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The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a final interpretive rule regarding energy conservation standards for products like residential furnaces and commercial water heaters. The rule states that non-condensing technology and its associated venting is considered a "feature" that must be preserved under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). This decision comes after public comments and aims to prevent eliminating this technology through energy-saving regulations. This interpretation may limit potential energy savings but allows consumers more choices and prevents unnecessary building modifications. The DOE also withdrew previous proposals on energy conservation standards that were inconsistent with this interpretation.

On January 30, 2025, NYSE Arca, Inc. proposed a rule change to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust as a commodity-based trust share on the NYSE Arca. The Trust's main goal is to offer investors a way to gain investment exposure to XRP, a digital asset, on a regulated exchange. The Trust operates without active management and holds XRP, allowing investors to avoid the complexities of purchasing and securing XRP directly. The SEC is seeking public comments on this proposal and will decide whether to approve it within 45 to 90 days.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the application of MX2 LLC to become a national securities exchange. MX2 will operate similarly to the existing MEMX exchange but will not list new securities; instead, it will trade existing ones through unlisted trading privileges. The exchange will use automated systems with no physical trading floor and partner with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for regulatory functions. Several conditions accompany this approval, including joining specific national market system plans and forming regulatory agreements.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved a proposal by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) to implement a new margin add-on charge aimed at reducing risks from short-dated options trading and intraday activities. This charge will be applied to all clearing member accounts to ensure sufficient financial resources are available to cover credit exposure. The decision comes as a response to the significant increase in trading volume and the associated risks that were not fully addressed under the previous margin system. Despite some industry concerns about potential impacts on competition, the SEC determined that the changes are necessary to safeguard securities and funds while ensuring fair competition.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has implemented new rules for certain broker-dealers to enhance customer protection. These amendments mandate that broker-dealers with more than $500 million in average total credits must compute and deposit reserve requirements daily, rather than weekly, for funds that belong to customers and other broker-dealers. This change aims to better safeguard customer funds and reduce the risk of financial shortfalls if a broker-dealer were to fail. Additionally, broker-dealers performing daily computations are allowed to reduce their aggregate debit items by 2%, instead of the previous 3%, in their reserve calculations.

The final regulations from the Internal Revenue Service under the Treasury Department focus on implementing credits for producing clean hydrogen as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. These regulations cover how to assess greenhouse gas emissions, verify clean hydrogen production, and apply energy credits for hydrogen production facilities. They impact all taxpayers who either produce qualified clean hydrogen or use renewable energy sources to make it, aiming to encourage cleaner hydrogen production processes. The rules are effective from January 10, 2025.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted Green Impact Exchange, LLC (GIX) approval to register as a national securities exchange. GIX will be responsible for its trading system's regulations and oversight, although some regulatory functions will be outsourced to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) through a regulatory services agreement. The exchange will operate as an electronic trading platform without a physical trading floor, and its corporate governance and ownership structures align with industry standards to maintain independence and meet SEC requirements. Additionally, GIX plans to utilize technology provided by MEMX Technologies to facilitate trading operations while ensuring compliance with federal securities laws.

The United States Sentencing Commission is proposing changes to the federal sentencing guidelines. They aim to simplify the sentencing process by eliminating certain departure provisions and combining the three-step sentencing process into two steps, focusing more on the factors courts consider under the law. The Commission is also addressing circuit court conflicts regarding specific sentencing enhancements, such as those involving firearms and robbery offenses. They are seeking public comments and may hold a hearing on these proposed amendments.

The Department of Education has issued final regulations aimed at improving program integrity and institutional quality for programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. These regulations focus on two key areas: distance education and the return of Title IV funds. They introduce new requirements for institutions to report the enrollment status of students in distance and correspondence courses and streamline the process for returning unearned Title IV funds when a student withdraws. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, seek to enhance data collection and oversight while simplifying administrative procedures for educational institutions.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have finalized a rule concerning the treatment of certain debt investments by advanced banking organizations. The rule requires these organizations to deduct from their regulatory capital any investments in unsecured debt instruments issued by systemically important banks, known as GSIBs, to meet specific capacity requirements. This rule aims to reduce interconnectedness and systemic risks within the financial system and includes adjustments following public comments on the proposal. Additionally, the rule incorporates several technical amendments and new definitions to its regulatory framework.