⚖️New EPA Rules Affecting Chemical Substance Manufacturers
EPA is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use in the SNUR. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the use, under the conditions of use for that chemical substance, within the applicable review period. Persons may not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until they have submitted a Significant New Use Notice (SNUN), and EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and has taken any risk management actions as are required as a result of that determination.
Learn More📊USDA FGIS Final Rule on User Fee Regulations for Grain Services
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS or Service) is amending its user fee regulations to establish standardized formulas the agency will use to calculate hourly and unit fees. The changes allow FGIS to charge reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing official services and re-establish a 3-to 6-month operating reserve, as required by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This final rule also makes specified conforming changes and minor technical changes to correct two typographical errors.
Learn More🏠HUD Updates HOME Investment Program Regulations for 2023
HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME program or HOME) provides formula grants to States and units of general local government to fund a wide range of activities to produce and maintain affordable rental and homeownership housing and provides tenant-based rental assistance for low-income and very low-income households. This final rule revises the current HOME regulations to update, simplify, or streamline requirements, better align the program with other Federal housing programs, and implement recent amendments to the HOME statute. This final rule also includes minor revisions to the regulations for the Community Development Block Grant and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Programs consistent with the implementation of the changes to the HOME program. This final rule follows the publication of a proposed rule on May 29, 2024, and takes into consideration the comments received in response to that proposed rule.
Learn More📜Entity List Revisions
In this rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding 13 entities under 13 entries to the Entity List. These entries are listed on the Entity List under the destinations of Burma (1), China, People's Republic of (China) (11), and Pakistan (1). These entities have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security and/ or foreign policy interests of the United States. This rule also amends the EAR by making certain editorial corrections and clarifications. BIS is making the corrections and clarifications in order to minimize confusion and not impede the free flow of commerce.
Learn More📄Electronic Immigration Bond Notifications - Business Compliance Insights
On August 8, 2023, DHS issued an interim final rule which amended the regulations to authorize ICE to serve bond-related notices to obligors electronically. The rule allowed DHS to electronically serve demand and other immigration bond notices for delivery, order of supervision, or voluntary departure bonds to obligors who consent to electronic service. DHS is now issuing this final rule that introduces no substantive changes from the interim final rule.
Learn More🔐Proposed HIPAA Security Rule Enhancements for Cybersecurity Compliance
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or "Department") is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to solicit comment on its proposal to modify the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information ("Security Rule") under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). The proposed modifications would revise existing standards to better protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). The proposals in this NPRM would increase the cybersecurity for ePHI by revising the Security Rule to address: changes in the environment in which health care is provided; significant increases in breaches and cyberattacks; common deficiencies the Office for Civil Rights has observed in investigations into Security Rule compliance by covered entities and their business associates (collectively, "regulated entities"); other cybersecurity guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes; and court decisions that affect enforcement of the Security Rule.
Learn More📈Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustments
In this final rule, DHS adjusts for inflation its civil monetary penalties for 2025, in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Executive Office of the President (EOP) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The new penalty amounts will be effective for penalties assessed after January 2, 2025, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015.
Learn More📋DOJ's Proposed FARA Regulations
The Department of Justice ("DOJ," "the Department") is proposing amendments and other clarifications to the scope of certain exemptions, to update and add various definitions, and to make other modernizing changes to the Attorney General's Foreign Agents Registration Act ("FARA") implementing regulations.
Learn More📜Proposed Rule for SNAP Quality Control Handbook by USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (the Department) is issuing this proposed rule to formally incorporate by reference the FNS Handbook 310 into SNAP regulations. By doing so, the Department is ensuring that the public receives a notice and comment period prior to implementation of revisions to the Handbook, which is the standard operating procedure manual for conducting quality control (QC) reviews of SNAP cases. The Department also proposes to remove reference to FNS Handbook 311 until it can be incorporated by reference. The Department requests comment on these proposed provisions.
Learn More🏠USDA Updates Rules for Manufactured Housing Financing Options
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is amending the current regulations for the Single Family Housing (SFH) Direct Loan Program and the SFH Guaranteed Loan Program. The intent of this final rule is to allow the Agency to give borrowers increased purchase options within a competitive market and increase adequate housing along with an enhanced customer experience with the SFH programs.
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