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CFTC Launches Innovation Task Force to Shape Rules for Crypto, AI, and Prediction Markets
7 hours ago•Source: Commodity Futures Trading Commission | CFTC (.gov)
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1.83 min•13 hours ago
Texas hemp showdown: judge blocks smokable ban, leaves fees in place
A Travis County judge issued a two-week temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Texas DSHS rules that ban the sale of smokable hemp and alter THC calculations, effectively keeping smokable products on shelves for now while allowing the higher retailer and manufacturer fees to stand. The lawsuit argues the rules exceed the agency’s authority and could force hundreds of businesses to close; a hearing on longer-term relief is set for April 23 at 9 a.m.
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USPS Hikes Stamp Price, Halts Pension Contributions to Shore Up Cash
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Labor Department to widen 401(k) options by welcoming alternative investments
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration proposed a rule to broaden 401(k) investment options by creating process-based safe harbors that guide fiduciaries to objectively evaluate alternative assets—assessing factors like performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarks, and complexity—while staying within ERISA prudence. Aimed at more than 90 million Americans, the rule signals a neutral, rule-based approach to diversify retirement lineups and follows related executive orders and prior guidance shifts.
Rural towns wait on stalled FEMA grants as flood protections hang in the balance
Duryea, PA, and other rural towns face growing flood risk as climate-driven rainfall increases and levee upgrades wait for federal BRIC funds that were halted by the Trump administration; despite a court order to reinstate BRIC, funding remains uncertain, jeopardizing costly infrastructure projects and residents’ safety.
Regulatory rethink: FDA weighs adding peptides and non-food ingredients to supplements
Industry groups are pressing the FDA to broaden dietary-supplement rules beyond food-derived ingredients to include substances like peptides and probiotics, prompting a public meeting on how a 1994 framework could accommodate non-traditional ingredients while grappling with safety, oversight, and the balance between innovation and consumer protection.
Ohio Tightens Marijuana Rules, Bans Cross-State Purchases and Slashes Extract Potency
Ohio’s March 20 law tightens cannabis and hemp rules: importing or shipping recreational cannabis into Ohio is banned; public use is restricted; edibles must stay in original packaging; opened products must be kept out of the driver’s reach; sharing is limited; home growing remains with strict plant counts; violations can carry penalties and affect unemployment benefits; extract potency is capped at 70% (35% for plants); no cross-border purchases and limited delivery pending rules; edibles can’t resemble children-appealing shapes; tax revenue rules shift and the social equity fund is scrapped; last year’s recreational sales topped $836 million.
Juries deem Meta and YouTube defective—what happens next?
Two juries in New Mexico and Los Angeles found Meta liable for harming minors and YouTube liable in LA, treating the platforms as defective products and signaling a potential shift around liability shields like Section 230; if upheld on appeal, the rulings could trigger multimillion-dollar penalties and larger settlements, but the ultimate effects on platform design, regulation, and free expression remain uncertain.
Leno-Backed Smog Relief for Collector Cars Advances, But Narrow in Scope
California's SB1392, revived as Leno's Law, would grant smog exemptions for collector cars (registered as collector cars, 35+ years old, used for shows/parades, and insured as collectors) with exemptions initially up to 1981 models, expanding by 2032 to 1986; while it could let more classic cars stay on the road, experts say the impact would be limited to a small subset of enthusiasts and may not substantially ease overall emissions.
Judge halts Pentagon AI designation on Anthropic as legal battle unfolds
A federal judge granted Anthropic a preliminary injunction, pausing the Pentagon’s supply-chain risk designation and giving the AI company a window to reassure customers while it challenges the move; the DOJ plans to appeal, and a government compliance report is due by April 6.
Sacks Exits White House AI Post to Lead Presidential Tech Advisory Council
Venture capitalist David Sacks says he has “used up” his 130-day limit as President Trump’s Special Advisor on AI and Crypto and will move to co-chair a broader White House tech-advise panel, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The move follows the White House’s earlier announcements of new tech-elite appointments to the advisory council, including Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen, Jensen Huang, and Sergey Brin, with Michael Kratsios as co-chair; Sacks will focus on advising the president rather than coordinating with federal agencies.
Congress Questions USPTO on PTAB Reforms and Trump Ties
A House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing pressured USPTO Director John Squires on proposed PTAB rule changes, concerns about centralized decision-making, and President Trump’s influence (including two trademark filings for “Board of Peace”). Lawmakers urged transparency and fairness in IPR/related processes, debated how the AIA should work in practice, and pressed for reforms while Squires defended a ‘gang-tackling’ approach to validity challenges, touted AI tools to reduce backlogs, and signaled revival of PPAC alongside other policy shifts like dropping a value-based patent tax.
Meta hit with historic $375M verdict over safety claims
A New Mexico jury found Meta willfully misled users about the safety of its products and engaged in an unconscionable trade practice, ordering a $375 million penalty after evidence that decoy accounts were used to lure predators; the ruling is a landmark in state tech accountability as more Meta cases proceed, and Meta said it will appeal.