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Agency Rulemaking Highlights
Reducing Gun Violence
President Biden issued Executive Order 14092 directing a whole-of-government approach to reducing gun violence. The order directs agencies to expand their safe firearm storage campaigns; encourage the use of “red flag” laws; and study how the federal government can better support victims, family members, first responders, and communities affected by gun violence.
Mortgage Loan Originator Rules Review
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is requesting public comments on a review of Regulation Z's Mortgage Loan Originator Rules under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. CFPB is seeking input on the economic impact of the Rules on small entities to help determine whether it should retain, amend, or rescind the regulations. Comments due May 1.
Use of Federal Real Property To Assist the Homeless
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services proposed to update their existing regulation that allows states, local governments, and nonprofits to use underutilized or excess federal properties to assist the homeless. This proposed rule would incorporate statutory changes, updated references and terminology, and revised procedures to improve program administration. Comments due May 19.
Informal Evaluations for Immigrant Visas
The Department of State proposed an amendment of its regulation governing immigrant visas by no longer allowing a consular officer to conduct an informal evaluation of an applicant's family members to identify potential grounds of ineligibility. The proposal would remove a section initially promulgated in 1952, which the department believes is no longer adequate based on current eligibility requirements. Comments due May 16.
Language Proficiency Requirements for Fellowship Programs
The Department of Education proposed a rule to amend language proficiency qualifications for applicants to the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program and the Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program. Comments due April 20.
Asylum Interview Interpreter Requirements
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the effective date by 180 days of a temporary final rule modifying regulatory requirements related to affirmative asylum adjudications during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the fourth time DHS is extending the temporary final rule, which was initially published September 23, 2020 and is now effective through September 12, 2023. Effective March 16.
Copyright for Generative Artificial Intelligence
The Copyright Office issued a statement of policy to clarify its practices for examining and registering works that contain material produced by generative AI. Based on the human authorship requirement, the policy statement indicates that works with AI-generated material should contain sufficient human authorship to support a copyright claim. Effective March 16.
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