- Posts by Kathryn A. English
Member of the FirmKate English leverages more than 25 years of experience as an employee benefits attorney to guide global public companies and privately held companies of all sizes through Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), tax, and ...
On March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) proposed a new rule offering a safe harbor for fiduciaries under ERISA in connection with selecting designated investment alternatives for participant-directed defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans (the “Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule implements Section 3(c) of President Trump’s Executive Order 143300, Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors (such executive order, “EO 14330” was discussed in detail in a prior Epstein Becker Green Blog linked here).
On June 18, 2025, in the case of United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, concluding that the law (titled Prohibition on Medical Procedures Performed on Minors Related to Sexual Identity, Senate Bill 1 (SB1)) does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In a 6-3 opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court affirmed the decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that under the rational basis review, SB1 does not discriminate on the basis of sex for purposes of equal protection. Employers should be aware of certain considerations following this decision.
Recent Updates
- New Jersey’s Employer Response Portal: What You Need to Know
- Final Rules Dismantle Civil Rights Protections for Minorities, Women, Individuals with Disabilities, and Veterans
- U.S. Court of Appeals Decision Highlights Retaliation Risks During Employee Separations
- Fast Facts About the DOL Proposed Rule for Electronic Disclosures for ERISA Group Health Plans
- San Francisco Amends its Fair Chance Ordinance