Finance and Equity
December 4, 2025
California Employment Laws Effective Jan. 1, 2026
California enacted new or amended existing state labor and employment laws throughout 2025. This Legal Update provides an overview of these new or amended laws, almost all of which take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Specific labor and employment updates include the following topics: Pay Transparency (SB 642) California amended its pay transparency law to...
November 19, 2025
End of Enhanced ACA Subsidies: Potential Impact on Employers
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a federally financed subsidy, called the premium tax credit (PTC), to help eligible individuals and families with low or moderate incomes afford health insurance purchased through an Exchange. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress temporarily enhanced the PTC by eliminating the income cap for eligibility and increasing the amount of...
October 21, 2025
California Amends Pay Data Reporting Requirements
On Oct. 13, 2025, California amended the California Fair Employment and Housing Act’s (FEHA) pay data reporting requirements to modify storage requirements and impose mandatory penalties, effective Jan. 1, 2026, and to increase the number of job categories, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Background Private employers with 100 or more employees (at least one of whom...
October 16, 2025
Small Business Health Plans Could See 11% Increase in 2026
Every year, health insurance companies inform state officials of their expected cost changes and propose new prices for plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act regulations. A report from KFF, an independent source for health policy research, focuses specifically on plans for small businesses, typically those with 50 or fewer employees. These plans can...
October 14, 2025
Understanding General Partner Liability Insurance
General partners (GPs) in private capital firms face a distinct set of legal and financial risks. Whether managing a venture capital fund, real estate portfolio or private equity investment, they operate in high-stakes environments where decisions are subject to intense scrutiny. In many cases, liability is not limited to the firm itself; GPs may be...
August 14, 2025
California’s Minimum Wage Rate to Increase on Jan. 1, 2026
On Aug. 1, 2025, the California Department of Finance (the Department) announced that the state hourly minimum wage will increase to $16.90 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026. The new rate will apply to all employers, regardless of how many individuals they employ. California’s Minimum Wage Rate California’s minimum wage rate is adjusted annually to...
April 17, 2025
One-quarter of Federal Spending in FY 2024 Was on Health Care
A KFF analysis found that $1 of every $4 in the federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) was used to pay for health programs and services. The government spent $1.9 trillion (27%) on health care programs and services, while other large spending categories included Social Security (21%), national defense (13%) and interest payments...
February 20, 2025
Employers Must File ACA Returns Electronically by March 31, 2025
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Under these rules, certain employers must provide information to the IRS about the health plan coverage they offer (or do not offer) to their employees. Under the original rules, any reporting entity that was required to file at...
January 21, 2025
Inflation Rose in December 2024 As Expected
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.9% year over year in December 2024, up from 2.7% in November. This figure matched economist expectations and was likely impacted by seasonal factors, including gas, food and vehicle prices. The “core” CPI, which strips out the unpredictable food and energy...