Under California’s Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law (the FIPVCC), venture capital funds with a nexus to California (Covered Entities) will be required to register with the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (the DFPI) starting in March 2026 and report demographic information about their portfolio companies to the DFPI starting in April 2026. The purpose of the FIPVCC is to increase transparency regarding the demographics of the founding teams of the portfolio companies in which Covered Entities invest.

On February 12, 2026, the Eastern District of Texas overturned the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) new Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act notification form that has been in effect for the last year.

Seven states have passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws related to single-use packaging and plastic food serviceware, with other states considering similar legislation. The intent of these laws is to hold the producers of covered materials financially responsible for their ultimate disposal. Certain states are also requiring the reduction of plastic or non-recyclable plastic used in these materials over time. Legislation is in various stages of implementation, and Oregon is the first state to issue fees to producers. In connection with a legal challenge to Oregon’s EPR program, a court recently granted a preliminary injunction, preventing Oregon from enforcing the law against the plaintiff (an industry group) pending resolution of the case. Meanwhile, CalRecycle continues to struggle with finalizing its proposed regulations implementing California’s EPR law, this time withdrawing its proposed regulations to tinker with provisions related to food and agricultural commodities.