On April 17, 2024, the Assistant Administrator for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) issued a new Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Policy (the Policy). The Policy requires enhanced civil and criminal enforcement coordination, both on a case-by-case basis and through regular institutional measures. EPA is now requiring civil and criminal coordination during the entire lifespan of a case. The Policy became effective immediately.

On October 7, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 261, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, and SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, into law. These first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosure and climate-related financial risk reporting laws apply to large companies “doing business” in California.

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) into law. One provision of MoCRA charges the FDA to conduct research into the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—better known as PFAS—in the cosmetic industry, and to publish a report containing its findings by December 29, 2025.