Public Policy

  • September 03, 2024

    Union-Backed 'Captive Audience' Bill Heads To Calif. Governor

    The California Senate voted in favor of a union-backed bill that would bar employers from requiring employees to attend meetings related to religious or political matters — including company-organized meetings used to discourage union-formation — sending the so-called captive audience bill to the governor's desk.

  • September 03, 2024

    Justices Deny Oklahoma's Bid To Block HHS Funding Cut

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied Oklahoma's request to stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from cutting funding over the state's refusal to refer family planning patients for abortion after the high court's Dobbs decision last year.

  • September 03, 2024

    Calif. Backs EPA's High Court Fight To Keep SF Water Limits

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's water quality standards for San Francisco are legal and should be upheld in the face of a challenge from the city, California and various green groups told the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

  • September 03, 2024

    Colo. Justices To Parse Public Interest Under Anti-SLAPP Law

    Colorado's high court will consider whether the state's anti-SLAPP law requires a person to actually contribute to public discourse in order for their speech to be covered by the statute, and whether their motive matters, in a case concerning negative online posts about a veterinary clinic.

  • September 03, 2024

    NAACP, Others Fight Ga.'s Bid To Undo Election Law Block

    The Georgia branch of the NAACP and a host of other groups are asking the Eleventh Circuit to affirm and expand a preliminary injunction blocking parts of a controversial Peach State election law as state officials are pushing to have the injunction overturned.

  • September 03, 2024

    NC Suit Over Blackbeard Ship Survives Another Attack

    North Carolina's cultural resources agency isn't responsible for enforcing the terms for third-party usage of an image and video of Blackbeard's shipwreck, the state's Business Court ruled Friday in paring damages claims by the organization that discovered the pirate's wreckage.

  • September 03, 2024

    FCC Urged To Trim Rule Proposal For Blocking Spam Texts

    Wireless carriers want the Federal Communications Commission to scale back a proposed rule for blocking spam texts to ensure legitimate messages can still go through despite tighter standards.

  • September 03, 2024

    UAW Loses Bid To Include Casinos In NJ Smoking Ban

    A New Jersey state court judge on Friday tossed the United Auto Workers' complaint claiming a law excluding casino workers from secondhand smoking protections violates the state constitution, reasoning that the law doesn't inhibit the employees' right to pursue safety.

  • September 03, 2024

    Ga. Minor Says Hotel Knew About Trafficking But Didn't Help

    An Atlanta-based hotel and its management company were hit with a lawsuit in Georgia federal court for allegedly doing nothing to stop the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl despite managers' and hotel employees' knowledge of the situation.

  • September 03, 2024

    Ohio AG Asks Appeals Court To Affirm Trans Care Restrictions

    Ohio lawmakers acted within their authority to regulate the practice of medicine when they passed a law this year that restricts gender-affirming care for minors and prohibits transgender girls from participating in girls sports, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told the state appeals court in a recent brief.

  • September 03, 2024

    FCC Bans Kaspersky Software In Authorized Equipment

    The Federal Communications Commission is banning the use of certain Russian-made cybersecurity and antivirus software from Kaspersky Labs in agency-authorized telecommunications equipment, months after the U.S. Department of Commerce said the software could pose national security risks.

  • September 03, 2024

    Colo. AG Says Tenants Can Sue Blackstone Over Lease Terms

    Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser urged the state's Supreme Court on Friday to find that tenants can sue a group of Blackstone subsidiaries for deceptive trade practices over lease agreements that allegedly misrepresent the rights of tenants.

  • September 03, 2024

    Ex-Defense Contractor Arrested In $350M Tax Evasion Case

    A former defense contractor who, with his wife, is facing a 30-count indictment alleging they were involved in a decades-long scheme to defraud the U.S. government and avoid taxes on more than $350 million in income was arrested Tuesday.

