EPA Releases Report On Criminal Regulatory Offenses

Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to immediately halt all environmental permits for data center projects, expanding a statewide regulatory freeze that now encompasses power, water, and environmental approvals. This directive establishes strict operational mandates requiring data centers to fully fund infrastructure costs, report all resource consumption...

Governor Abbott has ordered Texas environmental regulators to halt all data center permit issuance until grid operators complete a comprehensive audit in mid-December 2026. The sweeping directive affects not only grid-connected facilities but also fully islanded data centers relying on behind-the-meter generation, creating uncertainty for developers and their contractual obligations.

California's Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) establishes a November 10, 2026 deadline for Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions reporting, affecting U.S.-formed entities with over $1 billion in revenue that meet California's "doing business" test—regardless of physical presence in the state. The law carries penalties up to $500,000 per reporting year for non-compliance, with mandatory program fees and future Scope 3 reporting requirements on the horizon.

On September 21, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt issuance of permits to data centers until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) completes an audit of impacts on the Texas electric grid and water resources.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to halt all data center permits until comprehensive audits assess the projects' impacts on electric infrastructure, residential ratepayers, and water resources. The directive requires data centers to fully fund necessary electric infrastructure and comply with enhanced reporting requirements, while the governor signals potential legislative action to codify new protections and phase out certain tax incentives.

California has enacted seven unprecedented bills targeting data center development, imposing sweeping new requirements for energy reporting, water consumption assessments, labor standards, and electricity rate structures. These laws fundamentally reshape the regulatory landscape for data centers, requiring detailed disclosures at multiple project stages while prohibiting categorical CEQA exemptions and establishing new interconnection rules that shift infrastructure costs directly to developers.

On September 30, Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC was hit with a lawsuit in California superior court concerning its Carefree brand of menstrual liners.

A federal district court has preliminarily enjoined the EPA from reclassifying California's Clean Air Act preemption waiver orders as "rules" subject to the Congressional Review Act. The court found that EPA's reclassification likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded the agency's authority, though the order does not prevent Congress from proceeding with pending disapproval resolutions.

California has enacted comprehensive legislation requiring data center developers to disclose water usage and demonstrate supply adequacy before obtaining permits. These new laws impose water supply assessments, efficiency reporting, and drought contingency planning obligations that fundamentally reshape the regulatory landscape for data center development in the state.

Beginning October 10, 2026, the European Union will restrict certain concentrations of PFHxA and related substances in clothing and footwear, marking a significant expansion of PFAS regulations affecting the apparel and textile industry. Companies face a complex patchwork of requirements as France, Denmark, and multiple U.S. states implement their own PFAS restrictions with varying scopes, thresholds, and compliance approaches. Navigating these divergent regulations requires careful supply chain evaluation

The Second Circuit has affirmed the Tax Court’s rulings against Soroban Capital Partners LP, holding that the firm’s three principals were not “limited partners” for purposes of the self-employment tax exclusion found in I.R.C. § 1402(a)(13), despite formally holding limited partner status under Delaware law. Under the Internal Revenue Code, a partner’s distributive share of partnership income is generally treated as self-employment income subject to the 15.3 percent self-employment tax on income up to $184,500 in 2026 (2.9 percent rate above that threshold), which funds Social Security and Medicare. Section 1402(a)(13), however, excludes from that tax the distributive share of a “limited partner, as such,” other than guaranteed payments for services rendered.

The Investment Company Institute, the trade association representing more than $45 trillion in assets across mutual funds, ETFs, and other fund structures, has filed a comment letter with the United States Treasury...

The Treasury Department and IRS issued final regulations implementing the new deduction for qualified passenger vehicle loan interest (QPVLI), a temporary benefit created by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that allows individuals to deduct up to $10,000 of interest paid on certain auto loans, even if they do not itemize deductions. The final rules largely adopt the proposed regulations issued in January 2026 but include clarifications in response to public comments received by the Treasury Department.

The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") announced a new electronic filing platform for Form 15620 to make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Tax Code.

The City of New Orleans Department of Finance has launched a Sales Tax Amnesty Program offering businesses a limited-time opportunity to settle overdue sales tax obligations with significant penalty relief. Through December 31, 2026, qualifying taxpayers can resolve delinquent balances for sales taxes, use taxes, hotel/motel taxes, and other municipal taxes while having all penalties, negligence fees, and half of accrued interest waived.

On August 6, 2026, the IRS released Fact Sheet 2026-13, an expanded set of FAQs on the qualified overtime compensation deduction created by the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act. The update replaces January’s FS-2026-01 and marks the shift from 2025’s transition relief to the full compliance framework now in effect.

Last week, the Louisiana Department of Revenue (the "Department") issued guidance regarding recent sales and use tax law changes. The Department issued Revenue Information Bulletin No. 25-023...

The Treasury Department and IRS issued proposed regulations providing guidance on the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, effective in 2027. The credit is designed to encourage contributions to scholarship granting organizations (“SGOs”) that provide financial assistance for eligible K-12 students.

The United States Tax Court recently issued a reminder that tax sophistication can support a finding of civil fraud. In Janangelo v. Commissioner, T.C. Summary Opinion 2026-8, the court found that a longtime IRS revenue agent, who is also a licensed attorney and CPA, committed civil fraud by claiming a series of fabricated and unsubstantiated deductions across four consecutive tax years.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would substantially revise the regulations governing the Capital Construction Fund (CCF) Program, found at 46 CFR Part 390. Published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2026, this is the first comprehensive update to the CCF regulations since MARAD first introduced them in 1976.