📊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 The amendments aim to correct outdated references and align disclosure requirements for money market funds with updated regulations, ensuring investors receive balanced and accurate performance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📺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.
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📜Clarifying Changes to Paper Packaging Promotion Regulation
This final rule implements clarifying amendments to the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The amendments include an added definition for partnership; clarification of the nominations process; clarification about in person and electronic voting for any Board meetings; an update of the timing of financial reporting; and a revision of requirements for when exemptions can be requested. This final rule brings language in the Order up to date with current industry practices.
Learn More🍷New Alcohol Facts Labeling Regulation
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to require disclosure of per-serving alcohol, calorie, and nutrient content information in an "Alcohol Facts" statement on all alcohol beverage labels subject to TTB's regulatory authority under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). This rulemaking responds to the Department of the Treasury's February 2022 report on "Competition in the Markets for Beer, Wine, and Spirits," which recommended that TTB revive or initiate rulemaking on alcohol content, nutritional content, and appropriate serving sizes for alcohol beverage labels. Pursuant to its authorities under both the FAA Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, TTB is also proposing mandatory alcohol content statements for certain types of malt beverages, beer, and wine that are not currently required to be labeled with an alcohol content statement. TTB proposes a compliance date of 5 years from the date that a final rule resulting from this proposal is published in the Federal Register.
Learn More🍷New TTB Proposal for Major Food Allergen Labeling in Alcohol Beverages
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to require a labeling disclosure of all major food allergens used in the production of alcohol beverages subject to TTB's regulatory authority under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. Under the proposed regulations, unless an exception applies, labels must declare milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame, as well as ingredients that contain protein derived from these foods, if used in the production of the alcohol beverage. TTB proposes a compliance date of 5 years from the date that a final rule resulting from this proposal is published in the Federal Register.
Learn More💼New PACE Financing Regulations
Section 307 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) to prescribe ability-to-repay rules for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and to apply the civil liability provisions of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) for violations. PACE financing is financing to cover the costs of home improvements that results in a tax assessment on the real property of the consumer. In this final rule, the CFPB implements EGRRCPA section 307 and amends Regulation Z to address how TILA applies to PACE transactions.
Learn More🍷New Standards of Fill for Wine and Distilled Spirits Effective in 2025
This final rule amends the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulations that govern wine and distilled spirits containers to add 13 standards of fill for wine and 15 for distilled spirits. TTB is also amending its regulations to eliminate the distinction between standards of fill for distilled spirits in cans and those for distilled spirits in containers other than cans. TTB had also proposed to generally eliminate the standards of fill for wine and distilled spirits, as an alternative to approving specific new standards of fill. Upon careful consideration of comments received, however, TTB is not adopting that proposal at this time. The amendments described in this final rule respond to industry member requests for additional flexibility to use a wider range of container sizes and are expected to facilitate the movement of goods in domestic and international commerce while also providing consumers broader purchasing options.
Learn More📜New FTC Rule on Unfair Fees
The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") is issuing a final trade regulation rule entitled "Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees" ("rule" or "final rule") and Statement of Basis and Purpose addressing certain unfair or deceptive practices involving fees or charges for live-event tickets and short-term lodging: bait- and-switch pricing that hides the total price by omitting mandatory fees and charges from advertised prices; and misrepresenting the nature, purpose, amount, and refundability of fees or charges. The final rule specifies that it is an unfair and deceptive practice for businesses to offer, display, or advertise any price of live-event tickets or short-term lodging without clearly, conspicuously and prominently disclosing the total price. The rule also requires businesses to clearly and conspicuously make certain disclosures before a consumer consents to pay. The rule further specifies that it is an unfair and deceptive practice for businesses to misrepresent any fee or charge in any offer, display, or advertisement for live-event tickets or short-term lodging.
Learn More