Is Your company Eligible for the Employee Retention Credit?
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a refundable tax credit designed to assist businesses in maintaining staff levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is still available, and some small businesses may still be able to take advantage of it. The ERC was initiated by the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed […]
New Jersey Neonic Ban Coming in 2023
On January 18, 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed S.1016, a bill that restricts the outdoor use of neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides in the state. The bill’s passage followed a 54-21 vote in the Assembly and a 33-6 vote in the Senate. Supporters of the legislation argue that the bill’s passage will protect pollinator […]
Change Looming for Who Qualifies as an Employee vs. Independent Contractor
On October 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a new regulation (Independent Contractor [IC] Proposal) outlining how the agency, courts and employers should determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Simultaneously, the IC Proposal rescinds the Trump-era 2021 regulation (Final Rule) that […]
Congressional Hearing Provides Insight into Wildfire Prevention and Risk Reduction
On September 22, 2022, the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing, “State of Emergency: Examining the Impact of Growing Wildfire Risk on the Insurance Market,” providing a glimpse into ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk, with a focus on California. The discussion included evaluations of today’s environment and how insurance markets identify, mitigate […]
Tree-Centric Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed H.R. 5376, the budget-reconciliation legislation commonly referred to as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The IRA, which is a slimmed-down version of Biden’s original Build Back Better economic and climate-change package, will spend $740 billion on climate, tax and healthcare policies. The IRA was passed on […]