Federal Register
Browse proposed rules, final rules, notices, and presidential documents published in the Federal Register.
National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS
EPA establishes legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, including PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion. Public water systems must monitor for these contaminants and take action to reduce levels.
Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures
SEC adopts rules requiring public companies to disclose climate-related risks, greenhouse gas emissions, and the financial impacts of severe weather events and transition activities in registration statements and annual reports.
Noncompete Clause Rule
FTC issues a rule prohibiting employers from entering into or enforcing noncompete clauses with workers. Existing noncompetes for senior executives may remain in force, but no new noncompetes may be entered into after the effective date.
Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions
CFPB amends Regulation Z to require large banks and credit unions to treat overdraft loans as consumer credit subject to Truth in Lending Act disclosures. Caps overdraft fees at $5 or requires banks to disclose costs and allow opt-out.
AI-Generated Voice in Robocalls Declaratory Ruling
FCC declares that calls made using AI-generated voice cloning technology are artificial voice calls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and are subject to the same restrictions as other robocalls, requiring prior express consent.
Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings
OSHA proposes a new standard requiring employers to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, including access to water, rest breaks, acclimatization protocols, and emergency response procedures.
New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Plants
EPA finalizes emission guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired electric generating units. Requires carbon capture or co-firing with hydrogen for new gas plants and phase-down schedules for existing coal plants.
Medical Devices; Laboratory Developed Tests
FDA finalizes a rule to phase out the general enforcement discretion approach for laboratory developed tests (LDTs) and require them to comply with medical device regulations, including premarket review, quality systems, and adverse event reporting.
Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, and Professional Employees
DOL increases the salary threshold for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act to $43,888 on July 1, 2024, and $58,656 on January 1, 2025. Employees earning below these thresholds must receive overtime pay.
Modernizing H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker Program
DHS modernizes the H-1B visa program by updating the definition of specialty occupation, changing the registration selection process to a beneficiary-centric approach, providing more flexibility for F-1 students, and adding new program integrity measures.
Regulation of Digital Asset Securities
SEC proposes rules for the registration, custody, and trading of digital asset securities, establishing a framework for crypto exchanges and broker-dealers handling tokenized assets and digital investment contracts.
Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
EPA implements the methane emissions charge established by the Inflation Reduction Act, imposing fees on oil and gas facilities that exceed specified waste emissions thresholds, starting at $900 per ton in 2024 and increasing to $1,500 per ton in 2026.
Cannabidiol (CBD) Products: Regulatory Framework
FDA proposes a regulatory framework for CBD products, including dietary supplements containing hemp-derived CBD, establishing quality standards, labeling requirements, and maximum serving sizes.
Framework for Automated Driving System Safety
NHTSA proposes a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, establishing performance standards for automated driving systems, requiring pre-market safety reporting, and creating exemption pathways for vehicles without traditional controls.
Defining Larger Participants in Buy Now, Pay Later Market
CFPB issues an interpretive rule confirming that Buy Now, Pay Later lenders are card issuers under Regulation Z, requiring them to provide billing statements, investigate disputes, and issue refunds like credit card companies.
Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
EEOC issues final regulations implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions unless they pose an undue hardship.
Broadband Consumer Labels Requirements
FCC requires broadband providers to display standardized nutrition-style labels at the point of sale showing monthly price, introductory rate details, data caps, speeds, and a link to network management practices.
Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached Stabilizing Braces
ATF issues a final rule establishing criteria for when firearms equipped with stabilizing braces are classified as short-barreled rifles subject to the National Firearms Act, requiring registration and a $200 tax.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
HUD restores and strengthens the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, requiring jurisdictions and public housing agencies receiving HUD funding to analyze patterns of segregation and take meaningful actions to promote fair housing choice.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities
Department of Education amends Title IX regulations to expand protections against sex-based harassment, clarify the scope of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and revise grievance procedures for educational institutions.
Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes
FDA proposes a product standard prohibiting menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes, finding that menthol cigarettes reduce the age of initiation and increase the likelihood of smoking dependence.
Gross Proceeds and Basis Reporting by Brokers for Digital Asset Transactions
Treasury and IRS finalize rules requiring cryptocurrency brokers and exchanges to report digital asset transactions on Form 1099-DA, similar to reporting for stock transactions, beginning with the 2025 tax year.
Rescheduling of Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III
DEA proposes rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, based on HHS review finding that marijuana has currently accepted medical use and lower potential for abuse than Schedule I or II substances.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: Automatic Emergency Braking
NHTSA mandates automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on all new passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029, including pedestrian detection capability. Systems must be effective at speeds up to 62 mph.
