Over the last several weeks, Texas, Louisiana, and Nebraska have enacted so called “baby” Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) laws aimed at regulating foreign-influenced political activity in the states. There has been a trend in state legislatures over the last year to propose laws that apply to foreign-influenced political activity
Continue Reading Texas, Louisiana, and Nebraska Enact “Baby” FARA LawsU.S. Government Issues Cybersecurity Warning to Critical Infrastructure Operators and Others
On June 30, 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), and the National Security Agency (NSA) warned U.S. critical infrastructure organizations and other companies that the threat of cyber attacks from Iran-affiliated cyber actors is heightened…
Continue Reading U.S. Government Issues Cybersecurity Warning to Critical Infrastructure Operators and OthersTexas Enacts AI Consumer Protection Law
On June 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (“TRAIGA”) (HB 149) into law. The law, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, makes Texas the second state to enact comprehensive AI consumer protection legislation, following the 2024 enactment of the Colorado…
Continue Reading Texas Enacts AI Consumer Protection LawFCC Seeks Comment on Opening Up Spectrum for Satellite Broadband
Updated June 27, 2025. Originally posted May 28, 2025.
At an Open Meeting in May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that proposes to permit more intensive and efficient use of the 12.7 GHz and 42 GHz bands by satellite communications, either as an alternative or complement to terrestrial wireless. Chairman Carr emphasized that, if adopted, the Proposed Rule would make 20,000 megahertz of spectrum available for satellite-based services, which Chairman Carr characterized as a necessary step for U.S. leadership in spectrum and a clear sign to China. Carr stated that the additional spectrum, in conjunction with other actions the FCC is taking across multiple spectrum bands, would protect American technological leadership. Comments may be filed on or before July 28, 2025, and reply comments may be filed on or before August 26, 2025, as set forth in today’s Federal Register.
The FNPRM builds upon the FCC’s recent requests for comments on providing increased access to spectrum for terrestrial wireless services. This FNPRM expands upon that record to contemplate authorizing satellite communications in the 12.7 GHz and 42 GHz bands and seeks comment on the feasibility of allowing satellite communications in those bands in both the Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth directions.
The 12.7 GHz band
The 12.7 GHz band is currently allocated for satellite and terrestrial wireless uses, with limited Federal operations in the band. The 12.75-13.25 GHz portion of the band is also allocated for NASA to operate its Deep Space Network. The FCC’s U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations, which outlines how radio spectrum is allocated for use by various entities including Federal government and private sector entities, precludes fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems in geostationary orbit from using the 12.75-13.25 GHz band for domestic services. The FNPRM asks whether it is still necessary to prohibit FSS deployment in the 12.7 GHz band, or if there are other ways to protect incumbent operations without prohibiting domestic satellite operations.
This FNPRM follows the FCC’s recent efforts to more effectively utilize the 12.7 GHz band. In October 2022, the FCC released the 12.7 GHz Notice of Inquiry to solicit input on how the FCC could encourage more efficient use of the 12.7 GHz band and whether it should authorize mobile broadband in the band. In May 2023, the FCC moved forward with expanding the use of the 12.7 GHz band and issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to repurpose some of the 12.7 GHz band for mobile terrestrial broadband, or other uses.Continue Reading FCC Seeks Comment on Opening Up Spectrum for Satellite Broadband
California Frontier AI Working Group Issues Final Report on Frontier Model Regulation
On June 17, the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI Frontier Models (“Working Group”) issued its final report on frontier AI policy, following public feedback on the draft version of the report released in March. The report describes “frontier models” as the “most capable” subset of foundation models, or…
Continue Reading California Frontier AI Working Group Issues Final Report on Frontier Model RegulationEuropean Commission publishes its plan to enable more effective law enforcement access to data
On 24 June 2025, the European Commission published its “roadmap” for ensuring lawful and effective access to data by law enforcement (“Roadmap”). The Roadmap forms a key part of the Commission’s internal security strategy, which was announced in April, and follows on from the November…
Continue Reading European Commission publishes its plan to enable more effective law enforcement access to dataNew York Legislature Passes Sweeping AI Safety Legislation
On June 12, the New York legislature passed the Responsible AI Safety & Education (“RAISE”) Act (S 6953), a frontier model public safety bill that would establish safeguard, reporting, disclosure, and other requirements for large developers of frontier AI models. If signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul…
Continue Reading New York Legislature Passes Sweeping AI Safety LegislationTexas Also Enacts Bans on Certain Ingredients in School Meals; Similar Louisiana Bill Progresses
Yesterday, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law S.B. 25, which requires food products containing any of 40+ specified ingredients to bear a warning label. This follows Texas’s enactment of S.B. 314 in late May, which prohibits Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools from providing free or reduced-price meals that contain any of 17+ specified ingredients. As of the date of this writing, Louisiana S.B. 14, which would impose (1) disclosure requirements for any food product sold in the state that contains specified ingredients, and (2) a ban on the use of certain ingredients in school meals, is sitting on the governor’s desk. It will become law if he signs it or takes no action by June 25. These actions are part of a larger trend of increased scrutiny of food and color additives, as we previously reported and which is a significant feature of the Make America Healthy Again (“MAHA”) Commission’s Assessment released on May 22, 2025.
Texas S.B. 25
S.B. 25 requires human food products containing any of 40+ specified ingredients to bear the following warning label: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.” Violators may be subject to a fine not to exceed $50,000 per day for each distinct food product in violation of the requirement.
The ingredients subject to the warning label requirement are the FD&C colors (i.e., Blue Dye No. 1, Red Dye No. 40, etc.) and numerous other ingredients including bleached flour, bromated flour, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), potassium bromate, and propylparaben. Although the sweeteners aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium (as well as high fructose corn syrup) were listed in earlier drafts of the bill, they are not included in the bill ultimately signed into law.
The warning requirement will apply only to food product labels “developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027.” Thus, it appears that food labels in use or even just copyrighted before that date could continue to be used for extended periods of time beyond that date.Continue Reading Texas Also Enacts Bans on Certain Ingredients in School Meals; Similar Louisiana Bill Progresses
Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2025.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)Senate Parliamentarian Clears Revised State AI Enforcement Moratorium for Reconciliation Bill, But Passage Remains in Doubt
In a surprise move, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that a proposed moratorium on state and local AI laws satisfies the Byrd Rule, the requirement that reconciliation bills contain only budgetary provisions and omit “extraneous” policy language. While MacDonough’s determination allows the Senate Commerce Committee’s version of the moratorium to…
Continue Reading Senate Parliamentarian Clears Revised State AI Enforcement Moratorium for Reconciliation Bill, But Passage Remains in Doubt