  • September 03, 2024

    EPA Should Have Rethought Smog Plan, DC Circ. Told

    U.S. Steel Corp. told the D.C. Circuit that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was obligated to rethink its plan to reduce smog-forming emissions across several states once courts partially blocked the plan's implementation, saying those decisions vindicate arguments that the rule can't be legally crafted.

  • September 03, 2024

    Advocates Urge 8th Circ. To Keep Iowa Arrest Law Blocked

    Immigration lawyers and advocates for domestic violence survivors slammed Iowa's defense of a state law authorizing the arrest of immigrants who reentered the country after deportation, telling the Eighth Circuit that the immigrants may have obtained humanitarian protections after removal.

  • September 03, 2024

    DOI Says Court Can't Force Policy Orders In Recognition Fight

    U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is fighting a bid to force her to complete a final new rule for federal recognition or be held in contempt, saying that compelling the agency to conclude a policy decision in a matter of weeks is unreasonable and could have a harmful ripple effect.

  • September 03, 2024

    Calif. Eyes New Heavy-Duty Autonomous Truck Testing Regs

    California is forging ahead with plans to test and deploy more heavy-duty autonomous trucks, at the same time that state lawmakers are seeking to ban autonomous trucks from operating without a human driver behind the wheel.

  • September 03, 2024

    Split 5th Circ. Dissolves La. Voting Consent Decree

    An 11-member majority of the Fifth Circuit dissolved a 30-year-old voting consent decree over how justices are elected to Louisiana's highest court, finding in a split en banc opinion that the state has "satisfied its obligations."

  • September 03, 2024

    USPTO Launches PTAB Clinic With Ex-Judges

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday rolled out a new free initiative in which former judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board will answer questions and offer guidance on proceedings before the board in one-on-one meetings with members of the public.

  • September 03, 2024

    DC Circ. Rejects EPA's 'New' Boiler Emission Limits

    The D.C. Circuit said Tuesday that a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule regulating emissions from boilers used at industrial plants, universities and hospitals improperly classified some sources as "new" even though they existed before the regulations were proposed.

  • September 03, 2024

    Serial Litigator Fights To Keep Michigan FOIA Suits Coming

    A government critic and serial pro se litigant said Wayne County can't force him to jump through hoops before he files public records requests and lawsuits against the county, urging a Michigan judge to preserve his right to sue.

  • September 03, 2024

    Ind. Tax Board Upholds Assessment On Office Space

    The owner of a commercial property in Indiana can't lower its assessed value by arguing that the income generated at the property warranted a reduction, according to a state Board of Tax Review decision published Tuesday.

  • September 03, 2024

    Lumen Says $2B Colo. Tax Valuation Ignores Losses

    Taxable property of telecommunications company Lumen Technologies was overvalued in Colorado at more than $2 billion, the company told a state court, arguing for an income approach to the valuation that reflects the company's significant financial losses.

  • September 03, 2024

    Atty's Use Of AI Didn't Taint Rapper's Trial, Judge Says

    A D.C. federal judge has rejected a host of arguments by Fugees rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel seeking a new trial on charges of assisting a Malaysian billionaire in illegally diverting funds, including claims that he was prejudiced by his former attorney's use of generative artificial intelligence to craft his closing argument.

  • September 03, 2024

    Trump Loses Renewed Bid To Take Hush Money Case Federal

    A New York federal court on Tuesday denied former President Donald Trump's bid to move the state's hush money case against him to federal court, ruling that the U.S. Supreme Court's July holding laying out grounds for immunity did not sway his opinion that the payments were "unofficial acts."

Expert Analysis

  • How DOJ May Change FARA Exemption In Forthcoming Rule

    Author Photo

    Any day now, the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to issue proposed revisions to the Foreign Agents Registration Act regulations, and signs suggest that it will likely narrow one of FARA's broadest exemptions, which may compound public confusion about the law's requirements, says Murad Hussain at Arnold & Porter.

  • Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where

    Author Photo

    During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Key Concerns To Confront In FDIC Brokered Deposit Proposal

    Author Photo

    Banks and fintech companies should note several fundamental issues with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s recent proposal to widen how it classifies brokered deposits, an attempt to limit prudential risk that could expose the industry and underbanked consumers who rely on bank-fintech apps to widespread unintended consequences, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • 3 Presidential Privilege Questions After Trump Ruling

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Trump v. U.S., carving out a new evidentiary privilege for presidents, leaves unanswered several key questions concerning whether this new privilege is waivable or subject to various exceptions, says Jeremy Bates at Frankfurt Kurnit.

  • What To Expect From Evolving Wash. Development Plans

    Author Photo

    The current round of periodic updates to Washington counties' growth and development plans will need to address new requirements from recent legislation, and will also likely bring changes that should please property owners and developers, says Jami Balint at Seyfarth.

  • 4 Steps To Address New Sanctions Time Bar Extension

    Author Photo

    Recent guidance from the Office of Foreign Assets Control clarifies details of the newly extended statute of limitations for civil and criminal enforcement of U.S. sanctions law, so compliance teams should implement key updates, including to lookback periods and recordkeeping policies, say attorneys at Freshfields.

  • Implementing Proposed AML Rules May Take More Guidance

    Author Photo

    Two recent rules proposed by financial regulators would modernize requirements for programs aimed at countering money laundering and terrorist financing by centering more robust risk assessments, but financial institutions may need more specific guidance before they could confidently comply, say Meghann Donahue and Nikhil Gore at Covington.

  • What To Know About Major Fla. Civil Procedure Rule Changes

    Author Photo

    The Florida Supreme Court recently amended the state's Rules of Civil Procedure, touching on pretrial procedure, discovery, motion and trial practice, and while the amendments are intended to streamline cases, the breadth of the changes may initially present some litigation growing pains, say Brian Briz, Benjamin Tyler and Yarenis Cruz at Holland & Knight.

  • Series

    Playing Golf Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Golf can positively affect your personal and professional life well beyond the final putt, and it’s helped enrich my legal practice by improving my ability to build lasting relationships, study and apply the rules, face adversity with grace, and maintain my mental and physical well-being, says Adam Kelly at Venable.

  • What To Expect From CFPB And DOT Card Rewards Inquiry

    Author Photo

    Following the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's announcement of joint efforts with the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate credit card rewards points, credit card issuers and airlines should keep a close eye on potential regulatory and class action litigation risks stemming from the inquiry, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Preparing For The NLRB's New Union Recognition Final Rule

    Author Photo

    The National Labor Relations Board's impending new final rule on union recognition puts the employer at a particular disadvantage in a decertification election, and best practices include conducting workplace assessments to identify and proactively address employee issues, say Louis Cannon and Gerald Bradner at Baker Donelson.

  • Brownfield Questions Surround IRS Tax Credit Bonus

    Author Photo

    Though the IRS has published guidance regarding the Inflation Reduction Act's 10% adder for tax credits generated by renewable energy projects constructed on brownfield sites, considerable guesswork remains as potential implications seem contrary to IRS intentions, say Megan Caldwell and Jon Micah Goeller at Husch Blackwell.

  • Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing

    Author Photo

    Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • Remedy May Be Google's Biggest Hurdle Yet In Antitrust Case

    Author Photo

    There are difficulties ahead in the remedies phase of the antitrust case against Google in District of Columbia federal court, including the search engine giant's scale advantage and the fast-moving nature of the tech industry, setting the stage for the most challenging of the proceedings so far, says Jonathan Rubin at MoginRubin.

  • 3 Ways To Limit Risks Of Black-Box AI In Financial Services

    Author Photo

    As regulators increasingly highlight the potential for artificial intelligence to make unfair consumer credit decisions, and require financial institutions to explain how these so-called black-box algorithms arrive at conclusions, companies should consider three key questions to reduce their regulatory risks from these tools, say Jeffrey Naimon and Caroline Stapleton at Orrick.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Public Policy archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!