Regulatory Radar

REGULATORY RADAR - France has passed new rules prohibiting luxury goods companies from destroying returned items and unsold goods.

REGULATORY RADAR - In January 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Army finalized a new rule that changes the definitions of federally regulated waters under the Clean Water Act.

REGULATORY RADAR - On January 27, 2020, New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy announced that builders will be required to account for the impact of climate change, including rising sea levels, to receive government approvals for projects.

REGULATORY RADAR - In January 2020, the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates voted to amend the U.S. Constitution, becoming the last state needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.).

REGULATORY RADAR - New York City has passed new legislation prohibiting businesses from refusing to accept cash or charging customers higher rates for cash transactions.

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 6, 2020, the Virginia legislature passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which requires the state’s biggest utilities to deliver electricity from 100% renewable sources by 2045.

REGULATORY RADAR - New York City has passed a new Energy Conservation Code intended to improve energy efficiency standards as part of the city’s larger effort to curb climate change.

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 17, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced that it is establishing a Commercial Paper Funding Facility to "support the flow of credit to households and businesses."

REGULATORY RADAR - The European Commission has released a new Gender Equality Strategy to address the gender gap throughout the EU over the next five years.

REGULATORY RADAR - Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed a new law mandating the development of a statewide data privacy inventory covering personally identifiable information that the state collects on its citizens.

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 18, the U.S. Senate passed, and President Trump signed, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The new law, intended to support working families in response to the coronavirus outbreak, provides emergency sick leave, emergency paid leave, and employer tax credits to help cover employee wages resulting from emergency sick and paid leave.

REGULATORY RADAR - The Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) has temporarily relaxed environmental rules and enforcement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.