Several updates to Arkansas employment laws took effect in 2024, including by virtue of new case law, changes to the unemployment insurance statute, increase in the minimum wages, and workforce development initiatives.

This alert discusses the major developments in Kansas labor and employment law from the previous year, including tax credits for individuals with disabilities, earned wage access legislation, employers’ filing requirements related to unemployment, and recent U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas holdings.

The status of federal agency proceedings using Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) was cast into further doubt on February 20, 2025, when the Department of Justice (DOJ) informed the Senate Judiciary Committee that the DOJ will no longer defend the constitutionality of “for cause” removal provisions for those judges.

On February 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (February 18 EO) that fundamentally changes the scope of Executive Branch oversight of “independent regulatory agencies” and commissions that regulate securities, labor, financial services, transportation, energy, and consumer protection.

On February 17, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Smith, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, et al. granted the government’s motion to stay the court’s previous order that had temporarily halted enforcement of the CTA.  As a result, the CTA’s reporting requirements are back in effect.

Another year of active legislation and agency rulemaking has resulted in new and continuing developments that make Colorado a challenging jurisdiction for employers. Here, we detail the most significant developments.

Oregon saw a number of new employment laws enacted and updated in 2024 that employers should be aware of.

On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued two new proclamations expanding and increasing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. These changes are in response to a report from the First Trump Administration that found steel and aluminum import levels and global excess were weakening the U.S. domestic economy and threatening to impair U.S. national security.

The White House recently issued an Executive Order (the “Order”) focused on digital financial technology. The Order aims to solidify the United States' leadership in this rapidly evolving sector, and the policies that may ultimately develop because of the Order could fundamentally reshape the future of how individuals and entities interact with their money.

The California Legislature was busy on the labor and employment front. in 2024. Set forth below is a quick overview of what California employers need to know for 2025.