AI the Controversy: Innovation & Transformation vs. Threat to the Future
Meeka Bondy participated on the panel, "AI Controversy: Innovation & Transformation vs. Threat to the Future," during CES.
California’s Minimum Wage Increases on January 1, 2025
On January 1, 2025, California’s state minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour for all employers. As previously described, California voters rejected Proposition 32, a stair-step-increased minimum wage initiative.The $16.50 minimum wage rate applies to all employees, subject to a few limited exceptions. With this increase, exempt em...
The Internal Revenue Service Issues 2025 Optional Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the optional standard mileage rate per mile for business use is increasing to 70 cents on January 1, 2025. This is up from 67 cents in 2024, as described here. The mileage rates set by the IRS for vehicles used for other purposes will remain the same. Companies with questions about reimbursemen...
Amendment of Specific Plan to Include Ban on New Vineyards Did Not Destabilize Project Description Under CEQA
A change from heavy regulation of vineyards to a complete ban on new vineyards did not so destabilize the original project description as to amount to a prejudicial abuse of discretion and require a new EIR. Gooden v. County of Los Angeles, 106 Cal.App.5th 1 (2024). The land uses in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County are regulate...
Belatedly Filed Amendment to Petition Challenging a Specific Plan Did Not Relate Back to Premature Challenge Filed Before Specific Plan Was Enacted
Petitioner’s challenge to a Specific Plan, which was filed before that plan was adopted, was barred as premature, and its belated attempt to amend its petition after the Specific Plan had been adopted was barred by the statute of limitations. Fix the City, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles, 100 Cal. App. 5th 363 (2024).The City of Los Angeles approv...
Colorado Announces Minimum Wage Increases for 2025
Starting in 2025, Colorado’s state minimum wage, which is adjusted for inflation, will increase from $14.42 to $14.81 per hour. For tipped workers, the minimum wage will continue to be $3.02 less than the standard minimum wage. This means the minimum wage for tipped workers will be $11.79 per hour in 2025. It is important to note that some jurisdic...
FDA Publishes Final Rule on “Healthy”
On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule updating the criteria regarding when foods may be labeled with the nutrient content claim “healthy” and derivatives thereof—“health,” “healthful,” “healthfully,” “healthfulness,” “healthier,” “healthiest,” “healthily,” and “healthiness.” The compliance dat...
Department of Commerce Adopts Final Rule Restricting Tech and Telecom Supply Chain Transactions With Foreign Adversaries
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), issued its much anticipated Final Rule under Executive Order 13873, Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain (EO 13873), on December 5, 2024. The Final Rule formalizes the federal government’s framework for identifying, reviewi...
Corporate Transparency Act In Flux: What to Do and What Comes Next?
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against enforcement of the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) on December 3, 2024. This program will discuss the injunction and current status of the appeals. We will also provide guidance...
New Statutory Requirements for Commercial Leases: SB 1103 Updates California Laws for Landlords and Commercial Tenants
Unlike residential leases, there are relatively few statutory requirements for commercial leases. A new California Senate bill (SB 1103 or the Bill) provides commercial tenant protections by amending several sections of the California Civil Code relating to commercial tenancy. These statutory protections will apply regardless of the negotiated...