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The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, effective January 15, 2021. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and aims to ensure the penalties continue to serve as a deterrent. The changes will only apply to penalties with a specific dollar amount and will affect those assessed after the effective date. The penalties are adjusted based on the cost-of-living increase from October 2019 to October 2020.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed changes to the Class E airspace in Austin, Lago Vista, and Lakeway, Texas. This proposal aims to update the airspace as part of regular reviews, ensuring consistency with FAA rules and supporting safe and efficient flight operations. The public has the opportunity to submit comments on this proposal until January 16, 2025. The FAA's changes involve redistributing and expanding certain areas of Class E airspace to enhance safety and navigation efficiency for aircraft in these regions.

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled announced the removal of certain products and services from the Procurement List. These items and services were previously supplied by nonprofits that employ people with severe disabilities. The committee concluded these items are no longer suitable for federal procurement under the relevant laws and regulations. This change may allow small entities the opportunity to supply these products and services to the government; it is not expected to impose additional requirements on them.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the Treasury Department, issued a final rule to adjust certain civil monetary penalties based on inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. These adjustments are calculated using a specific formula that considers changes in consumer prices, and the updated penalties will apply to violations occurring after the adjustments take effect. This rule does not require public notice or comments, as the changes are mandated by law and involve no new administrative procedures.

The Farm Credit Administration has introduced a final rule adjusting civil money penalties (CMPs) for inflation, in line with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as updated. This adjustment ensures that penalties retain their deterrent effect and compliance is maintained with the Farm Credit Act and Flood Disaster Protection Act. The new maximum daily penalties for specific violations have been increased, such as $2,904 for violating a final order and $1,313 for breaching the Farm Credit Act, effective January 15, 2025. These changes, driven by mandatory annual updates, aim to keep CMPs in line with inflation without needing a public comment process.

The Federal Maritime Commission issued a final rule to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties they assess, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule requires agencies to announce these adjustments by January 15 every year and is based on changes in the consumer price index. The adjustment process is not required to follow certain procedural steps like public notice or comment, and the rule will not have significant economic impacts. Additionally, the rule doesn’t involve any new collection of information from the public.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a list of rules they plan to review as part of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The aim of this review is to determine if these rules should stay the same, be changed, or removed to lessen their economic impact on small businesses. The public is encouraged to provide feedback on these rules by January 9, 2025, to help the SEC make informed decisions. This includes important rulings such as those related to crowdfunding and small business exemptions under securities law.

The Department of Education has issued final regulations to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, as required by law. This adjustment is based on the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and affects penalties related to higher education, violations by lenders, and improper lobbying, among others. The new penalty amounts are calculated using a specific multiplier from the Office of Management and Budget, ensuring they retain their deterrent effect. These updates apply to violations occurring after November 2, 2015, and penalties assessed after February 3, 2021.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has made changes to Regulation D by reducing the interest rate paid on balances (IORB) at Federal Reserve Banks to 4.4 percent from the previous 4.65 percent. This amendment was effective on December 19, 2024, and aims to help maintain the federal funds rate within the desired target range. The Board found it necessary to forego usual notice and comment procedures, citing the importance of prompt action in the public interest. Additionally, the rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act or the Paperwork Reduction Act since no general notice of proposed rulemaking was required.

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled has updated its Procurement List. This update adds new services provided by nonprofit agencies employing people with severe disabilities and removes certain products that were previously provided by such agencies. The changes are intended to support job creation for individuals with significant disabilities and ensure continued operations for federal customers. The additions include custodial services at a courthouse in South Carolina, while the deletions involve items like webbing straps and various container sets. These changes were made following public notice and certification that they will not significantly impact small entities.