New IRS Program to Offer Automatic Penalty Relief

Consider writing about:

The Internal Revenue Service’s recent announcement of its new Automatic Exemption from Penalty Program; when this program goes into effect; who qualifies for relief under this program; whom the program most benefits, or types of penalties or examples of situations to which it will mainly apply; how the new AEP program compares to prior IRS penalty relief options; alternatives to the AEP program; any cautionary notes that may pertain to use of the AEP program.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-simplifies-penalty-relief-introduces-automatic-process-for-eligible-taxpayers

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/automatic-exemption-from-penalty-what-taxpayers-should-know

IRS Announces Gift Tax Safe Harbor for Trump Account Contributions

Consider writing about:

Information released by the Internal Revenue Service late last month regarding a gift tax safe harbor involving the retirement accounts known as “Trump accounts;” what this safe harbor means for potential tax reporting obligations; personal criteria and other conditions that must be met in order for the safe harbor to apply; additional tax issues to consider when deciding whether to become involved with Trump accounts.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-provide-safe-harbor-for-certain-contributions-to-trump-accounts-under-the-working-families-tax-cuts

Appellate Court Rebuffs Professor in Tax Dispute Over Remote Work

Consider writing about:

A July ruling in a tax dispute stemming from work done remotely from home during pandemic-related lockdowns; what to know about New York’s convenience of the employer rule; what this ruling demonstrates regarding the intricacies of state tax laws and personal obligations, especially as they pertain to remote or hybrid work arrangements that cross state lines.

Related information:

https://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/current/3dseries/2026/2026_04251.shtml

When Religion and Science Collide: Faith-Based Objections to AI in the Workplace

Consider writing about:

The emergence of faith-based objections to artificial intelligence in the workplace; what employers should know about the possibility of employee requests for religious accommodation or exemptions involving AI-related work duties; potential basis, or precedent, for these types of requests; practical guidance on how employers can possibly get ahead of this issue; reminders regarding best practices for employers fielding any type of religious accommodation requests.

Related information:

https://www.businessinsider.com/worker-got-religious-exemption-using-ai-at-work-2026-6?

House Bill Addresses Menopause Issues in the Workplace

Consider writing about:

The introduction of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week to expand workplace protections for workers experiencing menopause; rationale for this measure; what this legislation specifically aims to accomplish; prospects for the bill’s passage; how state legislatures or courts are treating the issue of menopause, worker rights, and accommodation requests.

Related information:

https://debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7106

ADA-Related Trends and Best Practices

Consider writing about:

Your choice of issues involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, as we approach the 36th anniversary of the landmark legislation’s signing into law. Possible angles to write about include, but are not limited to, current hot spots in ADA litigation; common employer pitfalls or employee misconceptions involving the ADA; how ADA awareness, compliance, or enforcement have evolved over the years; emerging or possible future legal battlegrounds involving the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to Pay Nearly $30M Over Price-Fixing Allegations

Consider writing about:

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’ agreement to pay $29.6 million to resolve allegations that the company harmed consumers by manipulating the prices of generic medicines and reducing competition; what to know about states’ scrutiny of suspected price-fixing in the pharmaceutical sector; what enforcement trends regarding generic drug pricing illustrate regarding state AGs’ powers and priorities; and perhaps a broader look at trends this year involving price-fixing allegations against drug manufacturers.

Mishap at NYC Office-to-Apartment Conversion Puts Spotlight on Other Conversion Projects

Consider writing about:

The status of one of the United States’ largest office-to-apartment conversion projects, following the recent discovery of buckling steel columns and the evacuation of part of midtown Manhattan; how authorities are responding to the structural failure; what an investigation of this mishap is likely to entail; potential charges that could result from an investigation; what the Manhattan incident may illustrate regarding challenges involved in office-to-apartment conversions; potential for more rigorous standards or processes for other conversion projects; how participants in these types of conversions can best minimize risk; related trends (whether regionally or nationally) involving office space conversions.

Related information:

https://apnews.com/article/nyc-building-collapse-risk-pfizer-42nd-office-a2e18c24e554bcddc4989ce1c28d67d9

https://gothamist.com/news/after-fears-of-collapse-in-midtown-developer-eyes-next-office-conversion-project

What a Proposed USDA Rule Could Mean for Foreign Landholders

Consider writing about:

A proposed rule published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 25; how the rule would affect activities pertaining to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act; what to know about AFIDA’s history; evolving compliance obligations or other proposed changes that foreign landholders should consider preparing for; potential timeline for implementation of the proposed rule; and perhaps a wider-angle look at evolving requirements for foreign owners of real estate in the United States, especially under the second Trump administration.

Related information:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/25/2026-12808/agricultural-foreign-investment-disclosure-act-of-1978

Workers, Employers Buffeted by Shifts in Temporary Protected Status Rules

Consider writing about:

New action announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on July 10 regarding Temporary Protected Status; which foreign nationals are affected by the extension described in the July 10 guidance; status of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policy regarding Temporary Protected Status; compliance reminders and risk management advice for employers on employment eligibility, terminations, hiring, rehiring, and more; additional guidance on how employers can best cope with federal immigration authorities’ shifting position on Temporary Protected Status.

Related information:

https://www.uscis.gov/save/current-user-agencies/news-alerts/update-on-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-release-july-10-2026

https://www.newsweek.com/us-companies-to-lose-thousands-of-migrant-workers-within-weeks-12184479

DHS Mulls Overhaul of EB-5 Investor Program

Consider writing about:

The Trump administration’s recently released proposal to overhaul the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program; stated objective for the proposal; potential timeline for implementation; what the changes could mean for eligibility, financing, documentation, compliance, authority, and other key points of the EB-5 program; whether previously approved projects or granting of resident status would be in jeopardy if these changes go through.

Related informastion:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/02/2026-13392/eb-5-reform-and-integrity-act-of-2022-ensuring-the-integrity-of-the-eb-5-program-automatic

What to Know About Denaturalization Process, Trends

Consider writing about:

The denaturalization process in the United States; individuals to whom the process may apply; potential grounds for launching a denaturalization process; how the process is conducted; what a denaturalization means for an individual’s legal status, rights, and protections; how common denaturalizations are, currently or historically, in the United States; challenges or risks for individuals who wish to contest a denaturalization.

Related information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denaturalization-citizenship-us-justice-department