Legislative updates

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 4, 2023, for a severe winter storm in Arkansas, for the incident period of January 30, 2023 – February 2, 2023.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 3, 2023, for severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in California, for the incident period of February 21, 2023, and continuing.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and National Emergency, numerous requirements were introduced for group health plans, which were generally aimed at ensuring individuals did not forgo testing or treatment for COVID-19 because they could not afford to pay for such services.

The SECURE 2.0 Act modifies one small-employer credit and creates another. These credits may make establishing and contributing to a plan much more attractive.

As expected, President Biden has vetoed H.J. 30, a resolution for congressional disapproval of the Department of Labor’s rule “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed additional requirements for broker-dealers, investment companies, registered investment advisers and transfer agents (“covered institutions”) aimed at further protecting the privacy of consumer financial information.

Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) has reintroduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act in the House.

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) has issued a final rule updating interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates in the second quarter of 2023.

Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La), has introduced the Telehealth HSA Act. The Act would make permanent the ability of high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to waive the deductible for telehealth services without causing plan participants to lose the ability to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on March 8, 2023, for severe winter storms in Tennessee, for the incident period of December 22, 2022, to December 27, 2022.