Legal
NAHB Supports Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court
NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke issued a statement of support for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the next Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Court Blocks Part of Labor Department’s Joint Employer Rule
On Sept. 8, 2020, the federal district court for the Southern District of New York held that the part of the Department of Labor’s Joint Employer Rule dealing with vertical joint employment was arbitrary and capricious.
Department of Labor Proposes New Independent Contractor Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a proposed rule clarifying the definition of employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as it relates to independent contractors.
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.
