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Corporate Transparency Act to be Re-evaluated

Client Alert

Over the past several months, the federal judiciary has provided numerous rulings on the enforceability of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), which became effective January 1, 2024.  For a more detailed overview on the CTA, click here.

On February 20th, we alerted business owners that the reporting required by the CTA was reinstated, as all nationwide federal injunctions had been lifted. However, on February 27th, the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a press release providing that no enforcement actions will be taken against businesses that fail to submit reporting.

The press release provides that FinCEN will be reevaluating the CTA and will provide new guidance and clarity “as quickly as possible.”  Public comment will be solicited by FinCEN during this reevaluation.

Given FinCEN’s new position on the CTA, businesses no longer have any obligation to submit reporting.  A reevaluation of reporting obligations will also be warranted by business owners in the event FinCEN does publish a new final reporting rule, as the impetus for change was a reduction of the regulatory burden on businesses while prioritizing reporting only for those entities that pose the most significant risks.

For further guidance on the changing landscape of CTA reporting, business owners should reach out to their BMD legal advisors or contact BMD Member Blake Gerney at brgerney@bmdllc.com.


Governor Mike DeWine and The Ohio State University Introduce the SOAR Study on Ohio Mental Illness

On January 19, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and The Ohio State University announced a new research initiative, the State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (“SOAR”) study, which will investigate all factors influencing Ohio’s mental illness and addiction epidemic.

CHANGING TIDES: Summary and Effects of Burnett et. al. v. National Ass’n of Realtors, et. al.

In April 2019, a class-action Complaint was filed in federal court for the Western District Court for Missouri arguing that the traditional payment agreements employed by many across the United States amounted to conspiracy resulting in the artificial increase in brokerage commissions. Plaintiffs, a class-action group comprised of sellers, argued that they paid excessive brokerage commissions upon the sale of their home as a result of the customary payment structure where Sellers agree to pay the full commission on the sale of their property, with Seller’s agent notating the portion of commission they are willing to pay to a Buyer’s agent at closing on the MLS or other similar system.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s Latest Batch of Rules: What Providers Should Know

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy released several new rules and proposed amendments to existing rules over the past month that will significantly impact pharmacy operations. Topics range from updates to the Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs license to mobile clinics to mandatory rest breaks for pharmacists of outpatient pharmacies. A summary of the proposed changes is below, along with instructions for commenting on the rules. Your BMD healthcare attorney can help write comment letters and submit the comments on your behalf as well.

Employee or Independent Contractor? New Guidance Issued by the Department of Labor

On January 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-awaited final rule — effective March 11, 2024 — revising its prior interpretation of worker classifications under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new final rule rescinds the standard previously established in 2021, in turn, shifting the analysis of whether a worker is an employee (versus an independent contractor) of a business from a more streamlined “economic reality” test to a more complex “totality of the circumstances” standard.

Increased Medicaid Rates to Take Effect This Month for Ohio Providers

As required by House Bill 33, Ohio’s 2024-2025 operating budget bill, reimbursement rates paid by the Ohio Department of Medicaid will increase for a wide range of providers starting on January 1, 2024.