Legislative updates

Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee has introduced H.R. 2799, the Expanding Access to Capital Act.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and National Emergency, numerous requirements were introduced for group health plans, which were generally aimed at ensuring individuals did not forgo testing or treatment for COVID-19 because they could not afford to pay for such services.

The SECURE 2.0 Act modifies one small-employer credit and creates another. These credits may make establishing and contributing to a plan much more attractive.

As expected, President Biden has vetoed H.J. 30, a resolution for congressional disapproval of the Department of Labor’s rule “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed additional requirements for broker-dealers, investment companies, registered investment advisers and transfer agents (“covered institutions”) aimed at further protecting the privacy of consumer financial information.

Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) has reintroduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act in the House.

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) has issued a final rule updating interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates in the second quarter of 2023.

Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La), has introduced the Telehealth HSA Act. The Act would make permanent the ability of high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to waive the deductible for telehealth services without causing plan participants to lose the ability to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).

The United States Senate on Thursday confirmed Danny Werfel, in a 54-42 vote, as the next commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Werfel, who was nominated in November 2022 as his predecessor Charles Rettig’s term ended, will serve through November 2027.

President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget includes proposed retirement account restrictions for certain taxpayers — similar to those included in the Build Back Better Act passed by the House in 2021 — but left by the wayside enroute to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.