Washington Attorney General sues Kalshi over alleged gambling practices. Last updated: March 29, 2026, 1:48 am Introduction The Washington State Attorney General has initiated legal action against Kalshi, a platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of future events. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, alleges that Kalshi is offering "gambling products" disguised as prediction markets, raising significant questions about the regulatory landscape for such platforms. This legal move comes at a time when states are increasingly scrutinizing online betting and prediction markets. The case could set a precedent for how similar platforms operate in the United States, particularly in states with strict gambling laws.

Washington's CEMA reform signed into law: but litigation risk isn't going away. March 25, 2026 Washington State has officially enacted long-awaited reforms to its Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA), marking a significant milestone for ecommerce businesses navigating increasing legal risk tied to email marketing practices. Earlier this week, HB 2274 was signed into law by Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson, finalizing a legislative effort aimed at stabilizing how CEMA is applied in today's digital economy. The signing comes after months of legislative activity and advocacy, including ongoing engagement from the Ecommerce Innovation Alliance (EIA), to address the growing wave of litigation fueled by recent court interpretations. While this development represents meaningful progress, it does not fully resolve the challenges ecommerce businesses have been facing. Instead, it introduces greater clarity - while leaving some important questions still in play. Why CEMA reform was needed. In recent years, Washington's CEMA has become an increasingly active source of litigation risk for ecommerce businesses - as courts have interpreted the law in ways that expanded potential liability for routine email marketing practices. As a result, businesses began facing lawsuits over subject lines and sender information, technical formatting issues and standard marketing and promotional emails. In many cases, these claims focused less on consumer harm and more on leveraging technical violations into settlements, creating a difficult environment for businesses trying to operate in good faith. Courts have continued to reinforce the viability of these claims. Signaling that CEMA remains a powerful tool for plaintiffs, even as reforms move forward. What HB 2274 changes. The passage of HB 2274 is a direct response to these developments. The law aims to clarify how CEMA should be applied and to reduce the types of claims that have driven recent litigation. At a high level, HB 2274 reduces financial exposure, raises the standard for claims, and makes compliance more predictable - but does not eliminate litigation risk. HB 2274 introduces several important, concrete changes that directly impact how CEMA claims are brought - and what they cost businesses. 1. Lower statutory damages. * Before: Up to $500 per violation (per email) * Now: Reduced to $100 per violation Why this matters: This significantly lowers the financial exposure from high-volume claims and reduces the incentive for mass litigation campaigns. 2. Higher bar for "misleading" Claims. * Before: Broad interpretations allowed claims based on minor or technical discrepancies (e.g., subject lines, sender formatting) * Now: Violations must be materially misleading Why this matters: Limits lawsuits based on trivial issues and focuses enforcement on meaningful deception. 3. Narrowed scope of liability. * Before: Courts allowed expanded interpretations of what could trigger liability * Now: The law is more clearly tied to deceptive or harmful conduct, not routine marketing activity Why this matters: Reduces exposure for standard ecommerce email practices. What hasn't changed. Despite these improvements, it's important to understand what the law does not do. The bill does not apply retroactively to existing cases. Further, CEMA remains in effect, and litigation has not stopped, nor will the changes necessarily curb the volume of CEMA cases being filed against companies. Courts are still actively hearing cases and will continue to play a central role in interpreting how the updated law is applied in practice. For ecommerce businesses, that means risk has been reduced, but not eliminated. The bottom line. The signing of HB 2274 is a positive step toward a more balanced and predictable regulatory environment. It reflects growing recognition among policymakers that recent litigation trends created unintended consequences for legitimate businesses. Washington's CEMA reform becoming law is a meaningful step forward for ecommerce businesses. It provides greater clarity, reduces exposure to purely technical claims, and signals that policymakers are beginning to address the realities of digital commerce. At the same time, ecommerce brands should remain cautious. This is not a signal to relax compliance efforts. As Ecomm Alliance has seen with CIPA, TCPA, and other regulatory frameworks, clarity in legislation does not always translate immediately into clarity in enforcement. Litigation is ongoing. Courts will continue to interpret the law. And compliance will remain essential. Join the EIA today to help strengthen and shape policies that affect all ecommerce businesses. Together, Ecomm Alliance can continue to create the future of ecommerce. Subscribe to EIA email updates to stay informed on key developments and their impact on your business. Ecommerce Innovation Alliance provides members with analysis of litigation and regulatory developments affecting online commerce and digital marketing. This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The voice of ecommerce EIA is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to bringing the e-commerce industry together to advocate for common sense policies that strengthen the ecommerce ecosystem while protecting consumer's privacy.

