📜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🌱CFPB Releases Environmental Assessment on PACE Loan Regulations
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this finding of no significant impact and accompanying environmental assessment regarding the CFPB's consideration of a proposed rule to implement a Congressional mandate to establish consumer protections for residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Based on the environmental assessment, the CFPB has concluded that there will be no significant effects on the human environment from the proposed PACE rule, and therefore, a finding of no significant impact is appropriate.
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 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📜CPSC Final Rule on Electronic Filing of Compliance Certificates
In consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) issues this final rule (the Final Rule) to revise the agency's regulation for Certificates of Compliance (certificates). The Final Rule aligns CPSC's current certificates rule with other CPSC rules on testing and certification, and implements, for importation of products and substances regulated by CPSC, electronic filing of certificates (eFiling) with CBP.
Learn More📈CFPB Civil Penalty Adjustments
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is adjusting for inflation the maximum amount of each civil penalty within the CFPB's jurisdiction. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act), as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and further amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The inflation adjustments mandated by the Inflation Adjustment Act serve to maintain the deterrent effect of civil penalties and to promote compliance with the law.
Learn More⚖️FTC Consent Order Against accessiBe
The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. 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🎓New Regulations Impacting Distance Education and Title IV Funds
The Secretary amends the Student Assistance General Provisions regulations governing participation in the student financial assistance programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to promote program integrity and institutional quality. These regulations clarify, update, and consolidate certain provisions that apply to distance education and the return of title IV, HEA funds. They also make technical changes to the TRIO program regulations to reflect the current status of the Republic of Palau as a member of the Freely Associated States. This document provides notice that the Department fully closes out the Program Integrity and Institutional Quality: Distance Education and Return of Title IV, HEA Funds notice of proposed rulemaking. That is, we will not be finalizing the remainder of the Federal TRIO program provisions but may promulgate through future rulemaking efforts.
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