Regulatory Radar

REGULATORY RADAR - The state of Washington has passed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act, which formally amends Washington’s Civil Rights Act to allow public entities, such as city governments and universities, to implement affirmative action policies and regulations.

REGULATORY RADAR - Governor Jared Polis signed Colorado’s new equal pay bill, which addresses salary inequity between men and women, on May 22, 2019.

REGULATORY RADAR - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has signed new legislation raising the minimum wage in the state from $10.10 to $15 per hour over the next five years.

REGULATORY RADAR - Canada has passed its first national accessibility law, entitled The Accessible Canada Act, with unanimous support in the House of Commons.

REGULATORY RADAR - On May 21, 2019, the European Council approved the Single Use Plastics Directive, which bans specific single-use plastics, expands producer responsibility requirements, and introduces measures to reduce consumption of single-use plastics.

REGULATORY RADAR - Illinois has amended its Equal Pay Act to allow employees to discuss compensation and prohibit employer requests for previous salary information, as well as modify the criteria for assessing pay discrimination among roles.

REGULATORY RADAR - At the end of June, the New York State legislature passed an omnibus bill that amends several state laws to expand workplace harassment protections.

REGULATORY RADAR - California has amended its ban on employment discrimination based on race to include traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.

REGULATORY RADAR - President Trump has signed a bipartisan IRS reform bill, the Taxpayer First Act, that requires that nonprofits file tax returns electronically and that forms must be made public and available in a searchable, machine-readable format.

REGULATORY RADAR - The United Kingdom has amended its Climate Change Act 2008 to set a new target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, an increase from the country’s previous commitment to reduce emissions by 80 percent.

REGULATORY RADAR - The New York State legislature has passed new climate change legislation that aims to shift the state to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040 and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

REGULATORY RADAR - The Trump administration has issued new rules regarding the implementation of the Endangered Species Act, a core piece of conservation and wildlife protection in the United States.