New Colorado Law Restricts Employers From Retaining Employee ID Documents Under HB 26-1283House Bill 26-1283 (“Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents”), signed by Governor Jared Polis on June 3, 2026, sharply limits when a Colorado employer may demand, keep, or control an employee’s or applicant’s government-issued ID. The new law carries both criminal and civil exposure.Colorado HB 26-1283 Restricts Employers From Retaining Employee Identification DocumentsThe new statute (C.R.S. § 8-2-124.5) bars employers and their agents from requiring any employee,…
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Under HB 26-1283

The significant appreciation in equity markets has left many investors holding assets with substantial built-in gains. In many cases, tax basis is very low relative to current value. This creates a central tension in estate and tax planning, specifically, whether to recognize capital gains during life or preserve assets for a potential step-up in basis at death.
For many estate plans, the default instinct is to hold appreciated assets until death to secure a basis step-up. That instinct is…
Continue Reading Gifting Appreciated Securities vs. Waiting for a Step-Up in Basis

  • A recent report highlighted how independent rural hospitals are increasingly forming regional networks in order to gain negotiating leverage, reduce costs and participate in value-based care while maintaining independence amid health system consolidation. One example is North Dakota’s 23-hospital Rough Rider High-Value Network, which was launched with state support and serves a large share of the state’s rural population.
  • Revista reported that U.S. MOB inventory has grown about 10.6% since 2019, while ambulatory health care employment has grown 21.2%.

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    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: Spotlight on Regional Rural Hospital Networks Cooperating to Remain Independent | MOB Inventory Tightening

    On July 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (“SNF PPS”) for federal fiscal year (“FY”) 2027. The final rule also includes significant revisions to the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (“SNF QRP”) and the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (“SNF VBP”) Program. The rule becomes effective October 1, 2026.
    While the…
    Continue Reading Skilled Nursing Facility Update: CMS Finalizes FY 2027 SNF PPS Rule: Payment Increase, QRP Reforms and Expanded MDS Reporting Requirements

    On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has begun the decertification process for Network for Hope, the organ procurement organization (“OPO”) with a service area that includes Kentucky and portions of Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. According to HHS, the action follows multiple federal reviews that identified ongoing patient safety concerns and determined that the OPO had not demonstrated sufficient improvement despite corrective…
    Continue Reading HHS Begins Decertification of Network for Hope, Kentucky’s Organ Procurement Organization

    We are honored to share that Hawks Quindel’s Milwaukee Employment Discrimination Team has been recognized as the Face of Workplace Justice in Milwaukee Magazine’s August 2026 issue.

    While we are grateful for this recognition, what matters most to us is the work behind it. Every day, our attorneys have the privilege of representing employees facing some of the most difficult moments of their careers. Whether someone has experienced discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage theft, or a failure to…
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    Choosing a power of attorney for health care is one of the most personal decisions in an estate plan. This is the person who may speak for you if illness, injury, or incapacity prevents you from making your own medical decisions.
    In Wisconsin, a power of attorney for health care allows you to name a health care agent. That agent can make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Wisconsin’s Department of…
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    IVF can create possibilities that once felt out of reach. It can also create legal questions that many people do not expect until they are already in the middle of treatment, storage forms, consent documents, medical decisions, and family planning.
    One of those questions is what should happen to frozen embryos if plans change.
    At The Law Center, S.C., we help families think carefully about assisted reproduction, parentage, and the legal relationships that may follow. Families come in…
    Continue Reading What Is an Embryo Trust? A Guide for Intended Parents

    Estate planning is not only about what happens after death. It is about giving your family direction when they may be grieving, stressed, or unsure what to do next.
    A will and a trust are two common estate planning tools. They can both help you decide who receives your property, who should be involved in carrying out your wishes, and how your loved ones should be protected. They do different things, however, and many Wisconsin families use both.
    At…
    Continue Reading Wills vs. Trusts in Wisconsin: What Is the Difference?

    At The Law Center, S.C., we understand that these matters are not abstract legal questions. They are about whether your documents reflect who you are. They are about whether your relationship with your child is protected. They are about whether your family is treated with dignity under Wisconsin law.
    Our firm has long believed that families come in many forms. Some families have one parent, two parents, or more than two people who play meaningful roles in a…
    Continue Reading Legal Rights of Transgender Individuals and Families in Wisconsin

    Overview
    ArticleAmundsen Davis International Trade AlertAugust 6, 2026Importers seeking refunds of IEEPA tariffs on finally liquidated entries may need to file suit to secure recovery.On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued an order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to begin processing refunds for importers that filed civil lawsuits seeking IEEPA tariff refunds. However, the order does not extend to importers that did not file suit, leaving their eligibility for refunds dependent on…
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    Yes, you can get a divorce without a lawyer in Wisconsin. When someone represents themselves in a divorce, it is known as a pro se divorce, also called a “kitchen table divorce”. Wisconsin provides forms and self-help resources for people who choose this route, but having access to paperwork is not the same as having legal guidance.

    Divorce decisions about property division, including assets like bank/investment/retirement accounts, your home and debts, maintenance (allocation of income for spousal support), and…
    Continue Reading Can You Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer in Wisconsin?

    Understand the key differences between divorce and legal separation in Wisconsin, including filing requirements, legal rights, and what each option means for your future.

    There are many reasons an individual may be interested in a legal separation over a divorce, or vice versa. Factors such as religious or personal beliefs, the possibility of reconciliation, or the desire to maintain certain financial or insurance benefits may lead someone to choose a legal separation rather than a divorce. On the other…
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    Please join us for the 2026 Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum on October 7 and 8, 2026, at the Brookfield Conference Center. In addition to programming, the event offers networking opportunities, an exhibitor hall, attendee giveaways, and the popular happy hours!
    Lindner & Marsack is one of the founding members of the Wisconsin Worker’s Forum and our own Chelsie Springstead sits on the Forum Board.
    If you are unable to attend in person, a virtual option will be…
    Continue Reading 2026 Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum Registration Now Open!!

    On July 31, 2026, Governor Pritzker signed new legislation greatly expanding the already-broad investigatory powers of the Workplace Rights Bureau in the Attorney General’s Office (“OAG”). Effective January 1, 2027, the law authorizes the OAG to investigate supposed violations of Illinois employment law and creates penalties for employers that do not comply. In essence this signals yet another move by Illinois to dispense with the fundamental due process rights of employers.How the Illinois Attorney General’s Workplace Rights Bureau Gained…
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    By Attorneys Stephen E. Mays and Halle Geiger

    Every person accused of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) has constitutional and statutory rights. When law enforcement fails to follow those rules, the consequences can be significant.

    In a recent OWI First Offense case, Mays Law Office filed three separate motions asking the court to suppress critical evidence:

    • The unlawful arrest.
    • An improperly obtained Preliminary Breath Test (PBT).
    • The blood test — because our client’s legally guaranteed alternative chemical test was

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    Continue Reading Three Motions. Three Wins. OWI Charges Dismissed in Just 12 Minutes.