Democratic Tax Policy Proposals

The United States cryptocurrency regulatory landscape has undergone its most dramatic transformation in history. The signing of the GENIUS Act into law on July 18, 2025 — the first comprehensive federal crypto statute ever enacted — marks a before-and-after moment for American digital asset law.

California's Proposition 40 would impose a one-time excise tax of up to 5 percent on billionaires' worldwide net worth, measured as of December 31, 2026, but based on residency as of January 1, 2026. The measure faces significant legal challenges and could be nullified by competing ballot initiatives that have also qualified for the November 2026 ballot.

Recent federal legislation has permanently extended the historically high unified exemption amount for federal estate and gift tax purposes. The current exemption of $13.99 million per individual remains in place through December 31, 2025...

Washington voters will decide the future of the state’s new 9.9% tax on annual taxable income above $1 million after a repeal initiative qualified for the November ballot.

Selling an S corporation involves complex tax and legal considerations that can significantly impact after-tax proceeds. This comprehensive analysis examines stock sales versus asset sales, IRC Section 338(h)(10) elections, F reorganizations, and other transaction structures, revealing how different approaches affect both sellers and buyers through detailed tax modeling and strategic planning insights.

Among the many changes included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is one relevant to brands and agencies running sweepstakes, contests, and other consumer promotions.

Foreign owners of single-member U.S. limited liability companies often assume their entities are completely disregarded for tax purposes, but since 2017, these structures face significant reporting obligations...

California's proposed Billionaire Tax Act would impose a onetime 5% excise tax on individuals and trusts with assets exceeding $1 billion, creating unprecedented challenges for estate planners. The retroactive application and anti-abuse provisions raise critical questions about the treatment of grantor trusts, non-grantor trusts, and beneficiary interests that deviate significantly from established federal wealth transfer tax principles.

The Treasury Department and IRS have released Notice 2026-48, providing the first comprehensive guidance on SECURE 2.0's new Saver's Match program. This federal matching contribution for low- and moderate-income retirement savers introduces complex implementation challenges, including how to route taxpayer matches directly to retirement plans and IRAs. The Notice addresses eligibility requirements, income limits, contribution types, and delivery mechanisms while requesting public comments on operational app

Section 529 plans provide a tax-advantaged way to save for education expenses, but account holders should be mindful of important differences...

On September 30, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued two rule proposals and five notices aimed at expanding investors’ access to private markets. The package would add ways to qualify as an accredited investor, including passing a new exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), broaden performance-based compensation and modernize regulated funds, including interval funds and business development companies (BDCs).

The CFTC has proposed classifying event contracts as swaps while excluding traditional casino-style gambling products, directly responding to ongoing federal-state disputes over prediction markets and sports betting jurisdiction. These regulatory actions seek to clarify the agency's authority over event contracts amid conflicting appellate court decisions and pending Supreme Court review.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has withdrawn its controversial proposal to remove nine parts of longstanding Fair Labor Standards Act interpretive guidance from the Code of Federal Regulations. What does this reversal mean for employers who have relied on these decades-old interpretations, and how does the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision reshape the legal weight of agency guidance going forward?

Medicare Advantage faces unprecedented regulatory scrutiny as federal agencies deploy aggressive audit strategies, Congress investigates alleged fraud schemes, and courts challenge CMS's authority over payment structures.

In a landmark decision, a nine judge bench of the Supreme Court of India ruled today that privacy is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution of India.

The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has adopted its position on the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation reform, establishing key divergences with the European Commission and Council on professional investor exemptions and fossil fuel investment criteria. With trilogue negotiations set to begin in October 2026, private markets managers face critical decisions about how to position their funds under the new three-category framework expected to take effect in early 2029.

California employers face a new wave of workplace legislation covering artificial intelligence oversight, expanded leave rights, enhanced privacy protections, and increased penalties for violations. From mandatory human supervision of AI-driven employment decisions to anti-hate-speech training requirements, these laws reshape compliance obligations across multiple domains.

Recent California and federal court decisions address critical employment law issues including the extraterritorial application of California labor statutes, mass joinder in workplace harassment cases...

New York has enacted legislation granting private and public sector employees unprecedented access to their personnel records, including the right to review, dispute, and potentially correct negative information that could impact their employment status. The law, which takes effect in November 2026, establishes strict timelines for employer notification and record access while providing enforcement mechanisms through the State Attorney General.

New York State Legislature has passed a bill that would require employers to provide employees with a minimum 21-day review period and 7-day revocation window for separation agreements involving the release of claims. The proposed "No Severance Ultimatums Act" extends procedural protections similar to those under federal age discrimination law to all covered severance agreements, regardless of employee age, and awaits Governor Hochul's signature.