#legal
Legal considerations for business finance and accounting compliance
On February 27, 2026, the Delaware Supreme Court's Rutledge v. Clearway ruling upheld the 2025 SB 21 amendments to DGCL Section 144, confirming a safe harbor for related-party deals — including founder bridge loans and insider SAFE participation — approved by disinterested directors or a majority-of-the-minority vote. Here's what founders must document to qualify.
DHS's final rule effective September 15, 2026 replaces open-ended "duration of status" with a fixed I-94 Admit Until Date for F-1, J-1, and I nonimmigrants — up to 4 years plus a shortened 30-day grace period. Small employers with OPT, STEM OPT, or J-1 workers must now calendar expiration dates, file Form I-539 extensions before the deadline, and budget for recurring compliance costs.
EBSA's Field Assistance Bulletin 2026-01 prioritizes duty-of-loyalty and prohibited-transaction cases over process-based prudence claims, and caps routine ERISA investigations at 18 months (30 for complex ones). Here's what small-business 401(k) sponsors should document to stay protected.
In May 2026, the DOL's Wage and Hour Division ruled in Opinion Letter FLSA2026-7 that time employees voluntarily spend passing through a security checkpoint to leave the premises during a 30-minute unpaid meal break is not compensable under the FLSA. Here's what the ruling covers, what it doesn't change under state law, and five compliance steps for employers with secured facilities.
On June 4, 2026, the EEOC adopted a National Enforcement Plan for FY2025–2029 that shelves disparate-impact claims, targets DEI programs with quotas or identity-based preferences, and keeps retaliation a standalone priority. Here's what shifted, why enforcement priorities change small-employer risk even without new law, and five documentation and policy steps to take now.
FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule exempted domestic U.S. companies from Corporate Transparency Act beneficial ownership reporting, removing the obligation for more than 99% of previously covered entities while foreign reporting companies must still file.
DOL opinion letter FLSA2026-4 (January 2026) confirms the Section 7(i) overtime exemption for commissioned retail and service employees is measured against the federal minimum wage — a regular rate above $10.875/hour — not higher state rates, and clarifies that service charges count as commissions while tips generally don't.
The FTC's 2026 Clayton Act Section 8 thresholds are $54,402,000 in capital, surplus, and undivided profits and $5,440,200 in competitive sales. With regulators now counting board observers, investment funds, and LLCs, here is a practical checklist for VC- and PE-backed boards to spot illegal interlocking directorates.
In July 2026 the FTC mailed $2.7 million in refund checks to 62,893 Handy Technologies gig workers after finding that over 90% of them earned $20+ less than the advertised "up to $45/hour" rate. Here is what the settlement requires, why "up to" earnings claims are now an FTC enforcement priority, and how to reconcile advertised pay against actual payout data in your own books.
Idaho's HB 583, effective July 1, 2026, bans cities from requiring STR licenses, owner-occupancy, night caps, or mandatory property managers — but hosts must still register with the State Tax Commission and remit lodging taxes on stays of 30 days or fewer.
Illinois' attorney general settled with staffing app GigSmart for roughly $95,000 after finding 479 workers misclassified as independent contractors — denied overtime, minimum wage, and Illinois' four-hour minimum shift pay. Here's the ABC test regulators apply, why client businesses can share joint-employer liability, and the labor-cost records that protect you.
Minnesota's HB 4188 redefines 'arranging' small-dollar and short-term consumer loans to include marketing, lead generation, underwriting, and collections. Starting August 1, 2026, lead generators, affiliates, and referral partners handling loans of $1,300 or less may need a Regulated Loan license — Connecticut has already fined an unlicensed mortgage lead generator $50,000 under a similar regime.
