States continue to implement new premerger notification regimes and expand the scope of existing requirements, with California and Rhode Island recently adding new premerger notification requirements that dealmakers must navigate to successfully complete transactions.

On January 27, 2026, the Trump administration announced what it called “a historic expansion” of the Mexico City Policy, a longstanding U.S. rule restricting foreign aid funding related to abortion. The expansion extends the policy beyond abortion to include activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender‑affirming care. Effective February 26, 2026, the change represents the most significant revision to the policy in its 40‑year history and could substantially reshape the distribution of U.S. foreign assistance worldwide.

Part two of Cari’s Legal Exchange covers the shift from civil forfeiture to criminal prosecution, the impact of U.S. sanctions on Mexican cartels, and the expanding risk for companies in various industries.