On Aug. 3, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued an open letter entitled “A National Call to Action to University Presidents and Governing Boards,” urging colleges and universities across the country to publicly articulate their commitments to academic excellence, institutional accountability and service to the nation.

In C.S. v. Brick Recycling Co., the New Jersey Appellate Division vacated a trial court decision requiring the disclosure of documents relating to an attorney-led workplace investigation into sexual harassment. In doing so, the court provided important guidance on the discoverability of documents relating to such investigations.

The New York Legislature recently passed a bill that would amend the Cannabis Law and the Labor Law regarding labor-related requirements for cannabis businesses.

New York has kicked off a two-year overhaul of Medicaid provider oversight after winning Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval on Aug. 4, 2026.[1] This initiative aims to strengthen program integrity, improve accuracy, modernize administrative processes and help prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

On Sept. 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed regulations that would deny or revoke tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 501(c)(3) for private educational institutions that offer targeted support to students based on race, color or national or ethnic origin.

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC examines critical federal and state regulatory changes affecting businesses, from HIPAA cybersecurity requirements and federal grant funding reforms to New York's biometric...

Public entities, including public colleges and universities, face near‑term obligations to address and update accessibility standards for all digital materials and web content, including websites, mobile applications and online course materials.

On Jan. 28, 2026, the New York Attorney General finalized six rules and issued one new proposed rule to address excessive price increases during emergencies.

On Feb. 13, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul signed an amended version of the Trapped at Work Act (the Act) into law. When signing the Act in December 2025...

On April 3, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Urgent National Action to Save College Sports” (Order), which addresses several issues impacting intercollegiate athletics today.

On Dec. 19, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a major amendment to New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) § 1007, marking a major shift in third‑party practice in New York State courts.

Through the amendment, lawmakers bolted on additional protections and provisioned New York's Office of the Attorney General (NYAG) with additional authority.

The IRS has launched its new Information Return Intake System (IRIS), replacing the legacy FIRE platform and mandating electronic filing for all information returns starting in 2027. Higher education institutions must navigate new registration requirements, transmitter control codes, and filing modalities based on volume, with the transition affecting multiple departments and third-party vendors.

When construction industry employers participate in multiemployer pension funds through collective bargaining agreements, they face potential withdrawal liability—but a critical ERISA exemption may provide relief.

In her 20 years at Bond, Suzanne Messer has represented clients in commercial, higher education, employment and civil rights litigation. Hired directly upon her graduation from Syracuse University College of Law...

The U.S. Department of Education, on Jan. 21, 2026, withdrew its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit aimed at defending its anti-DEI Dear Colleague Letter issued last year.

Pandemic-related litigation against colleges and universities regarding refunds of tuition and fees is still playing out in the courts. The outcome of these lawsuits, in which students demand tuition and fee refunds...

New Jersey's Department of Labor has finalized regulations that formalize how employers must apply the ABC test when classifying workers as independent contractors versus employees. These rules, effective October 1, 2026, emphasize a substance-over-form approach and extend across multiple state employment laws, creating heightened scrutiny for businesses relying on contractor relationships.

The Second Circuit's decision in Bergin v. New York State Unified Court System fundamentally alters how religious accommodation claims are evaluated under Title VII, shifting the legal standard from employer knowledge to employer motivation. This landmark ruling requires employers to demonstrate that avoiding religious accommodations was not a motivating factor in adverse employment decisions, even when they lack actual knowledge of an employee's religious needs. The decision provides critical guidance for

New York has adopted comprehensive cybersecurity regulations targeting critical infrastructure, establishing minimum security standards for water systems and public utilities to protect against escalating cyber threats. The regulations mandate incident reporting, response planning, system monitoring, and regular compliance certifications, with implementation timelines extending through 2027.