INSIDE COMPLIANCE – Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Will California’s Anti-Price-Gouging Measures be Effective in the Wake of Wildfires?

February 6, 2025Regulation

In response to the January 2025 wildfires that have burned through Los Angeles County (L.A. County), California Governor Gavin Newsom issued numerous executive orders including Executive Order N-9-25, which extended renter protections against price gouging on hotel and motel rates, as well as rental housing prices across the county. Around 12,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed in the fires, leaving behind a worsening shortage of affordable housing for Los Angeles residents. To make matters worse, as the housing supply in L.A. County has suffered, there have been reports of price gouging on rent and housing costs by landlords and property owners. California law protects residents from price gouging following a natural disaster through a 10% cap on price increases. Thus, tenants’ rights advocates have called for strict enforcement against those who impose excessive price increases in violation of this regulation.

Housingnatural disasterprice gouging

Trump’s New Administration Puts ESG on the Chopping Block

February 6, 2025Regulation

Over the past decade, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become an integral part of the corporate compliance landscape. The term captures a wide range of issues, including sustainable investing, equitable board composition, climate change efforts, shareholder rights, executive compensation, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming. Amidst its growth in prominence, ESG has been hotly debated in recent years, with an energetic anti-ESG movement taking hold in conservative circles. The politicization of ESG made it a major issue in the 2024 presidential race, and as a candidate, President Trump promised to dismantle its regulatory framework if elected. Now in the early days of his administration, he has begun to act on those promises, laying the groundwork for his administration’s regulatory agenda and signaling his priorities for the next four years.

Navigating the TikTok Ban Debate: Recent Regulatory Developments and the Path Forward

February 5, 2025National Security, Privacy & Security

In recent years, TikTok has become a dominant force in the social media landscape, boasting over a billion users globally. However, its meteoric rise has been accompanied by mounting scrutiny, particularly in the United States. Concerns over national security, data privacy, and foreign influence have led to calls for restrictions, bans, and legislative action. As these debates unfold, it is essential to examine the legal, regulatory, and practical dimensions of the TikTok controversy and consider the path forward.

data privacyforeign relationsTikTok

The FTC’s Noncompete Ban; Will It Survive the Trump Administration?

November 22, 2024FTC, Noncompetes

On April 23rd, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a rule banning the use of noncompetes. The rule faced significant opposition and was blocked by a Texas federal court. The FTC under its current chair, Lina Khan, is fighting the ruling. However, President-Elect Donald Trump will likely effectively put an end to the FTC’s noncompete ban because of his own use of restrictive non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that act as noncompetes and the stances of some of his megadonors.

FTCnoncompetesTrump

The Future of Clean Water Act Regulations Under the Future Trump Administration

November 22, 2024EPA

A second Trump administration is sure to challenge a variety of clean water and drinking water regulations, as evidenced by various policies proposed by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. President-elect Donald Trump has distanced himself politically from the project but it remains relevant as he continues to surround himself with many of its authors. Many water lawyers and environmental advocates thus expect a second Trump administration to continue the federal water deregulation efforts seen in his first administration. Specifically, President-elect Trump will likely challenge and potentially repeal both the Biden Administration’s “waters of the US” (WOTUS) rule and its Section 401 state certification rule. These moves are likely to be compounded by other ecological regulation rollbacks and further exacerbate an already worsening climate crisis in the United States.

1972 Clean Water Actenvironmentenvironmental regulationEPAwaterwater pollution

Major Regulatory Rollbacks Expected from Trump’s New SEC

November 21, 2024Regulation, SEC

With the return of the Trump Administration looming large, rumors of possible regulatory appointments are already swirling. One federal agency that will undoubtedly see major changes with the transition of power is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the authority responsible for regulating the securities market and protecting investors. With the shift in presidential administration coupled with significant GOP gains in the House and Senate, analysts have begun to speculate on how agency leadership and staffing changes will impact securities policy and rulemaking, and what the rest of the country can expect from the markets over the next four years.

complianceCongressCryptocurrencyenforcementfederal agenciesPresident BidenRegulationregulatory agencyrulemakingSECsecuritiesTrump Administration

Breaking Down Voter Suppression: Understanding Restrictive Voting Laws and the Path Forward

November 20, 2024Elections

In a democracy, the right to vote is one of the most fundamental ways citizens can make their voices heard. However, in recent years, access to the ballot box has become increasingly restricted in various states where legislative actions have introduced stricter voting requirements. As these restrictive laws target specific groups, the effects are widespread and deeply felt, raising critical questions about the future of voting rights in the U.S. To understand this complex issue, it’s crucial to explore the nature of voter suppression, the state and federal regulations shaping voting access, and the potential solutions to ensure fair and equal voting opportunities for all.

Election LawvotersVoting Rights

Heartland for Sale: The Risks of Foreign Investments in American Agriculture

November 15, 2024Uncategorized

Recently, there has been an increased concern regarding foreign ownership of agricultural land in rural America. This growing concern among lawmakers has led to the introduction of several bipartisan bills this year that restrict foreign investments in United States agricultural land. In part, these bills have been introduced as a response to a study published earlier this year by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), which identified potential national security risks in foreign investments in United States Agriculture. Currently, the only federal law regulating foreign investments in agricultural land is the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). AFIDA established a nationwide system to collect and record data regarding foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. The law requires foreign investors in U.S. agricultural land to report holdings and transactions to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Furthermore, twenty-four states already have legislation in place restricting foreign individuals, entities, or both from owning land, with four states refining their laws to improve enforcement this year. Although the issue of foreign investment is complex, it is necessary that the USDA and other agencies adequately protect against the national security risks posed by foreign investment while also recognizing that not all foreign ownership in U.S. agricultural land is a threat to national security.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Private Prisons

November 14, 2024health

It is no secret that a person trying to meet their needs while incarcerated faces a daunting endeavor. However, these challenges are further complicated for someone living with a disability while held in a private prison. State and local facilities are no strangers to allegations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as evidenced by a recent class action against the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) and Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). An Illinois disability protection and advocacy agency called Equip for Equality brought an action alleging that the IDJJ and IDOC “failed to take meaningful steps to address the lack of special education services and high school education despite being legally obligated to follow state and federal laws.” While such litigation offers a narrow means of disability justice, this path is further narrowed when filing an ADA action against a private correctional facility. Private prisons, particularly with respect to ADA compliance, should be held to the same standards and means of accountability as public facilities.

ADAPrisons

From Lab to Table: The Future of Regulating Lab-Grown Meat

November 14, 2024Environmental, FDA, Food and Drug Law

Human organs grown in labs, lab-grown diamonds, lab-grown plants, and now lab-grown meat. Companies like Upside Foods and GOOD Meat are growing meat from animal cells. Companies have developed a cell line to produce high-quality meat, grow and feed the cells with a “blend of nutrients,” and in two to three weeks, meat is ready to be cultivated and molded into the shape of meat, like a chicken filet. Now, lab-grown meat is commercialized and has been approved by the Agriculture Department for production and sale. Although it could be a few years until lab-produced meat is in grocery stores, regulations need to be approved and put into place just like slaughterhouse meat.

agricultureemissionsFDAlab-grown meatsustainability