AGP Executive Report

Legal Ruling for Policyholders: New Jersey’s highest court reversed a long-standing shield for insurance brokers, expanding consumer fraud exposure and changing how policyholders can pursue claims. Healthcare & Pharma: Johnson & Johnson set aside $5.5B to resolve tens of thousands of talc ovarian-cancer lawsuits, covering about 76,000 claims, with payouts staged through 2028. Energy & Tech Policy: Rep. Frank Pallone floated the idea of a nationwide data-center moratorium if Democrats regain the House, pushing for federal “guardrails” first. Elections & Compliance: NJ’s noncitizen voter-roll controversy escalated again, with lawmakers pressing for broader audits and safeguards after a DMV software error. Retail Pharmacy Operations: Wakefern will launch a centralized pharmacy fulfillment center in Jamesburg to serve most ShopRite pharmacies in NJ and improve prescription dispensing. Business Litigation Watch: Securities class actions were filed in New Jersey federal court against ADMA Biologics and Embecta, with investor lead-plaintiff deadlines in August. Defense Supply Chain: Ocean Power Technologies said it achieved CMMC Level 2 compliance to support defense contracts requiring protection of controlled unclassified information.

Voter Roll Fallout: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says New Jersey has started notifying people after an MVC software error added thousands of noncitizens to voter rolls, with more than 4,500 slated for removal and about 400 ballots already cast. Public Safety & Telecom: AG Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 49 states are urging the FCC to tighten “Know Your Customer” rules to curb illegal robocalls and related fraud. Health Care Costs: Insurers are seeking an average 17% premium increase for Pennsylvania’s ACA marketplace plans for 2027, underscoring pressure on NJ’s own Get Covered NJ market. Environmental Risk: Keyport residents are pressing for answers after testing found multiple toxins and PFAS-related contaminants in groundwater near a neighboring landfill, ahead of a community meeting on possible cancer cluster links. Consumer & Business: Lidl recalled Eridanous shortbread cookies because ingredients weren’t listed in English and allergens weren’t properly disclosed. Major Legal/Corporate: Johnson & Johnson disclosed a proposed $5.5 billion talc settlement covering tens of thousands of ovarian cancer claims, including consolidated cases in New Jersey. Local Economy: The NJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association plans its first Innovation Summit Sept. 30 in East Windsor, focusing on AI, payments compliance, and guest-experience tech. Infrastructure/Tech: Monroe Township is facing a $300 million lawsuit after banning new data center construction.

Election Fallout: New Jersey’s noncitizen voter-roll glitch is still driving national political pressure, with Republicans pushing for more federal control over elections while Democrats argue the focus should be on making voting easier and safer. Consumer Protection & Pricing: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning “surveillance pricing” that uses personal data to charge different prices for the same grocery items. Housing Finance: NJHMFA sold $40M in state tax credits (with another ~$60M planned this fall) to spur affordable and workforce housing production. Corporate Legal Watch: Johnson & Johnson agreed to a proposed $5.5B talc settlement covering about 76,000 ovarian cancer claims, including cases consolidated in New Jersey, with final approval tied to claimant participation. Business Operations: Robust.AI will deploy 24 Carter™ robots at O’Neill Logistics’ Monroe, NJ distribution site (go-live planned for Q4 2026). Workforce & Reentry: The New Jersey Reentry Corporation says it has helped more than 31,000 participants since launching, with job placement and credential pathways aimed at reducing barriers after incarceration.

Talc Litigation: Johnson & Johnson agreed to a proposed $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of talc lawsuits, covering about 69,000 cases consolidated in federal court in New Jersey and related state claims; the deal still needs judge approval, with J&J calling the allegations meritless after a recent ruling that cast doubt on plaintiffs’ ability to prove specific causation. Voter-Registration Fallout: A French software firm at the center of New Jersey’s noncitizen voter-roll controversy, Idemia, is reported to hold multiple state contracts beyond the Motor Vehicle Commission deal, with state taxpayers paying about $61.1 million so far—raising fresh questions as Gov. Mikie Sherrill weighs contract termination. Affordable Housing Finance: NJHMFA sold $40 million in state tax credits to spur affordable and workforce housing, and signaled another $60 million auction window starting Oct. 16. Local Government & Business: Jersey City Council reviewed a roughly $9.21 million HEDC budget, with revenue largely driven by construction code and housing preservation enforcement. Consumer/Workforce: A Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds most NJ residents rate the U.S. economy negatively but are more upbeat about their own finances and jobs, alongside widespread utility and grocery cutbacks. Energy/Tech Debate: A renewed national fight over data centers and power demand is resurfacing, with critics pushing for government action as new facilities race ahead.

