BenefitsWire

“For many pension plans, AI is no longer experimental technology, it is becoming critical infrastructure. That matters because AI changes the cybersecurity landscape in two ways at once: it expands the attack surface while also making attackers more capable. For trustees and plan sponsors, this creates direct implications for fiduciary duty, regulatory compliance, and member trust. Treating AI as a side issue risks discovering, during a breach or operational failure, that a mission-critical process was never properly governed.” MORE >>

Source: NCPERS

“The WHD began with the settled rule that an ordinary home-to-work commute is a “normal incident of employment” that primarily benefits the employee and has never been treated as work. Critically, the WHD explained ordinary commuting was understood not to be “work” even before the Portal-to-Portal Act existed, so its exclusion does not depend on that statute. From that premise, the WHD drew its key conclusion: an otherwise-ordinary commute does not become compensable simply because it happens in the middle of the workday. The ordinary commute is thus a third category of noncompensable time that can occur during the continuous workday, alongside meal breaks and off-duty periods. Applying this ” MORE >>

Source: Ogletree Deakins

“First, the provision is available only through eligible defined contribution plans, including qualified plans under Code section 401(a), section 403(b) plans, and governmental section 457(b) plans. Notably, nongovernmental section 457(b) plans are not eligible to offer qualified long-term care distributions. Qualified long-term care distributions are also available only for premiums paid for "certified long-term care insurance" that covers the participant or the participant's spouse. Qualifying coverage includes: The coverage must provide “meaningful financial assistance” in the event the insured needs home-based or nursing home care. Coverage will not be deemed meaningful unless it is adjus” MORE >>

Source: Bricker Graydon

“PBGC says the current recoupment methodology is “unclear and unpredictable” and difficult for participants to understand. The proposal would: The proposal would also incorporate into the regulations PBGC’s current policy regarding use of administrative correction for certain payment errors, as well as clarifying when the agency pursues recovery instead of seeking recoupment. These changes would apply to recoupment, recovery, and administrative corrections PBGC initiates on or after the final rule’s effective date.” MORE >>

Source: Mercer

The FDA issued final guidance for cancer clinical trials, recommending appropriate laboratory values as eligibility criteria to avoid unjustified exclusions of participants. This aims to broaden access to investigational cancer drugs. MORE >>

Source: Federal Register

“The EEOC has now taken the next step: on July 21, 2026, it issued a proposed rule that would rescind regulations requiring EEO-1 and other workforce demographic reports. For private employers, the key takeaway is that this remains only a proposal. Current EEO-1 obligations are still in place unless and until a final rule says otherwise. Employers should therefore continue current compliance efforts and avoid making immediate changes to demographic data collection or recordkeeping practices based solely on this development.” MORE >>

Source: Foley & Lardner

“The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has continued to enforce the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in 2026, while also seeking to dismiss certain high-profile FCPA prosecutions that began before the second Trump administration.” MORE >>

Source: Arnold & Porter

“Under the HSR Act, mergers and other transactions above certain financial thresholds must be reported to the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) before closing. If either agency identifies potential competition concerns, it may issue a “second request” — a formal demand for additional documents and information — that typically adds months to deal timelines and imposes significant compliance costs. Prior to the Biden administration, the DOJ and the FTC routinely executed targeted second request investigations, entering into timing agreements with merging parties that prioritized the submission of information most relevant to the agencies’ competitive concerns. After reviewing this prio” MORE >>

Source: Faegre Drinker

“The Treasury Department released its Agency Rule List, which contains several important retirement, health, and executive compensation initiatives for this year......” MORE >>

Source: Littler

The IRS is seeking public comment on information collection requests related to the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. MORE >>

Source: Federal Register

“This IRS Notice provides updated static mortality tables for defined benefit pension plans for 2027 valuation, which are used to determine funding requirements and lump sum payments.” MORE >>

Source: irs.gov