New Federal Political Contribution Limits - February 8, 2019

Expands Defense Production Act (DPA; P.L. 81-774) authorities over energy by giving the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy independent authority, alongside the Secretary of Commerce...

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has adopted sweeping amendments to its procedural rules to implement the accelerated ratemaking framework under House Bill 15. These changes introduce strict time limits for cross-examination, compressed discovery deadlines, and tighter briefing requirements that will fundamentally alter how rate cases are litigated before the PUCO.

On July 13, a divided Ninth Circuit panel upheld a lower court order that barred enforcement of FinCEN’s border Geographic Targeting Order (“GTO”). The GTO would have forced money services businesses (“MSBs”) in 30 ZIP codes along the U.S.-Mexico border to report cash transactions of just over $200, a dramatic reduction from the longstanding $10,000 reporting threshold.

President Trump's executive order directs multiple federal agencies to comprehensively review policies affecting American cattle ranchers, including potential wolf delisting under the Endangered Species Act and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. The order aims to develop actionable recommendations to enhance rancher profitability and expand market access for domestic beef producers.

The 2026 midterm elections will determine the congressional environment for healthcare policy during the final two years of the Trump Administration. With Republicans holding narrow majorities in both chambers and President Trump's approval ratings in the mid-30s, relatively small electoral shifts could materially change congressional control and reshape the healthcare policymaking landscape, affecting everything from drug pricing and Medicare Advantage to Medicaid implementation and industry oversight.

On September 2, 2026, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), through its Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), released two new Notices on the topic of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

President Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, extending EPA's authority to levy fees under the Toxic Substances Control Act until December 11, 2026. Congress postponed targeted amendments to TSCA as mid-term elections approach, despite earlier hearings in both the House and Senate on draft legislation to modernize the law.

Federal cyber incident reporting requirements under CIRCIA are approaching finalization, creating new compliance obligations for critical infrastructure organizations across numerous sectors. Companies face tight reporting deadlines—72 hours for significant incidents and 24 hours for ransom payments—requiring immediate integration of legal counsel into cybersecurity assessment workflows.

State attorneys general across the nation are taking decisive action on healthcare access, environmental regulation, consumer protection, and voting rights. From challenging federal restrictions on gender-affirming care to blocking changes in mail voting procedures, these legal battles reveal the growing tension between state authority and federal policy. Will these multistate coalitions succeed in preserving state sovereignty over critical public services?

The Department of Energy has issued a request for information on implementing President Trump's Bulk-Power System Executive Order, which would prohibit imports and installation of certain foreign-produced electric equipment deemed a national security risk. The RFI seeks public input on critical implementation questions including equipment scope, foreign entity definitions, supply chain risk assessment, and how to address already-installed equipment. Comments are due October 9, 2026, providing stakeholders a

Expands Defense Production Act (DPA; P.L. 81-774) authorities over energy by giving the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy independent authority, alongside the Secretary of Commerce...

Directs the Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish continuous sharing of military personnel and medical records, deploy AI-enabled tools to streamline veterans...

President Trump's executive order directs multiple federal agencies to comprehensively review policies affecting American cattle ranchers, including potential wolf delisting under the Endangered Species Act and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. The order aims to develop actionable recommendations to enhance rancher profitability and expand market access for domestic beef producers.

On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (covered separately here) in which the Commission advances its ongoing efforts to secure the U.S.

California's Legislature has unanimously passed SB 690, a landmark reform that could eliminate thousands of pending class action lawsuits based on website tracking technologies under the California Invasion of Privacy Act. The bill removes the private right of action for pen register claims arising from routine web analytics tools, potentially reshaping the data privacy litigation landscape while companion bills simultaneously expand substantive privacy obligations.

On September 3, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) announced its plan to rescind Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, also known as the “Pay-to-Play Rule” (the Rule), which has been in effect since 2010.

Last week, Congress officially kicked the FY 2027 funding can down the road. The House overwhelmingly approved the Senate's bipartisan continuing resolution by a 370-48 vote...

The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 (PCSA), introduced in the Senate on June 2, 2026, by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and joined by Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Chris Coons (D-DE), represents a comprehensive federal legislative effort to reshape the governance and economics of intercollegiate athletics...

On September 1, 2026, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reinforced its prior conclusion that fluoropolymers used in medical devices are safe and materially different from the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that drive most regulatory, litigation and public health concerns

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its much-anticipated decision in United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, No. 24-13581, holding that the qui tam provisions of the FCA do not violate the Appointments Clause of Article II of the U.S. Constitution.