NJ Food & Retail Expansion: Edible Garden says it’s expanding fresh cut herb distribution with Walmart across the Mid-Atlantic, aiming to boost year-round availability of its sustainably grown products. Real Estate & Growth: Bubbakoo’s Burritos is headed to Hudson Towne Center in Hudson, marking its first Massachusetts location, with an opening date still to be announced. Workforce & Cost Pressures: A new MoneyLion state-by-state look finds Gen Z is financially squeezed in most places, with only a handful of states where Gen Z median income beats millennials—highlighting New Jersey among the states with higher bachelor’s attainment. Tax & Markets: A report flags how prediction market winnings are taxed as the IRS still hasn’t clarified how to treat them, leaving traders uncertain on whether rules resemble gambling or futures. Public Policy & Infrastructure: NJ Transit’s long-awaited North Brunswick station is moving toward construction after design milestones, adding a major new stop on the Northeast Corridor. Corporate Moves: PGIM will buy the remaining 25% stake in Deerpath Capital, bringing ownership to 100% and expanding its direct lending platform. Business Litigation Watch: Securities class actions were filed against ADMA Biologics and Embecta, with lead plaintiff deadlines in August.

Retail Expansion: Bass Pro Shops is building a 200,000-square-foot flagship in Sayreville’s Riverton complex, slated to open this fall as the biggest single-story Bass Pro in the U.S., with hunting, fishing, an archery range, and a 70,000-gallon aquarium. Energy & Regulation: The NJ Board of Public Utilities is moving ahead with a $44.1 million penalty against JCP&L for missing reliability benchmarks and is investigating the utility’s handling of July 4 weekend outages. Local Business Growth: TruGolf Links is opening its first indoor golf venue in Cherry Hill, with simulator bars, a restaurant and full-service bar, and plans for up to 40 more NJ/PA locations. Food Safety & Litigation: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to Taylor Farms’ recalled lettuce is hitting restaurant and grocery traffic, while new lawsuits against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms add to mounting costs. Civic Systems Scrutiny: NJ’s voter-roll and jury-selection controversies are widening, with new reporting that the courts send about 75,000 jury summonses to noncitizens annually, raising questions about the databases behind both processes. Antitrust/Health Policy: Utah announced a $29.6 million settlement with Glenmark over alleged generic-drug price inflation, part of a broader multistate antitrust push. Business & Jobs: Jersey Mike’s is preparing a major national expansion tied to an IPO filing, aiming to open thousands of new stores.

Consumer Protection: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning “surveillance pricing” that uses shoppers’ digital data to set different grocery prices for the same items, with penalties up to $20,000 and a one-year pause on new electronic shelf-label installs. Elections & Compliance: The state is still untangling a DMV-linked software issue that improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens to vote; fewer than 400 reportedly cast ballots, and the Division of Elections says it will remove ineligible voters while referring voters who voted to county boards. Food Safety: Brooklyn Roasting Company recalled 1,219 units of pasteurized cold brew concentrate sold in New York and New Jersey due to botulism risk tied to room-temperature storage; no illnesses reported. Energy & Policy: Delaware is weighing battery energy storage after a report projected about $927 million in savings over 10 years, with New Jersey-based consultants involved. Tech & Mobility: Google’s Waymo is reportedly exploring options to exit its Uber robotaxi partnership, signaling a widening fight over safety and operations. Business & Labor: Poolin, a major bitcoin miner, filed for Chapter 11 in New Jersey and seeks approval to sell about $52 million in Texas assets. Weather & Safety: After NJ storm outages, officials warned residents about generator misuse, stressing carbon monoxide dangers and against backfeeding into home outlets.

Food Safety & Recalls: Brooklyn Roasting Company recalled 2.5-gallon bags of pasteurized cold brew concentrate sold in New York and New Jersey after concerns about botulism risk tied to improper room-temperature storage; no illnesses were reported. Consumer Protection: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, giving New Jersey shoppers a private right of action starting Feb. 1, 2027 against retailers that use shopper data to charge higher prices for identical groceries. Elections & Tech Accountability: The MVC told noncitizens mistakenly registered to vote to seek removal from the rolls, while IDEMIA pushed back on the governor’s “software error” claim, setting up a public dispute over how 6,600 noncitizens landed on voter lists. Corporate & Antitrust: Paramount agreed to pause its Warner Bros. Discovery merger amid ongoing lawsuits, including a coalition led by California AG Rob Bonta that lists New Jersey among the states challenging the deal. Business & Health: Amy’s Kitchen recalled more than 184,000 cans of lentil soup due to a pull-tab packaging defect that could raise spoilage risk, with the affected lot distributed across multiple states including New Jersey. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reported premium gas in Middlesex County hit a low of $4.23 per gallon for the week ending July 18, as national prices ticked up. Small Business Spotlight: SBA named 10 semifinalists for its Patriot Pitch Competition, including Better Team USA in Clifton, N.J., competing for a $1 million prize pool.

