§ 4.3.6.2 State Law. The statute defines "state law" to include all laws, decisions, rules, regulations, or other state action having the effect of law, of any state.77 The courts of appeal have adopted this definition and applied it in a common sense fashion.78 Laws of the United States applicable only to the District of Columbia are treated as state laws.
The term "state" is defined to include any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the state which purports to regulate, directly or indirectly, the terms or conditions of employee benefit plans covered by ERISA.79
In 1990, the Supreme Court resolved an issue regarding the impact of the "purports to regulate" component of the state law...
