Effective October 15, 2025, the Governor of Louisiana surprised many by issuing Executive Order No. JML 25-119 (“EO 25-119”), which establishes a moratorium directing the Department of Conservation and Energy (“Department”) to “suspend review of any new Class VI applications to construct that are submitted to it after” October 15, 2025. Relatedly, the
Jonathan Snare Confirmed to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Seyfarth Synopsis: Newly-confirmed member on Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission offers hope for eventual resolutions of pending cases.
On October 10, 2025, the Senate confirmed Jonathan L. Snare to serve as a Commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), filling one of the long-vacant seats on the three-member appellate panel for…
State and Federal PFAS Litigation – 2019 to Q3 2025
PFAS-related litigation continues to climb and to diversify as to claims and parties. See the attached graphics, updated through the third quarter of 2025. We will continue to update these graphics on a quarterly basis
The Need for Speed: Expediting Permitting for Mining and Infrastructure—Safely
Imagine you’re running late for a flight. You get into the TSA line, which snakes longer than expected. People fumble with their countless carry-ons, one person argues about the “new” twenty-year-old liquid restriction, and you worry you’ll miss your departure—yet you wouldn’t skip the safety checks. That’s what permitting often feels like: urgent projects—mines, transmission…
Unlocking Legacy Opportunities: Key Estate Tax Changes in the OBBBA
Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently reshapes the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax landscape. For high-net-worth individuals and families, these changes deliver clarity and opportunity—but only if acted on thoughtfully. For those who are under the new higher exemption amounts and who have overplanned…
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 14, 2025
Today 10/14 at Noon 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: H.R.1 (OBBA) Dairy Provisions
Dairy Policy: PA Milk Board to Over-Order Premium, Cost Replacement Hearings on December 3, 2025
On October 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Milk Board (PMB) published Bulletin No. 1661, announcing a public hearing on December 3, 2025 for all six…
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of October 13, 2025
Water Quality: Appeal Filed After Court Denies Injunction in New Freeport Water Contamination Case
On September 15, 2025, The Center for Coalfield Justice announced that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania denied a request for preliminary injunction in a class action lawsuit involving residents of New Freeport’s claims of water contamination.…
Third Time’s a Charm: Governor Newsom Signs Senator Wiener’s Landmark SB 79 Legislation Into Law
On October 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, marking a landmark moment in California’s housing reform landscape. The new law represents Senator Wiener’s third major attempt to advance statewide legislation that upzones land near public transportation, i.e., rail, subway, rapid bus. After prior efforts such as SB 827 (2018) and SB 50 (2019-2020) faced strong opposition and ultimately failed, SB 79’s passage signifies a notable breakthrough in the state’s ongoing pursuit of transit-oriented housing policy.
Rule 26 Gives, Rule 45 Gets: How Rule 45 Exposes What Rule 26 Hides With Experts
Enforcing a Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 subpoena against an expert is not for the faint of heart. Rarely invoked and often resisted, issuing a Rule 45 subpoena against an expert is tough to enforce but when it works, it can unlock critical discovery. Courts are often reluctant to compel an expert to produce anything…
Unraveling California’s Web of Climate Disclosure Laws, Part 3: Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (AB 1305)
California is forging a path for climate disclosure with its series of related legal frameworks requiring covered entities to disclose climate-related information, supporting documentation for certain net zero claims and financial risk frameworks.
In October 2023, California became the first state to enact such broad climate disclosure legislation, with the passage of the:
- Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253),
- Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261), and
- California’s Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (AB 1305).
Entities covered by these three programs generally include those that do business in the state of California and either (1) make certain climate related claims about the business, its products, etc.; (2) market and/or purchase certain voluntary carbon offsets; and/or (3) meet certain monetary thresholds (for purposes of SB 253 and SB 261).