Border Tech & Travel Security: CBP and Qatar Airways are rolling out International Remote Baggage Screening for the Doha–JFK route, using pre-departure X-ray images reviewed by CBP officers to boost enforcement. Clean Energy Funding Fight: In court filings, the Trump administration acknowledged canceling $7.6B in clean-energy grants tied to states that voted for Kamala Harris, drawing charges of political “weaponization.” Trade & Tariffs: New U.S. tariffs covering about 99% of imports from targeted countries face immediate lawsuits and global backlash, with the IMF warning about growth impacts. NJ Election Fallout: New Jersey’s noncitizen voter-roll error remains a flashpoint as Democrats call for accountability without endorsing broad fraud claims, while GOP leaders press for answers. Housing & Consumer Costs: NJ’s Fair Price Protection Act bans “surveillance pricing” for groceries, targeting algorithmic, data-based individualized pricing. Corporate Deal Watch: Paramount paused its $111B Warner merger amid intensifying U.S. legal challenges. Rutgers Governance: Rutgers is investigating a Newark dean over payments to a company she co-owns with her sister. Real Estate Stress: Foreclosure filings are up nationwide, with New Jersey among the hardest hit in per-ZIP analysis.

Trade & Consumer Impact: The U.S. will lift the 10% tariff on Scotch whisky starting July 24, restoring a “zero-for-zero” deal and giving a boost to Scottish producers and their U.S. supply chain. Food & Health: Taylor Farms issued a fresh statement amid the cyclosporiasis investigation, saying it has taken added precautions and expanded recalls while working with health authorities. M&A & Antitrust: New Jersey’s AG office is among the states challenging Paramount Skydance’s $110B Warner Bros. Discovery merger; the companies agreed to delay the deal until June 2027 while the case proceeds. State Policy & Cost of Living: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed New Jersey’s ban on “surveillance pricing” for groceries, limiting personalized price-setting based on consumer data. Elections & Data Privacy: NJ also refused to hand DOJ voter-roll data tied to a software issue that allegedly registered thousands of noncitizens, keeping the dispute in court. Retail Expansion: Whole Foods set an Aug. 21 opening for a new 45,000-square-foot store in Skillman, anchored by Montgomery Promenade. Local Business Growth: Bubbakoo’s Burritos opened a new East Windsor location, expanding its NJ footprint. Environment & Energy: NOAA rejected a petition to designate a right whale migration corridor, a move that Save Long Beach Island says it will challenge in court. Bankruptcy Watch: Bitcoin miner Poolin filed for Chapter 11 in NJ, with a proposed $52M sale tied to West Texas assets.

Pharma Manufacturing: BeOne Medicines (formerly BeiGene) will invest an additional $300M to expand its Princeton West Innovation Campus in Hopewell, pushing total U.S. spend above $1B and adding new small-molecule capacity plus about 120 jobs, with the new building targeted to be fully operational in 2029. HIV Access: Merck outlined early access plans for alimatravir, a once-monthly oral HIV PrEP pill, including early generic licensing across 129 low- and middle-income countries and regional manufacturing support. Healthcare Innovation: Johnson & Johnson won FDA De Novo authorization for its OTTAVA robotic surgical system, clearing it for multiple soft-tissue general surgery procedures and starting a limited U.S. rollout. Retail Pricing Rules: New Jersey’s Fair Price Protection Act takes aim at “surveillance pricing,” banning retailers from using personal data to set individualized grocery prices and pausing new electronic shelf-label rollouts for 12 months. Election Fallout: NJ’s noncitizen voter-roll error remains under scrutiny as the state hires an independent firm to investigate how 6,600 noncitizens were registered and about 400 voted. Local Business Openings: Jersey City welcomed new food and drink spots, including a tearoom/bakery and multiple restaurants, reflecting continued demand for neighborhood dining. Cannabis Layoffs: The Cannabist Company will close two Vineland grow sites, laying off 86 workers as it moves through Chapter 15 bankruptcy. Gaming/Hotels: White Hat Gaming will power Vegas Club Casino in NJ, while Crescent Hotels & Resorts takes over Hilton Short Hills management.

Voter Roll Fight: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says New Jersey will not hand DOJ the identities of about 6,600 noncitizens mistakenly registered to vote, arguing the federal request is politically motivated; the dispute follows a Motor Vehicle Commission software error and IDEMIA’s pushback on blame. Housing Affordability: A new report finds NJ is the fifth least affordable state for renters, with a full-time worker needing $43.89 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom. Mass Tort Watch: A federal judge ordered talc plaintiffs to justify expert science in nearly 70,000 J&J-related lawsuits, raising the stakes for the MDL’s future. Business Expansion: WellBiz Brands reported 737 locations after adding six studios in Q2 and signing 15 new franchise agreements, including multi-unit growth in Northern New Jersey. Corporate/Finance: First Bank posted $10.9M Q2 net income; Manhattan Bridge Capital reported lower Q2 revenue amid rate and fee pressure. Local Economy: Burlington County begins a two-week resurfacing project on a 2.7-mile stretch of Old York Road starting July 27.