HB 2238 and Washington's food future. March 24, 2026 Washington is at an important moment in its work to build a hunger-free future. With the passage of HB 2238, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) will now lead the development of a Statewide Food Security Strategy - the first coordinated plan of its kind in its state. It's a meaningful step forward, and it reflects something communities across Washington have known for years: hunger isn't a personal failure. It's the result of systems that make it harder for people to afford and access food, even in a state that grows enough for everyone. The reality Washington families are facing. Household budgets are stretched thin in every corner of the state. Many Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from: * Higher grocery prices driven by inflation * Fuel price increases influenced by global volatility * Housing costs that rise faster than wages * Unpredictable work hours and income * Disruptions in federal nutrition programs * Less reliable USDA commodity shipments to food banks And these pressures are bringing more first-time visitors to local food programs - including working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and even federal employees dealing with uncertainty. This isn't a momentary spike. It's a structural shift, and it calls for solutions that match the scale and complexity of what people are living through. Community care is strong - but it needs a coordinated approach. Washington's emergency food network is powered by everyday people who show up when their neighbors need help. Volunteers, food bank staff, farmers, grocers, and community organizations have stretched to meet rising need. Their commitment is extraordinary. But the emergency food network cannot - and should not - be the only plan. Food banks, farmers, and meal programs continue to do essential work, yet they're operating under pressures they were never designed to absorb alone - especially when federal nutrition supports fluctuate. Without coordination, the burden becomes heavier, more fragmented, and less effective. Washington farmers are struggling to stay afloat. As its main food producers, its local farmers are vital to Washington's food system. But rising costs of fuel, fertilizer and labor, as well as economic pressure due to the federal tariffs are making it hard for them to stay afloat. Part of the work of HB 2238 is to identify the barriers to keeping local farms viable. When its state's food producers thrive, its food system can thrive. What HB 2238 does. HB 2238 lays the groundwork for a coordinated statewide strategy to reduce hunger. Instead of treating hunger as a series of disconnected emergencies, the bill directs the WSDA to bring together: * State agencies * Community partners * Local organizations * People with lived experience * Agricultural experts ...to build a plan that answers these key questions: * How do Northwest Harve respond when need rises? * How do Northwest Harve prevent people from falling through the cracks in the first place? * How can Northwest Harve support its local farmers and help them stay viable? * How can Northwest Harve improve its food system to make it more efficient and sustainable? The strategy won't replace federal programs - and it can't fill every gap when those programs shift. But it will make Washington's response faster, smarter, and more aligned across benefits access, school meals, sourcing and supply chains, and local food systems. Most importantly, HB 2238 elevates lived experience as expertise. People who've navigated hunger know exactly where systems break down - transportation barriers, limited hours, unfamiliar food options, stigma, benefit cliffs, and more. Their insight must shape the solutions. A starting point, not the finish line. The signing of HB 2238 isn't the end of the work. It's the beginning. A strategy alone won't end hunger. Implementation matters. Investment matters. Public participation matters. And the shared belief that hunger is solvable when Northwest Harve work together, matters. If Northwest Harve want to build a Washington where fewer people are forced into impossible choices, Northwest Harve need to stay focused on both the immediate work of moving food and the long-term work of changing the conditions that make hunger happen in the first place. What comes next - and how you can be part of it. As the WSDA begins developing the Statewide Food Security Strategy, there will be opportunities for communities across Washington to shape what comes next. Here's how you can stay involved: * Follow the development of the strategy as the WSDA begins its public process * Support local organizations doing the day-to-day work of getting food to neighbors * Speak up for policies that strengthen the safety net * Participate when the state asks for input, bringing practical ideas, lived experience, and the belief that Northwest Harve can build something better together Washington can keep patching gaps - or Northwest Harve can build a stronger, more equitable food future: one rooted in dignity, shaped by lived experience, resilient when conditions shift, and strong enough that the emergency food network can return to what it's meant for: true emergencies, not everyday survival. HB 2238 is the start. What Northwest Harve build next is up to all of Northwest Harve.