State Watch

Who owns the rain? When government regulation loses common senseÂ

There are moments when you hear a legal argument and wonder whether common sense has quietly left the building.Take the case of an Oregon man who went to jail in 2012 for collecting rainwater in basin...

2026-03-18

California Globe: In California, You Can Do Everything Right, and Still Get Crushed

Take an oil and gas operator who spends millions upgrading equipment, filing emissions reports, and complying with air-quality rules that change more often than a coastal forecast. Every form is filed...

2026-03-18

How a Policy Interpretation turned Title IX against itself

When Title IX was passed in 1972, it promised to provide men and women with equal access to opportunities like scholarships, athletic programs, and extracurriculars. It was a beacon of progress in the...

2026-03-17

Attorney General Bonta Calls on EPA to Resume Enforcement Activity

March 18, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected]— California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 12 other attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Environmenta...

2026-03-18

A rancher’s land dispute could prompt SCOTUS to clarify sovereign immunity

Tammy Blakey's career as an airline captain took her all over the world from Shanghai to the Middle East. Now retired, she may soon be heading to the most exotic location yet: The Supreme Court.In 199...

2026-03-17

Wyoming county apologizes for wrongful fee, pays family back

In early March, Wyoming homeowners Shelby and Trey Scharp received an unusual letter from their county government.  The letter began,"Teton County made a mistake. We required you to pay an affor...

2026-03-13

New York says helping your neighbors understand a court form is a crime

In New York, a debt collector can sue you for money you don't owe—and win, if you don't respond. These debt-collection lawsuits aren't uncommon; they make up roughly a quarter of all cases filed in Ne...

2026-03-13

Governor Newsom announces next round of television tax credits, adding animated and competition shows for the first time

2026-03-18

Parents challenge Boston’s tier-based school admissions as unconstitutional

This week, PLF brought its challenge to a Boston public school's admissions system before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. PLF senior attorney Chris Kieser delivered oral arg...

2026-03-13

A Hawaii dolphin therapist’s case could shape the Comey and James appeal

Six months ago, James Comey and Letitia James had likely never heard of PLF client Eliza Wille or her dolphin therapy practice in Kona, Hawaii. Now, as the government fights to revive their indictment...

2026-03-12

Public school teacher asks Supreme Court to protect off-campus speech

Jeanne Hedgepeth spent 20 years teaching social studies at Palatine High School outside Chicago. During her tenure, she was actively involved in creating an inclusive environment at school; she sponso...

2026-03-11

American Heroes: Beating Illegal Tariffs with Eva St. Clair and Rebecca Melsky

An episode of American Heroes with Kathy Hoekstra you won't want to miss!After the blockbuster Supreme Court ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the presiden...

2026-03-09

Attorney General Bonta Sponsors Legislation Capping Commissary Prices at Immigration Detention Facilities

March 18, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected] 941, authored by Senator Padilla and co-sponsored by Immigrant Defense Advocates and California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, a...

2026-03-17

Attorney General Bonta Honors a Decade of the Gun Violence Restraining Order, Unveils Tools to Help More Communities Use the GVRO to Prevent Shootings

March 17, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected] —Marking 10 years since California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) law took effect in 2016, California Attorney Genera...

2026-03-17

Attorney General Bonta Notifies Schools and Child Care Providers of New Legal Obligations Relating to Immigration Enforcement Actions

March 17, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected]— California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued two bulletins to notify local educational agencies, institutions of higher educatio...

2026-03-16

Attorney General Bonta: Tax Day is Approaching — Good News, You May Be Able to File Taxes for Free!

March 16, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected], check out these tips to find safe, free, and low-cost ways to file your taxesOAKLAND— California Attorney General Rob Bonta...

2026-03-16

Attorney General Bonta and States Head Back to Court, Continue Fighting for Better Resolution in Live Nation/Ticketmaster Trial

March 16, 2026Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected] YORK— California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement on the resumption of states’ landmark trial against Live Nation,...

2026-03-16