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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is implementing a new rule, titled Rule 2a-5, under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This rule sets requirements for how investment companies should determine the fair value of their investments. Key elements include the management of valuation risks, specification of suitable fair value methodologies, and supervision of pricing services used to assess investment value. Additionally, the rule allows investment companies to designate a valuation expert to handle these assessments, provided they remain under the company's board's oversight. Furthermore, a new accompanying Rule 31a-4 mandates recordkeeping requirements to support these fair value determinations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted a final rule under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to improve transparency in the extraction industry. This rule requires companies involved in the extraction of oil, natural gas, or minerals to report payments made to foreign governments or the U.S. federal government for resource development. Companies must include details about the type and amount of payments, and this information must be presented publicly in a specific electronic format. The rule aims to deter corruption and promote accountability, although some exemptions and delayed reporting options are available to reduce the compliance burden on smaller companies.

The Coast Guard has issued a final rule to update and harmonize approval requirements for lifejackets, also known as personal flotation devices (PFDs), by adopting new standards that improve compatibility with Canadian regulations. This change allows for the production of more innovative and comfortable lifejackets and includes revisions to labeling requirements. The rule also permits the use of new lifejacket designs approved under these standards and eliminates certain outdated approval requirements, which can reduce costs and inspection burdens for manufacturers. The rule aims to enhance safety and streamline the process for lifejacket approval while supporting better compliance and improved usage among recreational and commercial vessel operators in both the U.S. and Canada.

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 Department of Agriculture has finalized a rule superseding the interim rule to establish the Domestic Hemp Production Program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule outlines regulations for State and Tribal plans and a Federal plan for hemp production where State or Tribal plans are not USDA-approved. The program details requirements for record-keeping, THC level testing, disposal of non-compliant plants, producer licensing, and overall compliance. The rule also specifies procedures for land use data collection and cooperation with law enforcement and other agricultural agencies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Polyether Polyols (PEPO) Production industry. The proposed changes, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), aim to address harmful emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) and other hazardous air pollutants to improve air quality and public health. The EPA suggests tighter controls on process vents, storage vessels, equipment leaks, heat exchange systems, and wastewater, and plans to implement fenceline monitoring to measure and manage emissions more effectively. The agency estimates significant reductions in harmful emissions with these new standards.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the application of 24X National Exchange LLC to register as a national securities exchange. 24X plans to operate an automated trading platform for trading listed stocks during extended hours, including overnight sessions on weekdays. The exchange will be supported by technology from MEMX Technologies and will use FINRA for certain regulatory functions. To protect investors, 24X must join several national market system plans and implement enhancements like customer risk disclosures before commencing operations.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a final rule requiring public housing agencies (PHAs) and owners of properties receiving project-based rental assistance to give tenants a 30-day written notice before beginning eviction procedures for nonpayment of rent. This rule is intended to provide tenants with more time to resolve rent issues and seek assistance, aiming to reduce unnecessary evictions. The rule adopts and expands upon a previous interim final rule, and it allows for certain flexibility in emergencies declared by the President. Compliance with the rule is required by January 13, 2025, with specific conditions for different types of housing programs.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA), which aim to enhance the protection of children's personal information online. The amendments update definitions and improve transparency by requiring operators of websites and online services to provide more detailed notices about their data collection practices, including information on data retention and third-party sharing. The FTC has also approved new methods for obtaining parental consent and instituted stricter data security and retention policies, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate different business sizes. Furthermore, these changes include additional reporting requirements for FTC-approved Safe Harbor programs, which are intended to increase oversight and accountability.

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a new final rule to clarify the differences between employees and independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This rule is intended to make these distinctions clearer by providing guidance based on economic realities, which consider factors like a worker’s control over their work and the potential for profit or loss. Two main factors, related to control and profit potential, are seen as more significant in determining a worker's status. The rule aims to increase predictability for both workers and businesses across all industries.