Revised Definition of Waters of the United States
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers amend the definition of waters of the United States to conform with the Supreme Court's Sackett v. EPA decision, limiting federal jurisdiction to waters with a continuous surface connection to traditional navigable waters.
Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence
Executive Order establishing new standards for AI safety and security, requiring developers of powerful AI systems to share safety test results with the government, directing agencies to develop guidelines for responsible AI use, and addressing AI risks to consumers and workers.
Executive Order on Rebuilding American Infrastructure with American Materials
Executive Order strengthening Buy America requirements for federally funded infrastructure projects, ensuring that iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in federal projects are produced in the United States.
Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act Implementation
CISA proposes rules implementing the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, requiring critical infrastructure entities to report covered cyber incidents within 72 hours and ransom payments within 24 hours.
Standard for Determining Joint-Employer Status
NLRB revises the joint-employer standard to provide that two or more entities may be joint employers if they share or codetermine essential terms and conditions of employment, including wages, benefits, hours, scheduling, hiring, and supervision.
Small Business Size Standards: Adjustment of Monetary-Based Size Standards for Inflation
SBA adjusts monetary-based small business size standards for inflation, increasing the annual receipts thresholds across industries to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index since the last adjustment.
Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft
FAA announces full enforcement of the Remote Identification rule requiring most drones to broadcast identification and location information during flight, enabling identification of drones by the FAA, law enforcement, and other entities.
Digital Asset Custody by Insured Depository Institutions
FDIC proposes guidance for insured depository institutions seeking to engage in digital asset custody activities, establishing risk management expectations covering operational, liquidity, compliance, and consumer protection risks.
Minimum Standards for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
DOE establishes minimum standards for federally funded EV charging stations including uptime reliability requirements, interoperability standards, payment accessibility, and data-sharing protocols to ensure a consistent user experience.
Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing (Regulation II)
The Federal Reserve Board reduces the maximum debit card interchange fee that large banks may charge merchants from 21 cents to 14.4 cents per transaction, plus 4 basis points. The adjustment reflects decreases in issuer costs since the original cap was set.
Toxic Exposure Risk Activity Presumptive Conditions
VA expands presumptive service connection for conditions related to toxic exposures under the PACT Act, covering veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other substances. Adds new conditions including several cancers and respiratory illnesses.
Transitional Standards for Sodium, Added Sugars, and Whole Grains in School Meals
USDA updates nutrition standards for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, setting limits on added sugars, reducing sodium targets, and increasing whole grain requirements to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
Safety Standard for Button Cell or Coin Batteries and Consumer Products Containing Such Batteries
CPSC issues safety standards requiring consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries to have secure battery compartments that prevent children from accessing the batteries. Also requires warning labels on battery packaging.
Revised Medical Evidence Standards for Disability Determinations
SSA proposes updates to the medical evidence standards used in disability determinations, incorporating telemedicine evaluations as acceptable medical evidence and updating the listing of impairments to reflect advances in treatment.
CHIPS Incentives Program: National Security Guardrails
Commerce Department finalizes national security guardrails for CHIPS Act funding recipients, restricting recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing capacity in countries of concern for 10 years and limiting joint research activities.
Listing Determinations for Species Under the Endangered Species Act
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces listing determinations for 21 species, including listing 15 species as endangered, 4 as threatened, and designating critical habitat for 12 species across multiple states.
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements
FinCEN provides updated guidance on the Corporate Transparency Act beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, clarifying filing obligations for reporting companies, trusts, and foreign entities registered to do business in the United States.
Improving Income-Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Department of Education finalizes the SAVE income-driven repayment plan, reducing payments to 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans, raising the income exemption, and providing forgiveness after 10 years for low-balance borrowers.
Presidential Proclamation on Federal Marijuana Pardons — Implementation Procedures
DOJ publishes procedures for implementing the presidential proclamation pardoning individuals convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law, including the process for obtaining certificates of pardon.
IRS Direct File Program: Expansion and Permanent Implementation
IRS announces the expansion of the Direct File free tax filing system to all 50 states for the 2025 filing season, covering additional tax situations including self-employment income, itemized deductions, and education credits.
Proclamation on Securing the Border
Presidential proclamation suspending entry of noncitizens across the southern border when daily encounters exceed specified thresholds, directing DHS and DOJ to implement expedited processing and removal procedures.
National Flood Insurance Program: Risk Rating 2.0 Updates
FEMA announces updates to the Risk Rating 2.0 methodology for the National Flood Insurance Program, incorporating updated flood models, sea level rise projections, and catastrophe modeling to more accurately price flood insurance policies.
Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions
USPTO issues guidance on inventorship for AI-assisted inventions, confirming that while AI cannot be listed as an inventor, patents may be obtained for inventions where a natural person made a significant contribution using AI as a tool.