What Regulens Covers and What It Does Not
At a Glance
| Topic | Acronym | Covered by Regulens |
|---|---|---|
| State sales tax nexus rules | — | YES (39 states) |
| State consumer privacy laws | — | YES (39 states) |
| Federal children's privacy | COPPA | NO |
| FTC deceptive design rules | FTC | NO |
| Web accessibility | ADA | NO |
| State & federal data breach laws | varies | NO — all 50 states |
| International privacy | GDPR | NO |
| Industry federal rules | HIPAA/TTB/FDA | NO |
| Commercial email marketing | CAN-SPAM | NO |
| City and county regulations | — | NO |
States Not Included in Regulens v4.0
The following 12 U.S. states are not included in the current Regulens edition:
For live verification status of all covered jurisdictions, see the Data Verification page.
What Regulens Covers
Regulens Version 4.0 provides informational readiness indicators for:
- State-level sales tax economic nexus rules across 39 U.S. jurisdictions. Every finding traces to an official state revenue department or enacted statute.
- State-level consumer privacy laws across the same 39 jurisdictions. Every finding traces to an official state attorney general office or enacted statute.
12 U.S. states are not included. See above.
Important: What Regulens Does Not Cover
The following areas are outside the scope of Regulens and require separate professional review. This list is not exhaustive.
COPPA — Federal Children's Privacy
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act applies to websites directed to children under 13 or that knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. Merchants selling toys, children's clothing, games, educational products, or goods marketed to minors should seek separate professional guidance. Regulens does not assess COPPA applicability.
FTC — Deceptive Design Enforcement
The Federal Trade Commission actively pursues websites using misleading countdown timers, false scarcity claims, hidden subscription fees, pre-checked add-ons, and other deceptive interface patterns. These practices may also trigger enforcement under state consumer protection laws in several covered jurisdictions. Regulens does not audit website design for FTC compliance.
ADA — Web Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act has been applied to commercial websites in multiple federal court decisions. ADA demand letters targeting small e-commerce businesses are an active enforcement pattern in the United States. Regulens does not scan your website's front-end code, alt-text, or screen-reader compatibility. Regulens analyzes transaction volume data and policy text only. Accessibility review requires a separate technical audit of your store's front-end code.
State & Federal Data Breach Notification
All 50 U.S. states — including the 39 states covered by Regulens for sales tax and privacy — have enacted separate data breach notification statutes. Regulens coverage of a state for sales tax or consumer privacy does NOT extend to that state's data breach notification requirements. These laws are entirely outside Regulens scope regardless of which states a merchant sells in. Most require notification within 30 to 72 hours of discovery.
GDPR — International Privacy
If a merchant sells to EU customers, the General Data Protection Regulation applies regardless of U.S. state law coverage. GDPR has its own consent requirements, data subject rights, and enforcement regime. Regulens covers U.S. jurisdictions only.
CAN-SPAM — Commercial Email Marketing
The CAN-SPAM Act governs commercial email marketing to U.S. recipients. Requirements include a functional unsubscribe mechanism, accurate sender identification, and non-deceptive subject lines. Fines reach $50,120 per email in violation. Regulens does not audit email marketing compliance.
Industry-Specific Federal Rules
Healthcare products: HIPAA may apply. Financial services or installment payments: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act may apply. Alcohol sales: Federal TTB regulations apply. Food and supplements: FDA labeling rules apply. Regulens does not assess industry-specific federal frameworks.
Municipal and County Regulations
Regulens covers state-level rules only. City, county, and municipal ordinances are entirely outside scope. Colorado is a notable example where home-rule municipalities set their own sales tax rules separately from state rules.
This scope disclosure was last updated June 2026. Regulens reviews this page periodically. This page is informational only. Always consult a licensed professional.