2WF9EblDkMAoIe-TrzI4cq-MNYG56v1C4Dj1a8iKV52zDs5bXxW3ZG7pKRygcjjQeJkwC5ZTIY8dCGP

Proposed New Jersey Regulations Would Require Major Privacy Compliance Shifts for Businesses

by Fisher Phillips

New Jersey officials recently released proposed privacy regulations that would create several new compliance obligations for businesses above and beyond what existing state law and many other state laws require, meaning you may need to adjust your compliance approach if you do business there. The June 2 release by the Office of Consumer Protection aims to stretch the boundaries of the New Jersey Data Privacy Act (NJDPA) – so much so, in fact, that you should not assume your existing compliance programs would fully satisfy these proposed requirements. They include detailed standards for obtaining consumer consent, specific content and timing requirements for loyalty program notices, expanded definitions of personal and sensitive data, and new restrictions on the use of data for AI model training. The public comment period for businesses that want to make their voice heard runs through August 1, 2025. What do you need to know about these proposed rules, and what can you do help shape policy before these take effect without substantive changes?

Read more: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/news-insights/proposed-new-jersey-regulations-would-require-major-privacy-compliance-shifts-for-businesses.html

Florida’s New Security Law Just Changed Apartment Management

by Franco Faraudo - Propmodo

Florida has added a new requirement to every apartment operator’s compliance checklist. Prompted by the 2021 murder of 19-year-old Miya Marcano—who was killed in her Orlando apartment by a maintenance worker who used a spare key fob to enter—“Miya’s Law” now mandates stricter security protocols for multifamily properties. As of July 1, the law requires staff to give at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering any unit and for landlords to keep detailed entry logs for every apartment.

Read more: https://propmodo.com/floridas-new-security-law-just-changed-apartment-management/