Legislative updates

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) has introduced H.R. 2628, the Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act.

Representative George Santos (R-NY) has introduced H.R. 2637, to provide for an exception to the 10-percent additional tax on early distributions from qualified retirement plans capped at a withdrawal amount of $10,000 every five years.

Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee has introduced H.R. 2799, the Expanding Access to Capital Act.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 21, 2023, for a severe winter storm in Texas, for the incident period of January 30, 2023 – February 2, 2023.

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.