Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis released his budget recommendations totaling $114.8 billion for fiscal year 2023-2024. This is a $3.9 billion increase over the current year $110.9 billion budget. The Framework for Freedom Budget continues Governor DeSantis’ commitment to Florida’s K-12 students, parents and teachers, environmental resources, and law enforcement, all while maintaining healthy reserves, including $6.9 billion in […]
The SEC Clarifies New Section 16 Requirements
In a recent e-alert, we discussed some changes in requirements for reporting gifts under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and stated that the new requirements take effect in April. Apparently, we were wrong – although lots of others got it wrong as well, due to a lack of clarity in the SEC’s adopting release. […]
Lobbying Restrictions and Toll Breaks to Take Effect in 2023
There will be several new laws that take effect this coming Sunday, January 1, 2023. Some of the changes we can expect to see are additional lobbying restrictions for lawmakers, state agency heads, judges and many local officials. Certain officials will have to wait two to six years to begin lobbying. The insurance laws, toll credits […]
A Lump of Coal Hiding in Plain Sight
We recently reported on amendments to Rule 10b5-1 (“The SEC Buries the Lede on Rule 10b5-1 Amendments”), noting that in saying that the amendments “modernize” the rule the SEC may have made a misstatement, if not a material one. However, we did not point out that as part of the so-called “modernization,” the SEC threw […]
The SEC Buries the Lede on Rule 10b5-1 Amendments
On December 14, 2022, the SEC announced that it had adopted amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. The headline of the announcement states that the amendments “modernize” the rule – which governs so-called insider trading plans – but it’s questionable if they achieve that goal, or whether in fact that was the goal […]
2022 Special Session Wrap-Up
This week, the House and Senate met in Tallahassee for a 3-day Special Session to pass Senate Bill 2A, Property Insurance, legislation intended to improve Florida’s property insurance marketplace for homeowners; Senate Bill 4A, Disaster Relief, which provides tax and financial relief for Floridians impacted by hurricane Ian and Nicole; and Senate Bill 6A, Toll […]
HHS Issues Bulletin Regarding Use of Online Tracking Technologies
On December 1, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a Bulletin regarding the use of online tracking technologies (which includes other tracking technologies such as fingerprinting and by HIPAA covered entities and business associates). The Bulletin states (internal citations omitted), “Regulated entities are […]
HHS Proposes Changes to Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records under HIPAA Privacy Rule, 42 CFR Part 2
As any health care provider who has engaged in the provision of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment can tell you, understanding the application of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 is anything but clear cut. In an effort to alleviate some of the confusion and ultimately remove unnecessary barriers to care, the US Department of […]
Form 144 Goes Electronic – Why You Should Care
In its ongoing efforts to transition from a paper filing system to an electronic one, the SEC announced earlier this year that, effective April 13, 2023, all Form 144 filings must be made electronically. Particularly when compared to some other SEC rule changes – for example, the recently adopted clawback rules – this change does […]
2022 General Election Results
Over 7,784,171 Florida voters turned out to determine the cabinet races, congressional races, state legislative races, local races, constitutional amendments, and more. The state decisively supported Governor Ron DeSantis in his re-election bid. Notable Races Florida’s newly elected Legislators will convene in Tallahassee for the Organizational Session on November 22, 2022 to swear in new […]