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The Department of the Interior has announced programs and fiscal targets for 2025 that can be part of self-governance funding agreements with Indian Tribes, excluding the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These agreements allow Tribes to manage certain federal programs that relate to managing resources like lands and waters. The document lists eligible programs from different offices such as the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, and highlights the objective to strengthen tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and collaboration in managing federal lands. Self-governance agreements have been made with several Tribes across various areas.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing changes to streamline the process for granting rights-of-way on FWS-managed lands. The proposed rule aims to align FWS's processes with other bureaus by requiring a standard application form, allowing electronic submissions, introducing pre-application meetings, and offering flexible methods to determine fair market value. These changes are intended to reduce the time and costs for both applicants and FWS while ensuring compatibility with land management objectives and compliance with applicable laws.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed a new rule to allow healthcare practitioners to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine, without needing an in-person exam, through a Special Registration framework. This framework permits three types of special registrations: Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for Schedule III-V drugs, Advanced Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for Schedule II-V drugs for certain specialists, and Telemedicine Platform Registration for online platforms to dispense these drugs. These changes, which aim to expand patient access while safeguarding against drug abuse, also require practitioners to perform additional prescription checks and comply with detailed reporting and recordkeeping. Public comments on this proposal are welcome before final implementation.

The U.S. Copyright Office is conducting an inquiry into performance rights organizations (PROs) and how they distribute licensing revenue, especially with an increase in the number of such organizations. This investigation was requested by Congress to understand challenges related to the growing number of PROs and their impact on businesses that use music publicly, such as bars and restaurants. The inquiry aims to gather public comments on several issues, including the formation of new PROs, the cost implications for businesses, and how royalties are distributed among artists and publishers. Congress is looking for suggestions on improving the system to ensure fair and efficient distribution of licensing revenue.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its rules for the 24 GHz band to align with international standards set by the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2019 (WRC-19). These updates aim to protect sensitive satellite sensors that monitor weather and climate by limiting unwanted emissions from mobile devices operating in these frequencies. The new rules will be implemented in two phases, with stricter limits coming into effect after September 1, 2027. This decision supports international harmonization and encourages the development of advanced wireless services while ensuring that critical scientific observations are safeguarded.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has updated the Energy Labeling Rule to include new labeling requirements for portable air conditioners, reflecting changes made by the Department of Energy (DOE). The FTC aims to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions by providing clear energy cost comparisons through these labels. The changes also include updated efficiency descriptors for central air conditioners to align with DOE's new standards. Although the FTC considered wider changes, they decided to explore potential shifts like electronic labeling in future proceedings.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its rule for over-the-air reception devices to include hub and relay antennas used to distribute broadband-only wireless services, expanding their previous constraints. This modification aims to facilitate the deployment of faster and more efficient Internet services, especially in rural and underserved communities, by removing barriers related to the installation and use of these antennas. The FCC maintains certain conditions, such as property ownership requirements and size restrictions of the antennas, to ensure minimal visual impact and compliance with existing safety and historical preservation regulations. This change seeks to level the playing field for broadband providers and increase competition in the fixed wireless market.

The United States Department of Justice, along with several states, filed a lawsuit against RealPage, Inc. and several landlord companies, claiming they violated antitrust laws. The lawsuit alleges that these companies used RealPage's software to share sensitive rental information to influence and align rental prices, reducing competition and leading to higher rents for tenants. As part of a proposed settlement, Cortland Management, one of the defendants, agreed to stop using RealPage's software and instead use its own revenue management system without sharing sensitive data. The settlement aims to prevent Cortland from engaging in similar anticompetitive behavior in the future.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a rule aimed at protecting federal properties more effectively. This rule would give more authority to DHS's Federal Protective Service to manage security on and around federal buildings. The rule includes updates to existing regulations, like prohibiting drones, smoking, and unauthorized camping on federal property. It also extends some regulations to areas outside federal properties where necessary to protect the properties and the people there.

The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) held its virtual Seventy-third Plenary Session, during which it adopted six recommendations and issued one official statement. The recommendations cover a range of topics including rules on rulemakings, protecting sensitive materials in public rulemaking dockets, improving government contract bid protest procedures, and making agency appellate systems more efficient. The official statement addresses the use of artificial intelligence by agencies, highlighting the importance of transparency and oversight. While these recommendations are not binding, they are intended to improve processes within federal agencies and will be shared with affected entities such as Congress and the Judicial Conference of the United States.