Insurance News
Regulatory updates in plain English
Stay current with the latest from CMS, state departments of insurance, NAIC, the Federal Register, and Congress — rewritten so you can actually understand what it means for your practice.
Removal of Automatic Extensions for Certain Employment Authorization Documents
Starting on October 30, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will no longer automatically extend the validity of employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain workers who apply to renew them on time. This change affects individuals in specific employment categories who rely on the...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Fee Rule
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed the fees for the Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5). This update includes new rules from the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and responds to feedback from the public about the proposed fee changes. Insuranc...
Federal-State Unemployment Compensation (UC) Program; Data Availability
The Department of Labor has announced a new rule that requires state unemployment agencies to share confidential information with federal officials. This change is aimed at improving oversight and audits of unemployment compensation programs, helping to prevent and address fraud. Insurance agents sh...
Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Program: Notice of Federal Agency With Adequate Safeguards To Satisfy the Confidentiality Requirement of 20 CFR 603.9(d)
The Department of Labor has announced that Login.gov, a service from the General Services Administration, has sufficient security measures to protect unemployment compensation information. This means that state unemployment agencies can share confidential information with Login.gov without needing t...
Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service Staffing
The U.S. Department of Labor has changed the rules for how states can staff their Wagner-Peyser Employment Service programs. States no longer have to use state merit staff and can choose a staffing model that is more efficient and cost-effective for their needs. Insurance agents should be aware of t...
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Disaster Unemployment Assistance Activities Report
The Department of Labor is asking for feedback on a plan to continue collecting information about Disaster Unemployment Assistance. This is part of their effort to make reporting easier and reduce the amount of paperwork required. Insurance agents should consider providing their comments on this pro...
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; State and Local Government Finance Collections, and Public Employment & Payroll Collections
The Department of Commerce is asking for public feedback on changes to how state and local governments collect financial and payroll information. This is part of a process to ensure that the information collection is necessary and not overly burdensome for the public. Agents should encourage their c...
Submission for Review: Renewal of an Existing Information Collection, Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is planning to renew the approval for a form called Optional Form 306, which is used for federal employment declarations. This renewal will not involve any changes to the form. This announcement affects federal agencies and the public who use this form. Agent...
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist Report for State Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization Projects
The Department of Labor is asking for public feedback on a new information collection related to state unemployment insurance technology projects. This is part of a review process to ensure that the collection of information is necessary and not overly burdensome. Insurance agents should consider pr...
Clarification of Discretionary Employment Authorization for Certain Aliens
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is changing the rules for certain non-citizens who want to work in the U.S. This affects individuals who are in the country temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons, have been granted deferred action, or are under supervision after a removal order. DHS wi...
Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Existing Information Collection: Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is planning to renew a form called Optional Form 306, which is used for declaring federal employment. This renewal will not change any of the information currently collected. This announcement affects federal agencies and the general public who may need to fi...
Program Year (PY) 2026 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Allotments; PY 2026 Title III Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service (ES) Allotments and PY 2026 Workforce Information Grants
The announcement details funding amounts for various workforce programs for the year 2026. This includes money for youth, adult, and dislocated worker programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), as well as funds for employment services and workforce information grants. Insura...
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for State Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization Projects
The Department of Labor is asking for feedback on a plan to continue collecting information related to the Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for State Unemployment Insurance Technology Projects. This effort aims to make the process easier and reduce paperwork for everyone involved. Insurance age...
Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States
The Department of Labor (DOL) is proposing changes to how wages are calculated for foreign workers in the U.S. This affects employers who hire foreign nationals on temporary or permanent work visas, such as EB-2, EB-3, H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3. The DOL wants to ensure that the wages paid to these workers...
Revised Schedule of Remuneration for the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Program That Reflects the Military Pay Increase Effective
The Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) program has updated its payment schedule to reflect a military pay increase. This change affects individuals filing their first unemployment claims starting January 1, 2026. States will use the new schedule to determine the federal military w...