📊FTC Consent Agreement on Omnicom's Acquisition of IPG Explained
The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Proposed Consent Order to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order--embodied in the consent agreement--that would settle these allegations.
Learn More🏥Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Regulations Overview
This final rule revises standards relating to denial of coverage for failure to pay past-due premium; excludes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients from the definition of "lawfully present;" establishes the evidentiary standard HHS uses to assess an agent's, broker's, or web-broker's potential noncompliance; revises the Exchange automatic reenrollment hierarchy; revises standards related to the annual open enrollment period and special enrollment periods; revises standards relating to failure to file and reconcile, income eligibility verifications for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, annual eligibility redeterminations, de minimis thresholds for the actuarial value for plans subject to essential health benefits (EHB) requirements, and income-based cost-sharing reduction plan variations. This final rule also revises the premium adjustment percentage methodology and prohibits issuers of coverage subject to EHB requirements from providing coverage for specified sex-trait modification procedures as an EHB.
Learn More🎄Proposed Changes to Christmas Tree Promotion Order Impacting Businesses
This proposal invites comments on changes to the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). These changes include amending the Board's name from "Christmas Tree Promotion Board" to "Real Christmas Tree Board", increasing the administrative expenses cap from 10 to 15 percent, allowing importers to request refunds of assessments paid on trees that were shipped to the United States but were not sold, and increasing the mandatory period to maintain books and records relating to the Order. Many of these changes are administrative in nature. This action would also make several non- substantive clarifications and changes to modernize the Board's procedures.
Learn More📦USDA Announces Referendum on Paper Packaging Promotion Order
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national paper and paper-based packaging research and promotion program. AMS is also announcing an immediate moratorium on the collection of assessments under the program.
Learn More🌱Rescinding Natural Grass Sod Promotion Order
This direct final rule rescinds the referendum procedures for the proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Sod Proposed Order), issued on December 10, 2024. The referendum failed and the Sod Proposed Order was not approved, therefore it is being withdrawn through a Notice which will also be published in the Federal Register. Therefore, the referendum procedures for the Sod Proposed Order are no longer necessary and AMS is rescinding the part in its entirety.
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📊Amendments to Rule 482 on Fund Advertising Disclosures
The Securities and Exchange Commission is revising Rule 482, which governs the advertising of securities by investment companies. The amendments aim to correct outdated references and align disclosure requirements for money market funds with updated regulations, ensuring investors receive balanced and accurate performance information in fund advertisements.
Learn More🏥Proposed Rule for Marketplace Integrity Under the ACA
This proposed rule would revise standards relating to past-due premium payments; exclude Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients from the definition of "lawfully present"; the evidentiary standard HHS uses to assess an agent's, broker's, or web-broker's potential noncompliance; failure to file and reconcile; income eligibility verifications for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions; annual eligibility redetermination; the automatic reenrollment hierarchy; the annual open enrollment period; special enrollment periods; de minimis thresholds for the actuarial value for plans subject to essential health benefits (EHB) requirements and for income-based cost-sharing reduction plan variations; and the premium adjustment percentage methodology; and prohibit issuers of coverage subject to EHB requirements from providing coverage for sex-trait modification as an EHB.
Learn More🏦FDIC Delays Compliance Dates for Sign and Advertising Requirements
On December 20, 2023, the FDIC adopted a final rule that, among other things, amended the FDIC's sign and advertisement of membership requirements for insured depository institutions (IDIs). The amendments made by the final rule took effect on April 1, 2024; however, full compliance with the amendments was delayed to January 1, 2025. On October 22, 2024, full compliance with the amendments to the sign and advertisement of membership requirements contained in the final rule was delayed to May 1, 2025. The FDIC is further postponing the compliance date for the requirement to display the FDIC official digital sign on an IDI's digital channels, as well as on the screen of an IDI's automated teller machine (ATM) and like devices, to March 1, 2026. During this time, the FDIC will continue to review the feedback received regarding implementation issues and potential consumer confusion that may result from requirements related to the display of the digital sign. After completing its review, the FDIC expects to propose changes to the regulation to address implementation concerns and potential sources of confusion.
Learn More📺FCC Proposes Updates to Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) seeks comment on the need for updates to its rules implementing the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks to develop a record to help the Commission and the public better understand consumer complaints about loud commercials. The NPRM seeks input from consumers and industry on the extent to which the CALM Act rules have been effective in controlling and preventing loud commercials on programming provided by television broadcasters and pay TV providers. The Commission also asks about its authority to address loud commercials and the consistency of program volume on streaming platforms. Finally, the NPRM asks what actions the Commission, industry, or standards developers could take in this area to further minimize consumer harm.
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