💵Proposed Changes to Hennepin NAF Wage Area and Business Impacts
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to abolish the Hennepin, Minnesota, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and define most of its counties to the nearest NAF FWS wage areas. Those counties without NAF FWS employment would no longer be defined to a NAF wage area. These changes are necessary because NAF FWS employment in the survey area has been declining, and the local activities no longer have the capability to conduct local wage surveys.
Learn More🌍New Trademark Replacement Rules Align with Madrid Protocol
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues this final rule to implement an amendment to the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) adopted by the Madrid Union Assembly that went into effect on February 1, 2021, with a delayed implementation date of February 1, 2025. This final rule modifies U.S. trademark regulations addressing the replacement of a national registration or registrations by an international registration to allow for submission of partial replacement requests, in alignment with the Madrid Protocol, and to require a listing of the goods and/or services for which replacement is requested.
Learn More🚚FMCSA Repeals Obsolete Motor Carrier Routing Regulations
FMCSA repeals the for-hire motor carrier routing regulations which concern servicing municipalities and unincorporated communities. These regulations are unlawful because they exceed FMCSA's statutory authority following the transfer of rules from the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1995, which were carried over to FMCSA in 2000.
Learn More📉USDA Updates Tobacco Grading and Inspections Regulations
This direct final rule amends regulations that govern tobacco price support services established under the Agricultural Act of 1949. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated the price support and quota system for tobacco produced in the United States. In alignment with Executive Order 14192, AMS is removing and, where appropriate, amending regulations that have expired authorizing statutes and govern non-operational programs.
Learn More🚌FMCSA Proposes Removal of Obsolete Water Carrier References
FMCSA proposes to remove all obsolete references to "water carriers" in the FMCSA regulations (FMCSRs). FMCSA does not specifically regulate water carriers except to the extent that such carriers also engage in motor carrier operations. In such cases, the existing FMCSRs provide appropriate coverage of the carrier's motor carrier operations.
Learn More📜Civil Penalties Schedule Update by FMCSA
FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to remove the reference to rules under the Department of Transportation's "Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Program" from the civil penalty schedule in the FMCSRs. Instead, the civil penalty schedule will refer solely to the part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) where this program is incorporated into the FMCSRs. Because the rule does not impose any new material requirements or increase compliance obligations, it is issued without prior notice and opportunity for comment, pursuant to the good cause exception in the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Learn More🚚Proposed Rule to Eliminate CDL Self-Reporting Requirement
FMCSA proposes to revise its regulations requiring commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to self-report motor vehicle violations to their State of domicile. With the implementation of the exclusive electronic exchange of violations between State drivers licensing agencies (SDLAs) in 2024, self-reporting is no longer necessary. This action supports the Administration's deregulatory efforts.
Learn More🚛FMCSA Proposes CDL Standards Exemption for Military Technicians
FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations (FMCSRs) to allow dual-status military technicians to qualify for the exception for certain military personnel from commercial driver license (CDL) standards. This rulemaking responds to a petition for rulemaking submitted by James D. Welch.
Learn More🌱USDA Withdraws Natural Grass Sod Promotion Program Proposal
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2024, that proposed a new grass sod research and promotion program under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The proposed Order was submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a group of natural grass sod producers. AMS conducted a referendum among eligible producers to determine whether they favor establishing a national promotion, research, and information program (Program). After reviewing the results of the producer referendum, a simple majority of industry producers who voted in the referendum are not in favor of establishing a Program, and therefore, the proposed rule is being withdrawn.
Learn More❄️Proposed Rule Delays Enforcement for Central AC and Heat Pumps
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to delay the applicability of certain product-specific enforcement provisions related to the controls verification procedure established in a recently published final rule amending the test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.
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