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The U.S. Department of Labor is updating the civil monetary penalties it can impose, based on inflation, as part of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This requires an annual review and adjustment of penalty amounts to ensure they keep pace with inflation. These updates are set to take effect on January 15, 2021, and apply to penalties assessed after this date. Different divisions within the Department, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration, are involved in overseeing these changes, which aim to maintain their deterrent effect.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This rule, effective January 15, 2025, ensures that penalties keep up with inflation, applying a cost-of-living adjustment multiplier based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjustments apply to penalties assessed after the effective date, maintaining the penalties' deterrent effect. This regulation does not consider public comments due to the non-discretionary nature of the inflation adjustments mandated by the Act.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address health risks associated with the chemical C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29). This rule focuses on minimizing inhalation risks by requiring the use of protective gear and regular cleaning in workplaces that handle PV29 in its dry powder form. The EPA has also proposed to implement recordkeeping and labeling requirements to ensure compliance and communication throughout the supply chain. Public comments are being requested to help refine the proposal and ensure its effectiveness in protecting workers' health.

The Department of Education is inviting applications for the Charter Schools Program's Charter Management Organization (CMO) Grants for fiscal year 2025. These grants aim to help charter management organizations replicate or expand high-quality charter schools that can support a diverse student body, including underserved students. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with traditional public schools and offer programs that promote multilingualism. Applications are due by April 21, 2025, and further details are available on the Department's website. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria like the quality of the applicant, the project design, evaluation plan, and management plan.

The Department of Justice proposes a new rule to implement the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act of 2021. This rule aims to set up a system for reviewing and potentially reinvestigating unsolved murder cases, also known as "cold cases," that were initially investigated by federal law enforcement more than three years ago. Eligible family members of victims can apply to have a case reviewed, and if new evidence is found, a full reinvestigation may be conducted. The rule also calls for better coordination between federal agencies and requires annual reporting of actions taken under the Act.

The Department of Education is inviting applications for the 2025 fiscal year for Charter School Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities. These grants are designed to support and expand high-quality charter schools across the U.S. by helping state entities open new charter schools, replicate successful ones, and provide necessary resources and technical assistance. Applications open on January 21, 2025, with a submission deadline of April 21, 2025, and a review deadline of June 20, 2025. The initiative aligns with the Department’s goal to improve educational opportunities and outcomes, particularly for underserved students.

In this final rule, the Department of Labor revises the way it calculates prevailing wage levels for alien workers in the U.S. to ensure wages align more accurately with those of U.S. workers with similar skills. This change applies to H1-B, H1-B1, and E-3 visa programs as well as certain immigrant visa categories. The rule lowers the previous wage level estimates, transitioning over a phased implementation period, to better protect U.S. worker job opportunities by eliminating financial incentives for using lower-paid foreign labor over similarly capable American workers. The rule also provides steps to ensure a smooth transition to these new wage levels.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) determined that more stringent energy conservation standards for small electric motors (SEMs) are not cost-effective, so existing standards will remain unchanged. The analysis by DOE found that while technically feasible improvements exist for SEMs, the costs of implementing them would outweigh the energy savings benefits for consumers. As a result, the standards set by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) will not be amended because they would not be economically justified. This decision concludes that the potential energy conservation from new standards would not meet significant conservation thresholds under the current criteria.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule that changes how it selects H-1B visa petitions submitted by employers. This new rule prioritizes selecting petitions based on the highest wage level offered for the job, rather than through a random lottery system. By ranking potential H-1B workers based on their salary offers, DHS aims to ensure that visas are more likely to go to highly skilled workers filling important roles, thus supporting economic recovery and protecting U.S. workers' wages. This rule is set to take effect on March 9, 2021, and aims to better align the H-1B program with the intention of hiring more qualified and valued international employees.