World Cup Logistics: NJ Transit says it moved 370,000+ fans across eight MetLife matches without major meltdowns, but its after-action memo flags a $13 million potential shortfall after selling only 60% of special-event transit tickets and recommends capping future event ticket sales at 20,000. Biopharma Expansion: BeOne Medicines will invest $300 million to expand manufacturing and R&D at its Princeton West Innovation Campus in Hopewell, adding about 120 jobs and bringing total U.S. manufacturing investment above $1 billion. Earnings Watch: Quest Diagnostics raised its full-year profit forecast after strong routine testing demand; shares jumped in premarket trading. Corporate Moves: TruGolf opened its first flagship TruGolf Links location at Plaza at Cherry Hill, adding simulator bays, dining and bar service. Food Safety: FDA updates a lettuce recall tied to cyclosporiasis, with Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce distributed to 27 states including New Jersey. Legal/Regulatory: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, alleging misleading weight-loss drug advertising based on outdated comparisons. Banking: Valley National Bancorp reported higher Q2 net income and pointed to deposit and C&I loan growth.

Voter Roll Fallout: The DOJ is pressing Gov. Mikie Sherrill for details after New Jersey disclosed a “software error” that wrongly added about 6,600 noncitizens to voter rolls, with up to 400 reportedly casting ballots—raising fresh questions about state compliance and federal oversight. Housing & Consumer Tech: NYC’s Mamdani proposes requiring landlords and listing platforms to disclose AI-altered rental photos/videos, targeting “housefishing” and digital “real estate slop” that can mislead renters. World Cup Economics: New York and New Jersey host-committee says MetLife games generated about $2.1B in economic impact from group-stage matches, while NJ Transit reports record-scale match-day ridership and coordination. Antitrust/Drugs: A federal judge in Trenton cast doubt on talc-cancer claims in J&J litigation, demanding more specific proof from plaintiffs. Business Moves: Tropical Cheese Industries, a private equity-backed firm, bought Maine’s Pineland Farms Dairy, expanding cheese production with a second core site in Bangor. Policy Watch: The NJ AG is seeking tighter OPRA rules that would allow more records to be withheld from the public, including materials tied to nonpublic investigations.

AI & Biotech Services: Acrosian launched in Princeton as an AI-era biometrics CRO built from scratch, offering clinical data management, biostatistics and medical writing with GxP-focused AI-augmented workflows. Enterprise Connectivity: Aquablue expanded its Midwest footprint by naming Marlo Schrieber as Senior Director of Business Development, following workforce growth and a Morristown HQ expansion. Housing Policy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the FAIR Act, banning AI-powered rent-setting software starting July 1, 2027, targeting algorithmic coordination among landlords. Food Safety & Retail Impact: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations may dent sales short term, with analysts saying lasting brand damage is unlikely. Health Policy: Sen. Andy Kim introduced the MediKids Act to extend free Medicaid coverage to all children and young adults through age 26, regardless of citizenship. Legal/Markets: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in New Jersey over alleged misleading GLP-1 advertising comparisons. Weather Disruption: Severe storms battered the East Coast, triggering flooding and tornado investigations in New Jersey and canceling thousands of flights. Sports Media: Spain’s World Cup final win drew a record 63 million U.S. viewers, underscoring soccer’s mainstream pull.

Elections & Data Security: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says a Motor Vehicle Commission software glitch mistakenly registered about 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey in 2023-24, after applicants answered “no” to citizenship but were still added to voter rolls; fewer than 400 later voted, and the state is removing the affected records. Federal Pressure: The Trump DOJ is demanding New Jersey provide unredacted voter-roll data tied to the incident, including sensitive personal details and voting records for the small group that cast ballots. Pharma & Competition: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in federal court in New Jersey, accusing Lilly of deceptive nationwide GLP-1 advertising comparing higher doses to lower doses without head-to-head trials; Lilly disputes the claims. Energy & Politics: Freedom Fuel, a Trump-promoted gas chain that advertised $3.47 fuel, is reportedly no longer selling at that price, with some stations around the Philadelphia area near $3.92. Food Safety: Rising Pharma Holdings recalled certain cetirizine antihistamine lots over possible cross-contamination; FDA-linked cyclosporiasis concerns also continue to ripple through lettuce supply chains.