Law and Regulation

Legal news and information for small businesses.

Texas Senator Calls for Small Business Reforms , August 18, 2005

In a speech, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison advocates associated health plans and less red tape.

New Deadlines for Accounting Changes , August 17, 2005

Businesses now have a greater window during which to submit accounting method change requests.

SEC Seeks Public Input on Sarbanes-Oxley , August 11, 2005

Some small businesses claim compliance too burdensome and discourages them from public offerings.

Microcaps Seek Reform of Rule Limiting Stock Sale , August 2, 2005

Small public companies say that changes to Rule 504 would allow them freer access to capital to cover the costs of meeting regulatory requirements.

SEC Head Nominee Would Back Options Expensing , August 1, 2005

New rule would require private companies to report stock options as a formal expense.

Court Expands Definition of Sexual Harassment, July 20, 2005

California court ruling makes employers more vulnerable to sexual harassment suits.

Dispute Over bankruptcy Data, June 21, 2005

New study claims government figures used to create bankruptcy legislation inflated success rate of small businesses.

President Urges the Passage of CAFTA, June 2, 2005

President Bush and many small business exporters see the trade agreement as beneficial to business.

Treasury Dept. Relaxes FSA Deadline, May 25, 2005

Employees will now have more time to use up contributions.

Legislation Aims to Restore 'Buy American' Act, May 19, 2005

Law comes from provisions stipulated in new $34 billion Homeland Security budget.

Deadline Approaches for Customer Data Rules, May 19, 2005

FACT Act amendment requires southern states to better destroy customer data come June 1.

Small Businesses Cautious About Arbitration , May 18, 2005

Small businesses slow to adopt arbitration agreements despite advantages.

Mental Health Parity Legislation Considered by States, May 13, 2005

Many states already have mandated private insurers help cover expenses related to treatment of mental ailments, a move that is likely to cost small business owners.

Mental Health Parity Legislation Considered by States, May 13, 2005

Many states already have mandated private insurers help cover expenses related to treatment of mental ailments, a move that is likely to cost small business owners.

Patent Law Reform Proposed, May 13, 2005

A bill that proposes a patent review period and changes to first-to-file rights is likely to be considered before June 9.

Business Checking Reform Moves Ahead, May 13, 2005

A bill recently passed by the House Financial Services Committee would allow small businesses to earn interest on their checking accounts.

Indiana Passes Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Bill, May 12, 2005

Eighteen states have introduced legislation this year that would give small businesses a voice in state regulatory process.

Spitzer Sues Spyware Maker, May 2, 2005

New York State attorney general takes aim at company said to have tricked customers into downloading software.

House Crafts Small Biz 'Bill of Rights', April 28, 2005

In the style of 1994 Republican Contract, document meant to inform congressional decision-making.

FMLA Costs Hit $21 Billion in 2004, April 28, 2005

A recent study highlights the costs to companies providing leave under the Family Medical Leave Act.

Associated Health Plans Still Up for Debate, April 26, 2005

Lack of consensus could lead to compromise legislation.

Energy Bill Passed by House, April 26, 2005

Energy bill favors coal and gas industries over alternative energy firms.

Greenspan Warns Deficit Could Spark Rate Soar, April 21, 2005

Deficit's growth, if left uncontrolled, could "cause the economy to stagnate or worse."

President Signs Revised Bankruptcy Rules into Law, April 20, 2005

Gamblers and risk-taking entrepreneurs take note: Escaping your debts through bankruptcy just got a whole lot thornier.

Groups Prepare for Battle over FMLA Changes, April 18, 2005

More than a decade after FMLA was enacted, the time may have come for a second look.

SBA Loans Increased in First Half of '05, April 15, 2005

Growth said to reflect mitigated risk of lending to small businesses.

Bankruptcy Bill Passes House, April 15, 2005

Legislation gives small businesses creditors more clout, but could ultimately harm entrepreneurship.

North Carolina Considers Tax Credits for Employers , April 5, 2005

The state weighs two pieces of legislation that would offer smaller employers tax credits for providing health insurance to their employees.

"Grandfathering" Proposal Comes Under Fire, April 5, 2005

Small business owners overwhelmingly oppose the Small Business Administration's proposal to allow big companies to keep their small-business contracts for up to five more years.

Anti-Aging Suit Skirts Small Businesses, March 31, 2005

Supreme Court rules employees no longer have to show intent, but law will only apply to companies with 20 or more employees.

New Bill Offers Financial Help to Reservists, Employers, March 25, 2005

With the U.S. military depending more and more on the Guard and Reserves, a new bill offers financial help to those on the frontlines, and those that employ them.

Expiration of Textile Quota Act Takes Toll on U.S. Manufacturers, Jan. 13, 2005

On January 1, the Multifibre Arrangement Act expired, giving foreign textile producers unrestricted access to the U.S. market.

Business Tax Incentives in Ohio, Kentucky in Question, Jan. 11, 2005

States will need to find different ways to boost business investments.

Immigration Debates, Jan. 9, 2005

Bipartisan proposals and differing viewpoints make immigration a seminal issue for this Congressional term.

Minimum Wage Set to Increase in Several States, Dec. 28, 2004

Small-business advocates argue increase will hurt hiring efforts.

Legal Reform on Bush's Agenda, Dec. 17, 2004

Frivolous lawsuits hinder American competitiveness and must be reined in, President Bush said Wednesday at the White House Economic Conference.

California Health Care Mandate On Again, Off Again, December 3, 2004

A much-debated law mandating employers to provide health care coverage to employees is taken off the books.

Congress to Vote on Revised Omnibus Bill, November 30, 2004

$388 billion package assailed for pork barrel spending and threats to privacy.

