The Indiana Department of Health (“IDOH”) published proposed amendments to the Residential Care Facility (“RCF”) regulations at 410 IAC 16.2-5 governing resident rights, residency agreements and involuntary resident evictions. The proposal represents one of the most significant updates to Indiana’s assisted living regulatory framework in recent years and is intended to align Indiana’s rules with the federal Home and Community-Based Services (“HCBS”) Settings Rule.
Background
According to IDOH, the proposed amendments are intended to ensure compliance with federal HCBS
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United States v. Simons: Key Evidentiary Guidance in an Emerging Area of EKRA Enforcement
As Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (“EKRA”) enforcement continues to expand, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California in United States v. Simons offers an early look at how courts may handle the evidentiary and testimonial issues likely to arise in future prosecutions. On May 1, 2026, the Court issued an Order on the parties’ motions in limine (the “Order”) providing practical guidance on the admissibility of charged terminology, the permissible scope of fact and
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U.S. House Passes Bill to Fast-Track Initial Union Contracts
U.S. House Passes Bill to Fast-Track Initial Union ContractsThe U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would place strict deadlines for employers and newly certified unions to reach a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The bill, which garnered some bi-partisan support to pass the GOP-led House, would potentially place the terms of such initial collective bargaining agreements in the hands of federal arbitrators, instead of being negotiated to conclusion by the parties.
Current Legal Framework for Initial Union
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Chicago and Cook County Minimum Wage Increases Take Effect July 1: EmployerCompliance Updates
Employers with operations in Chicago and Cook County should prepare for local minimum wage increases effective July 1, 2026, along with related notice, posting, and compliance obligations. While the Illinois statewide minimum wage remains unchanged, Chicago and Cook County will implement higher local rates that apply based on employer size and location.
Chicago and Cook County Minimum Wage Increases
The city of Chicago is increasing its set minimum wage on July 1, 2026, for employers with four or more
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: Consumer Act Didn’t Apply to Lease
June 16, 2026 – The Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA) didn’t apply to a residential lease dispute, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held, reversing the court of appeals in Koble Investments v. Marquardt, 2026 WI 19 (June 5, 2026).
Six members joined the majority opinion written by Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley, who concluded “Wis. Stat. § 427.104 does not govern a residential lease under which rent is payable on a monthly basis because it is not an ‘agreement to
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Real Estate Due Diligence: Sewer Inspection Risks and Buyer Protections
In the world of real estate, what lies beneath the surface can be just as important as what stands above it.
Buyers frequently focus their commercial real estate due diligence on topics including structural integrity, environmental factors, title and survey, zoning, and financing. However, there is one critical issue that is frequently overlooked: the condition of underground sewer and drain systems.
Sewer and drain systems are essential infrastructure for any building, whether that be industrial, retail, office, or multifamily
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Indiana Law Broadens ‘Gravely Disabled’ Standard Effective July 1, 2026
Senate Enrolled Act 285 (“SEA 285”) will expand the statutory definition of “gravely disabled”. The law also creates a new statutory framework prohibiting unauthorized camping or sleeping on public property. This new misdemeanor expressly requires law enforcement officers to first assess whether emergency detention is appropriate before pursuing criminal penalties under the street-camping provisions. As a result, hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric facilities will see an increase in law-enforcement-initiated transports for emergency detention, particularly where the individual is
Continue Reading Indiana Law Broadens ‘Gravely Disabled’ Standard Effective July 1, 2026
Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: $300M Novant Campus | Baystate/Mercy Announce Transaction | Growing Sale-Leaseback Restrictions
Representing Yourself In Family Court? Read This First
Put yourself in the shoes of a Wisconsin family court judge. Your first case of the day is a custody dispute where one parent is appearing pro se—representing themselves without a lawyer. You see self-represented parents nearly every day, and do not expect perfection, just preparation, honesty, and someone who can stay focused on facts instead of emotion.
The pro se party arrives on time and well-organized, but as they begin to unpack their documents you catch a glimpse
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New Fiscal Year, New Leaders: State Bar Board Looks to Fiscal Year 2027
Director of State Courts Audrey Skwierawski gave opening remarks at the Board of Governors meeting in La Crosse, noting the Wisconsin Court System’s major initiatives.
June 11, 2026 – The imminent end of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s fiscal year signals time to prepare for the new year and its challenges.
The 53-member Board of Governors (Board), kicking off the Annual Meeting & Conference in La Crosse, prepared through new appointments and elections for Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1,
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Stephen Sawyer, State Bar’s 71st President: ‘Strive to Be Humble and Kind’
Stephen Sawyer, Stevens Point, gives a speech at the Presidential Swearing-in and Celebration at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference in La Crosse. Photos: Shannon Green. For more photos of the event, see the album on the State Bar’s Facebook page.
June 11, 2026 – Stephen Sawyer, who took the oath of office yesterday evening in La Crosse to serve as president of the State Bar of Wisconsin, encouraged a professional ethos of humility.
“We
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UPDATE: USCIS Limits Adjustment of Status to Applications Demonstrating Need for Extraordinary Relief
On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) released a policy memo limiting the issuance of green cards based on adjustment of status to applicants demonstrating the need for extraordinary relief. The policy memo states that adjustment of status should be a discretionary measure, not an expected benefit. Absent extraordinary circumstances, applicants seeking permanent residency should follow the traditional consular visa process in their home country.
The policy memo applies to applicants who are permitted to seek
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Wisconsin Addresses PFAS Contamination and Creates Exemptions
In April 2026, Governor Evers signed into law two significant bills addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The Wisconsin Legislature, alongside the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has worked on PFAS-legislation for the past decade, and on the newly enacted 2025 Wis. Act 200 and 2025 Wis. Act 201 since March 2025. Acts 200 and 201 create exemptions under the state Spills Law, establish new PFAS grant programs and funding allocations, and expand the DNR’s responsibilities related to
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Hands Landlords a Win in Koble Investments v. Marquardt
“The law does not allow a tenant to occupy premises rent-free simply because the lease is void and unenforceable.”
(Justice Rebecca Bradley, writing for the majority in Koble Investments v. Marquardt, 2026 WI 19, ¶ 28.)
On Friday, June 5, 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court (hereinafter “Court”) issued its opinion in the case of Koble Investments v. Elicia Marquardt, et al.[i]. The case had been pending before the Court since May 2024, after the District III Court
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New EEOC Enforcement Plan Immediately Reshapes Employer Compliance Risks
On June 4, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a new National Enforcement Plan (NEP), effective immediately, replacing the Biden-era Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP). The NEP realigns federal enforcement around the current administration’s priorities and signals a significant shift in how workplace discrimination claims will be investigated and litigated. For employers, the change reshapes where federal risk will change and diverge from state law obligations.EEOC Deprioritizes Disparate Impact
Where the SEP prioritized adverse/disproportionate impact, the NEP (using
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Minnesota Adult Use Cannabis: Cannabis Cleanup
Another session of the Minnesota legislature has come to a close, which brings with a new round of changes to Minnesota’s cannabis laws. With this session, SF 4401 was the omnibus cannabis bill that did the heavy lifting when it was signed by the governor at the end of the legislative session. To keep things interesting (and shorter), I will call it the “Cannibus Bill” throughout. In this post (and likely multiple parts to follow), I will break down
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