Regulatory Radar

SEC to update climate-related risk disclosure requirements

REGULATORY RADAR - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it will review how companies are disclosing the risks they face from climate change.

Ottawa's carbon tax is constitutional, Supreme Court of Canada rules

REGULATORY RADAR - The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the nation’s federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act is constitutional in its entirety.

European Commission presents actions to boost organic production

REGULATORY RADAR - The European Commission presented actions to boost organic production, with the goal of the bloc achieving 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030 and increasing organic aquaculture significantly.

For equal pay, Illinois requires detailed reporting, new enforcement methods

REGULATORY RADAR - Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act, which requires that employers with more than 100 employees in Illinois must certify compliance with the Equal Pay Act.

EPA issues updated guidance and rules regarding chemicals

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved forward with national drinking water regulations for certain chemicals, including re-proposing a rule to collect data on 29 PFAS.

Connecticut is latest state to ban discrimination based on natural hair

REGULATORY RADAR - Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed the “Act Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” also known as the CROWN Act.

Consumer privacy laws gain momentum as Colorado introduces comprehensive bill

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 19, 2021, the Colorado state legislature was the latest in the U.S. to introduce a comprehensive consumer privacy bill.

States issue updated COVID-19 paid leave and vaccination guidance for employers

REGULATORY RADAR - On March 20, 2021, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will supplement paid sick leave benefits for employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden executive order raises federal contractors' minimum wage to $15

REGULATORY RADAR - U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an executive order raising the minimum wage from $10.95 an hour to $15 an hour for federal contractor workers working on or in connection with a covered federal contract, beginning in 2022.

Canadian provinces granting paid COVID-19 vaccination leave

REGULATORY RADAR - As more Canadians become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, provinces are implementing paid vaccination leave policies to incentivize workers to become vaccinated as soon as possible.

UK Treasury Committee publishes report on net zero and the future of green finance

REGULATORY RADAR - The key recommendations proposed by the Committee to achieve net-zero in the U.K. by 2050 cover a variety of measures aimed to mitigate climate change.

In US, three state-level privacy bills not moving forward

REGULATORY RADAR - As the trend of state laws granting more privacy and greater control over personal information continues, privacy bills in Washington State, Oklahoma, and Florida have stalled.