State Comments on USDA’s Interim Final Rule Governing Hemp Production
The comment period for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) has closed. Over 3,000 comments were submitted by farmers, companies, hemp industry associations, and state agriculture departments. Given their regulatory experience and the uniformity of their pushback, it seems likely that the USDA will be most receptive to the comments from the state agriculture agencies.
Information You Need on the COVID-19 Coronavirus
Stites & Harbison has assembled a Coronavirus Response Team which consists of a cross-disciplinary task force of attorneys and critical staff members to ensure our firm remains “On the Job” for you. Updated 02/04/21
IRS Finalizes Opportunity Zones Regulations
On December 19, 2019, nearly two years to the day since the enactment of the Opportunity Zones legislation (Pub. L 115-97), the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service issued 544 pages of anticipated final regulations on the Opportunity Zones program.
Denial Of Stay Relief “Forms A Discrete Procedural Unit” That Must Be Immediately Appealed
On January 14, 2020, in a 9-0 ruling, the United States Supreme Court held that a creditor’s failure to appeal a stay relief denial within 14 days of the order’s entry renders the appeal untimely under 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(2) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a).
Into the Weeds of the USDA Hemp Regulations
The long-awaited hemp industry regulations have finally (mostly) dropped. At the end of October, the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) finally issued its Interim Final Rule implementing the hemp-related provisions of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“the 2018 Farm Bill”).
Time to Consider Investments in Operating Businesses in Opportunity Zones
Opportunity Zones are depicted as transformative tools created to stimulate employment and achieve economic growth in distressed low-income communities. Like a public-private partnership, eligible taxpayers are entitled to significant tax incentives in exchange for investing unrealized capital gains in Opportunity Zones.
Slow Payment Costs General Contractors and Subcontractors Billions
A new study found slow payments to general contractors and subcontractors cost $64 billion in 2019 – a nearly $25 billion increase from 2018 with general contractors added to the report.
Pipeline Crafts Urge U.S. Supreme Court to Reverse Atlantic Coast Pipeline Decision and to Allow a More Reliable Permitting Process
On October 4, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the 4th Circuit’s rejection of the National Forest Service’s permit authorizing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) to cross the Appalachian Trail within the George Washington National Forest.