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The Federal Reserve System has received applications from companies interested in forming bank holding companies or acquiring banks. Interested parties can view these applications at the specific Federal Reserve Banks listed and the Board of Governors' offices. Public comments on the applications can be submitted until March 6, 2025. Notably, Independent Bank Corp. from Massachusetts aims to acquire Enterprise Bancorp, Inc., while Community Bank Holdings of Texas, Inc. seeks to take over CapTex Bancshares, Inc.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposes a rule to update brake system safety standards for trains that use an electronic air brake slip (eABS) system. This new system would allow certain rail cars to travel longer distances between brake tests, specifically up to 2,500 miles rather than the current 1,500 miles, provided the cars meet specific criteria. The proposal includes maintaining extended records of the cars' brake tests and allowing the swapping of blocks of cars in trains without additional tests. This initiative aims to improve efficiency and reduce employee injury risks while still ensuring train safety.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a new rule to enhance accountability among federal employees in policymaking positions. The rule allows certain positions to be moved into a category called Schedule Policy/Career, where they will become at-will jobs not covered by adverse action procedures or appeals commonly used in federal service. The intention is to address challenges in removing employees for poor performance or misconduct and to ensure that these positions effectively execute the policies of the President. The proposal is part of a response to Executive Order 14171 and aims to maintain a nonpartisan civil service, while enabling greater accountability and responsiveness within the federal workforce.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule concerning Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B3. This rule mandates upgrades to the electrical system for the throttle twist grip and inspections of a microswitch electrical harness to prevent potential engine issues where helicopters could remain in idle mode unintentionally. The rule, prompted by similar European regulations, aims to ensure safety and requires compliance by a specific date or service hours, with details available from Airbus Helicopters. The rule affects 517 helicopters and is meant to avoid jeopardizing flight safety and prevent accidents.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed changes to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) regulations to explicitly include certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the list of "toxic chemicals," as those are automatically added under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) starting January 1, following specific criteria. This clarification ensures that suppliers must notify their customers about products containing these PFAS at the beginning of each year. The action aims to align regulations with existing NDAA provisions without adding new requirements, merely clarifying when notifications must occur. Comments on this proposal are open until February 18, 2025.

The Department of Justice has issued an interim final rule removing outdated regulations about how the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) handles requests for exceptions to certain federal firearms restrictions. These regulations pertained to how individuals could apply for relief from disabilities imposed by firearms laws, but since 1992, funding has been blocked for processing these individual requests. The rule also withdraws the delegation given to ATF to oversee these applications, clearing the way for a new approach in the future. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the changes until June 18, 2025.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has finalized a rule known as the Emergency Management Priorities and Allocations System (EMPAS), which allows it to prioritize certain contracts that promote national defense. This rule is part of FEMA's response to the COVID-19 emergency and aims to ensure critical materials and resources are available domestically. The rule, effective January 8, 2021, was established under the Defense Production Act and involves giving some contracts priority for health and medical resources needed to combat COVID-19. It follows the interim rule published in May 2020, with minor technical changes.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), part of the Department of Energy, has issued a final rule to update the fee schedule for using government lands by hydropower licensees. This update lists the per-acre rental fees by county for fiscal year 2025, which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, and will take effect on February 12, 2025. The rule simply updates existing fees as part of routine adjustments and does not significantly impact the rights or obligations of individuals or organizations outside the agency.

The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) has informed the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission of changes in its membership. New members such as Wider Security LLC and Comark LLC have joined, while companies like Decisive Analytics Corp. and Saltenna LLC have left the consortium. These notifications align with the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, helping limit antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages in specific situations. Despite the changes, membership remains open, and additional notifications are expected to be filed.

The Federal Communications Commission has approved a rule change for the TV station KARE in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They will switch their broadcast from channel 11 to channel 31 to address reception issues on the current channel. This decision follows a request from Multimedia Holdings Corporation, the station's licensee, and is expected to improve the viewing experience for local residents. The change has an effective date of January 14, 2021.