BW INSIGHTS

Alabama Court Rules CTA Unconstitutional

By Ellen Hames | 03.05.2024

On Friday, March 1, 2024, a U.S. District Court judge in Alabama ruled the Corporate Transparency Act unconstitutional. The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is a federal law that went into effect January 1 of this year, requiring any entity that does not meet an exemption to file information on its beneficial owners with the Financial Crimes... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Eight

By Matthew H. McKinney & Julie A. Smith | 03.04.2024

Capitol Update This week, many bills were debated in either the House or Senate and then passed onto their last stop in the legislative process. Each chamber must vote on the exact same language in order to finally pass the bill and have it become law. The Senate will often substitute a House File and vice versa during floor debate so the language... Read More

Brand Owners: “Your True Colors Are Beautiful” – And Worthy of Protection! Have You Filed a Color Trademark Yet?

By Christopher Proskey | 02.28.2024

As a child of the 1980s, I’d be remiss if I didn’t kick this blog post off with a nod to the pink-haired Cyndi Lauper (a trademark owner herself), who perhaps said it best in her 1986 hit “True Colors:” “I see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Seven

By BrownWinick | 02.26.2024

Capitol Update The focus of the legislature this week turned toward Floor Debate. Mostly non-controversial bills were considered. According to Joint House and Senate Rule 20, during week #7 debate is limited to only Senate Files in the Senate and House Files in the House. The next two weeks of debate are not limited by that rule. Budget... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Six

By Matthew H. McKinney & Julie A. Smith | 02.19.2024

Funnel week. Funnel week has come and gone and it was quite a week with 227 bills moving through Committees and 99 scheduled subcommittees. The purpose of the funnel is to “weed out” those bills that will not be given further consideration this session. The next major procedural deadline - the second funnel - is March 15. For a bill to be... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Five

By Matthew H. McKinney & Julie A. Smith | 02.12.2024

The pace continued during week 5 with 164 bills scheduled for consideration in Committees and 165 scheduled for subcommittee discussions. Next week is funnel week - which means bills must be considered in a subcommittee and pass the Committee by next Friday. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. Although based on the large numbers of bills... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Four

By BrownWinick | 02.05.2024

Capital Update Big news on Thursday with the Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Senator Dan Dawson and the House Ways and Means Committee Chair Representative Bobby Kaufmann jointly releasing a tax reform package that will consist of two different bills (SSB 3141 and SSB 3142). The Press Release states the following:  “The first bill... Read More

DOL Independent Contractor Final Rule

By Danielle Smid | 01.31.2024

On January 9, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its Final Rule which changes the criteria for classifying independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Final Rule is set to take effect on March 11, 2024, and rescinds the 2021 independent contractor rule, replacing it with an analysis that the DOL explains, is... Read More

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Smart Buildings in Commercial Real Estate

By Sheridan DeJong | 01.30.2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of commercial real estate, the integration of smart building technologies has become a game-changer. Smart buildings leverage cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and user experience. However, as these innovations become more prevalent, legal implications surrounding their... Read More

Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Three

By BrownWinick | 01.29.2024

Capitol Update General Assembly Update. The third week of session was hectic with 176 subcommittee meetings scheduled. We expect this pace to continue as the first major funnel is fast approaching. By February 16, all bills must be voted out of the Committee of origin. That means the bill must be filed, subcommittee assigned, passed subcommittee,... Read More