Compliance Stuff

On June 17, the U.S. Senate voted 68-30 to pass  S.1582 , the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, known as the GENIUS Act (the Act). This represents a landmark effort by the U.S. Congress to establish a comprehensive federal framework for the regulation of payment stablecoins. Passed with bipartisan support in the Senate, the Act aims to provide regulatory clarity, enhance consumer protection, and safeguard national security in the rapidly growing stablecoin sector. Policy Objectives The Act is designed to close regulatory gaps, mitigate systemic and illicit finance risks, and maintain the U.S. dollar’s dominance in the digital economy. It seeks to provide a clear legal pathway for stablecoin innovation while ensuring consumer and financial system protection. Definition and Scope Definition : The Act defines “payment stablecoins” as digital assets designed to maintain a stable value relative to a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or similarly liquid as...

Congress enacted the No Surprises Act ( NSA ) to protect patients from unexpected medical bills . A central pillar of the  NSA  is its independent dispute resolution ( IDR ) process, under which payers and providers can submit disputed claims to binding arbitration. Since the IDR process under the NSA began in April 2022, hundreds of thousands of claims have been submitted. As arbitrators have handed down awards, largely in favor of providers, a critical question has emerged — are these final and binding judgments privately enforceable? Two recent federal decisions, one from the District of Connecticut and one from the Fifth Circuit, have reached opposite conclusions. Guardian Flight LLC v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. , No. 3:24-cv-680-MPS (D. Conn. May 14, 2025):   Private Right of Action Exists In  Guardian Flight LLC v. Aetna Life Insurance Co ., the District of Connecticut addressed whether air ambulance providers could bring suit in court to enforce unpaid or late-...

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  Wyoming Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date Wyoming SB 107   Noncompete Agreements Provides that contractual covenants not to compete, with certain noted exceptions, are void; specifies requirements for covenants not to compete for physicians. 7/1/2025 This article provides a general snapshot of generally applicable labor and employment laws taking effect soon. Please note that while some of the laws listed below are industry-specific, this article is not meant to be all-inclusive. In addition, many state legislatures are still active, so new laws are taking effect on a near-daily basis. Littler monitors federal, state and local legislation, executive orders, and administrative regulations and other agency activit...

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  West Virginia Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date West Virginia HB 2441 Unemployment Disqualifies individuals who fail a drug test from receiving unemployment benefits. 7/2/2025 West Virginia HB 3080 Military / Veteran Status Expands the veteran hiring preference to allow employers to exercise a military spouse hiring preference. 7/9/2025 West Virginia SB 427 Child Labor Eliminates the requirement that 14- or 15-year-olds obtain a work permit; requires employers seeking to hire a child 14 or older to receive an age certificate from the commission prior to employing the child. 7/11/12025 Wyoming This article provides a general snapshot of generally applicable labor and employment laws taking effect soon. Please note tha...

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  Washington Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date Washington Final Rule re Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (WAC 296-123)   Pay Equity Implements statutory amendments to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act that extend protections to additional protected classes; clarifies and implements the state's pay range disclosure requirements and salary history inquiry prohibition. 7/1/2025 Washington HB 1308   Personnel Files Requires employers to provide a copy of a personnel file to an employee or former employee upon request; defines “personnel file.” 7/27/2025 Washington HB 1395 (SB 5531)   Healthcare Background Checks Requires fingerprint-based background checks for certain long-term care workers in certain circu...