Reasons To Avoid SECURE 2.0 Emergency Savings Accounts

The IRS has released Revenue Procedure 2026-24, establishing new inflation-adjusted limits for Health Savings Accounts and high-deductible health plans effective in 2027. These updates include increased contribution limits, higher minimum deductibles, and expanded out-of-pocket maximums, along with new provisions for direct primary care service arrangements under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. How will these changes impact employee benefit planning and healthcare coverage strategies?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS recently issued temporary regulations that provide an immediately effective framework for establishing and administering “Trump Accounts,” including broad automatic enrollment and large-scale contributions funded by governmental and charitable donors. The regulations became effective September 30, 2026, apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire September 30, 2029.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Allegheny County Council passed legislation requiring employers with at least 15 workers to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave, ending months-long debate on the proposal. We previously reported on the initial 18-week proposal in May 2026 (summarized here), the revised proposed legislation (summarized here), and the Allegheny County Board of Health passing the legislation (summarized here). The measure was passed in an 11-4 vote. It will become effective in one year, as County Executive Sara Innamorato signed the bill on, October 22, 2026.

The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented enforcement action suspending permanent labor certification processing for eight major employers, linking immigration sponsorship to layoff histories and recruitment practices. This development signals a fundamental shift in how the government evaluates employer access to H-1B and green card programs, with investigations already underway and subpoenas served.

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice in the Federal Register seeking to restructure the calculation used to issue prevailing wages for employers seeking to hire temporary foreign employees...

Maryland employers must comply with new posting requirements under the Worker Freedom Act, which prohibits penalizing employees who decline attendance at employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters. The Maryland Department of Labor has released official notices in English and Spanish that must be displayed prominently in workplaces and provided to new hires starting November 1, 2026.

OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard requires covered employers to update chemical labels, written hazard communication programs, and employee training by November 20, 2026. The revisions align with the UN's Globally Harmonized System and introduce new hazard classifications, downstream use considerations, and updated requirements for compressed gases and aerosols. Employers must navigate separate compliance timelines for chemical mixtures while ensuring their workplace practices meet the updated st

On July 13, 2026, 26 current and former Meta employees sued the company in federal court in Oakland, California, alleging that Meta used artificial intelligence (AI) systems to select them for layoff in a manner...

After nearly four years of court battles, Proposition 22, aka the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Act, has been upheld by the California Supreme Court.

The Proposed Rule largely restores the 2021 independent contractor final rule issued during the first Trump Administration.

The first half of 2026 has seen major litigation developments in cases concerning the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), including decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits.

The U.S. Senate has failed to bring to a vote two bills that would have extended subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) beyond the end of the year.

Sephora faces multiple arbitration claims alleging its Beauty Insider loyalty program discriminates by generating personalized product recommendations based on demographic information like race and age. The company has filed at least 16 lawsuits seeking declarations that its optional personalization features comply with California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, arguing the recommendations enhance customer experience without restricting product access or changing pricing terms.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently rescinded its affirmative action guidelines that had been in place for 40 years. According to the EEOC, the guidelines, as contained in a guide and compliance manual, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Treasury Department and IRS have issued new guidance on employer contributions to Trump Accounts, the tax-advantaged investment accounts for children created under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. Employers can now make tax-free contributions of up to $2,500 annually to these Section 530A accounts for employees or their dependents, subject to specific plan requirements and non-discrimination rules.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently reported that under current federal income tax rules, employer-sponsored health plans could receive trillions in subsidies over the next decade. CBO analysts prepared the 2026 report with staff analysts from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).

PHI Health LLC has filed suit against Anthem, alleging that the insurer and health plans it administers have failed to pay about $30 million in final payment determinations issued under the No Surprises Act (NSA)’s independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. The suit, which PHI filed in an Indiana federal district court, seeks over $1.3 million in interest on the payments that Anthem is accused of withholding.

Montana state insurance regulators recently raised a red flag about the increasing availability of self-insured limited partner health plans. As consumers seek relief from the skyrocketing costs of major medical insurance plans, limited partner health plans are rising in popularity, with Montana reporting that at least 12 companies now offer them in the state.

As the first half of 2026 has passed, plan sponsors should be aware of ongoing significant litigation concerning the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

As part of the White House’s broader effort to rewrite federal equal employment opportunity rules, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued three final rules that substantially roll back affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. These rules collectively address Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), which, up until now, comprised the regulatory framework that the DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) administers.