Congress Votes to Extend Ban on Internet Access Taxes, November 22, 2004

Compromise legislation now awaits President's signature.

Small Business Prepares for New Consumer Protection Regulations, November 22, 2004

Law forces many small businesses to upgrade credit-card processing equipment but allows old machines to be phased out over the next two years.

Coke Targets Small Business in Trademark Dispute , August 30, 2004

Company says "Kokie Koala" too similar to its brand.

New Overtime Rules Take Effect In Two Weeks , August 12, 2004

Regulations raise minimum salary and define eligible "white collar" workers; go into effect August 23.

Fed Raises Rates, Believes Economy Will Accelerate , August 11, 2004

The quarter-point hike should have minimal effect on small business spending, says economist.

Proposed Bill Aims to Give Workers More Time Off , August 5, 2004

Overtime pay could take the form of comp time under the Family Time Flexibility Act.

House Bill Keeps Small Business Investment Deduction , July 23, 2004

Benefit is extended through 2007.

House Votes to Limit Option Expensing , July 22, 2004

Bill's passage seen as victory for start-ups.

Bill Introduced to Expand Cash Accounting for Small Businesses , July 21, 2004

Legislation would allow many companies to reduce accounting costs.

New Law Means Stiff Punishment for Identity Thieves , July 16, 2004

Identity theft cost consumers and businesses $50 billion in 2003.

Virginia Brings Back " Blue Laws" , July 15, 2004

In an oversight, long-dead laws prohibiting work on Sunday are repealed for two weeks.

SBA Urged To Establish Better Loan Monitoring Policies , July 14, 2004

Senator Snowe wants agency to use the tools it has.

Software Piracy Hits $29 Billion in Losses , July 9, 2004

More than one-third of all software installed in 2003 was pirated.

SBA Withdraws Proposal To Change Definition Of 'Small' , July 2, 2004

Agency will seek more data before taking future actions on size standards for funding eligibility.

As Interest Rates Rise, Small Businesses Look Out , July 1, 2004

Immediate impact will be small, but some industries should beware.

NFIB Ramps Up Lobbying Effort Against Lawsuits , June 30, 2004

Business group tells Congress small businesses are seen as "easy target."

Deadline Looms for Feedback on Definition of 'Small', June 22, 2004

Proposal from SBA would make 34,100 companies ineligible for government funding.

Private Companies Make SarbOx Changes , June 21, 2004

Reform is voluntary, and most companies are focusing on compensation practices.

Minimum Wage Debate on the Horizon , June 17, 2004

Hike would mark first increase in seven years.

Growth in Consumer Prices Looks Certain to Spur Rate Hike , June 15, 2004

Soaring energy costs are seen as inflation engine.

Small Business to Get More FCC Consideration , June 11, 2004

FCC overlooked impact of number portability on small telecom firms.

Fed Begins Survey of Small Businesses , June 11, 2004

Goal is to understand how government policy affects access to credit.

CEOs Unfazed by Looming Fed Hike , June 8, 2004

Many plan on hiring more and raising prices over the next year.

IRS Tax Shelter Deadline Approaches , June 4, 2004

Less than three weeks for offenders to reach settlement.

Small Businesses Looking for Bigger Say with FASB, May 27, 2004

A new task force and advisory committee are seeking small business opinions on financial reporting.

Sarbanes-Oxley Has Some Publics Thinking Private , May 20, 2004

The increasing cost of complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate reform law has more public companies mulling going private.

FTC Takes Action Against First Do-Not-Call List Violator, May 2004

The FTC has filed a complaint against a group of defendants for masquerading as a nonprofit organization to call names on the National Do No Call Registry.

New Port Tax Rejected, April 2004

The nation's retailers are applauding the rejection of a federal tax to cover security improvement costs.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Overtime Rules, April 2004

The final regulations governing overtime eligibility were recently announced, revising rules that hadn't seen significant change in 50 years.

OSHA to Conduct Unannounced Inspections, April 2004

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be doing unannounced inspections of about 4,000 high-hazard workplaces this year, the organization announced April 12.

National Research Council Suggests U.S. PTO Reform , April 2004

A recent panel study by the National Research Council suggests certain improvements could help the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) function better.

Lawyers Rethink Their Pay, March 2004

The American Bar Association is seriously considering new pay rules.

Bad Patent Reform, March 2004

Pending patent reform could leave entrepreneurs unprotected.

A Win For Arbitration, But Do You Ultimately Lose?, Feb 2004

For the first time, employers across the country can require new hires to agree to arbitration if they later sue for discrimination.

Kentucky Entrepreneur Tests the Boundaries of Business Ethics, October 2003

For most entrepreneurs, a little shamelessness is indispensable. In Kentucky, Tina Conner took that impulse a step too far.

Sued Over the Dress Code, October 2003

If you require your employees to wear a uniform, be ready to foot the bill.

Telecommuter Denied Benefits, October 2003

The physical world trumps the virtual one, at least where unemployment benefits are concerned.

New Rules For Corporate Counsel, September 2003

Your relationship with your lawyers may soon change.

Goodwill for Your Ex, September 2003

Should 'goodwill' be considered divisible property in divorce cases?

Casino Hits Legal Jackpot, August 2003

A brawling casino worker helps to set a legal precedent that hurts employers.

Court Sides with Biz on Disability, August 2003

The Supreme Court rules that businesses can reject employee disability benefits when their doctor disagrees with the treating physician.

Fairer Class Action, August 2003

Small-business lobbies are hailing a bill that will make it harder to win a class-action lawsuit.

Comp Time Swaps Soon to Be Legit, June 2003

Private companies may soon be able to offer hourly employees paid leave time instead of overtime pay.

Inc.com: Law and Regulation