UPDATE: New Hampshire Senate Passes Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill

by Tony Lange - Cannabis Business Times

UPDATE: On May 30, the New Hampshire House voted, 252-117, against concurring with the Senate's amended version of House Bill 1633, and then the body voted, 261-108, to nonconcur and form a conference committee for the adult-use legalization legislation in an effort to resolve differences between the two chambers. 

New Hampshire is on the verge of becoming the 25th state in the U.S. to legalize adult-use cannabis and the first to do so in 2024.

This potential halfway benchmark for the 50-state nation comes as the New Hampshire Senate voted, 14-10, on May 23 to approve an amended version of House Bill 1633.

Read more: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/new-hampshire-senate-passed-recreational-marijuana-bill-franchise/

New Jersey Considers Restricting Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process

by Fox Rothschild LLP, Brian Frederick, Kenneth Rosenberg - JD Supra

As employers have increasingly used artificial intelligence (AI) and other Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDTs) to assist human resource professionals and hiring managers in reviewing voluminous resumes, federal and state governmental authorities have become concerned that these tools are disproportionately screening out female and minority applicants.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-jersey-considers-restricting-use-of-3885587/?origin=CEG&utm_source=CEG&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CustomEmailDigest&utm_term=jds-article&utm_content=article-link

Consumer Product Companies Using AI Should Think Past Compliance

by Raqiyyah Pippins, Peter Schildkraut - Bloomberg Law

Many consumer product companies—like other businesses—are turning to artificial intelligence-powered and automated decision-making, or ADM, technologies for operating efficiencies and enhanced customer experiences.

Companies embracing AI should look beyond compliance and develop a comprehensive risk management strategy.

Government enforcers are watching, and recent cases and agency guidance highlight the perils of not adopting appropriate safeguards for AI deployment.

Read more: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/consumer-product-companies-using-ai-should-think-past-compliance

Employers Face June 1, 2024 Deadline to Comply with Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s New Expansive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

by Wendy Buckingham, Kevin Frankel, Haley Norwillo, William Simmons, Littler - JD Supra

The Lehigh County Human Relations Ordinance was enacted February 26, 2024, establishing county-specific non-discrimination requirements for employment, housing, education, health care and public accommodations. The ordinance also creates a Lehigh County Human Relations Commission charged with investigating and enforcing claims of discrimination. The ordinance becomes effective June 1, 2024.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/employers-face-june-1-2024-deadline-to-8816636/?origin=CEG

SETTING THE STAGE: CONNECTICUT SENATE BILL 2 LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE AI IN THE STATES

by Tatiana Rice - Future of Privacy Forum

Last night, on April 24, the Connecticut Senate passed SB 2, marking a significant step toward comprehensive AI regulation in the United States. This comprehensive, risk-based approach has emerged as a leading state legislative framework for AI regulation. If enacted, SB 2 would stand as the first piece of legislation in the United States governing the private-sector development and deployment of AI with comparable scale to the EU AI Act. The law would become effective February 1, 2026. 

Read more: https://fpf.org/blog/setting-the-stage-connecticut-senate-bill-2-lays-the-groundwork-for-responsible-ai-in-the-states/?mkt_tok=MTM4LUVaTS0wNDIAAAGStS6CzVVML2VtJf5Zhz1I-t0eZp3fW2HB5yTtRY1pPvE5_owKZI3pue3Qw4hAu3K3cJXmPdLdKwD6q4JVwo-I3hSvgOKvFLcr3D9hjxJVzFq_

Massachusetts AG Campbell Issues Advisory on Artificial Intelligence

by Foley Hoag LLP, Daniel Carlston - JDSupra

Last month, we recapped the recent activity of state Attorneys General in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, including relevant enforcement actions, state legislative and policy development, and coalition letters to Congress and federal agencies.

On April 16, Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell issued a legal advisory providing guidance to developers, suppliers, and users of AI on their obligations under state and federal consumer protection, anti-discrimination, and data security laws. Among other things, the advisory describes:

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/massachusetts-ag-campbell-issues-8744815/

Massachusetts Set to Restrict Employers from Using Credit Checks in Making Employment Decisions

Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 14, 2024, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit employers from obtaining or using a true credit report for employment purposes. The proposed law, which includes only limited exceptions, would be one of the most restrictive of its kind in the country. The bill is expected to pass the Senate and be signed by Governor Maura Healey. If passed, the law would go into effect January 1, 2025.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/massachusetts-set-to-restrict-employers-3349520/

Utah Becomes First State To Enact AI-Centric Consumer Protection Law

By: Skadden Publication / AI Insights, Stuart D. Levi, William E. Ridgway, David A. Simon, Meredith C. Slawe, Anita Oh

On March 13, 2024, Utah enacted the Utah Artificial Intelligence Policy Act (UAIP), which imposes certain disclosure requirements on entities using generative AI tools with their customers, and limits an entity’s ability to “blame” generative AI for statements or acts that constitute consumer protection violations.

Companies subject to the UAIP will need to ensure they have the appropriate disclosure regime in place, and other companies should consider whether the UAIP approach is a good business practice they should adopt. The UAIP goes into effect on May 1, 2024.

Read more: https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2024/04/utah-becomes-first-state

Florida Legislation Will Increase Background Screening for Healthcare Professionals

by Mia McKown, Eddie Williams III - JD Supra

House Bill 975, if signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will have a significant impact on the Florida criminal background screening requirements for healthcare professionals and facilities. Currently, only certain healthcare professionals are required to undergo background screening as a requirement for licensure. Such professionals include the following: allopathic and osteopathic physicians, interns and fellows, physician assistants, chiropractic physicians and assistants, orthotists and prosthetists, podiatric physicians and podiatric x-ray assistants, certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, athletic trainers and massage therapists. However, the majority of healthcare professionals licensed by the Florida Department of Health are not required to undergo background screening as part of their initial licensure requirements.

Read more: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/florida-legislation-will-increase-2594449/?origin=CEG&utm_source=CEG&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CustomEmailDigest&utm_term=jds-article&utm_content=article-link

Japan OKs bill on background checks for work involving children

by Yukana Inoue - The Japan Times

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill that aims to protect young children from sexual assault by requiring those seeking employment in fields involving children to undergo background checks that go back 20 years.

The widely discussed system has been called the Japanese version of the U.K.’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/19/japan/politics/japanese-dbs/