Legal
Nearly Half a Million Construction Workers Hired in June
After an accelerated pace of layoffs in March and April stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, construction sector hiring roared back in May and posted a slower but solid pace in June, according to the latest data from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Several States Pass Laws Regarding COVID-19 Liability Immunity
Ten states have passed legislation, or have had their governor sign executive orders, granting businesses immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 related lawsuits.
HBA Wins Injunction on Impact Fees with Help from NAHB Legal Action Fund
Before the ink could dry on their Legal Action Fund Grant approval, the HBA of West Florida claimed a victory in Florida State Court, winning an injunction to temporarily stop a county from collecting educational impact fees imposed on new home building.
IRS Instructs Employers on Reporting COVID Medical & Sick Leave Wages
The Internal Revenue Service has released Notice 2020-54, which requires employers to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act.
NAHB and Michigan Builders File Suit to Expand PPP Eligibility
With so many builders unfairly unable to obtain a forgivable loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), NAHB, along with the HBA of Michigan and HBA of Southeastern Michigan, today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Small Business Administration, challenging their decision to apply onerous regulations onto PPP that prevent certain builders and developers from accessing this much-needed source of funding and having those loans forgiven.
Supreme Court Opinion Allows CFPB to Keep Operating; President Can Remove the Director
In a ruling that will avoid disruptions to the nation’s mortgage and lending markets, the Supreme Court ruled today that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can continue operating but the president has the authority to remove the director “at will.”
OSHA Issues Guidance on Returning to Offices After Shutdowns
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) late last week issued guidance to assist employers reopening business offices and their employees returning to work during the evolving coronavirus pandemic.
Trump Signs Proclamation Suspending Certain Work Visas Through End of Year
Citing job losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump has issued a proclamation extending his existing ban on immigrant visas and further suspending work visas through the end of the year, including H-2B visas used by employers in the construction industry.
Supreme Court Affirms DACA; Decision Upholds an NAHB-Supported Legal Precedent
The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the federal government’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is subject to judicial review. This means that roughly 700,000 “Dreamers” (undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children and who grew up knowing America as their only home) can continue to reside and work legally in the United States.
Court Sides with OSHA, NAHB and Others on Emergency Infectious Disease Standard
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday rejected a petition by labor unions led by the AFL-CIO to compel OSHA to issue an “emergency temporary standard” to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
