As you may be aware, on July 4, 2025, a landmark piece of tax legislation – commonly referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – was signed into law, ushering in some of the most significant changes to the tax code in recent years. This sweeping bill touches nearly every corner of the tax landscape, with key highlights including a substantial increase to the estate and gift tax exemption, the elimination of federal income tax on tips and
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Latest from Ruder Ware News & Insights
Capitol Connection, July 2025
The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the July issue of the Capitol Connection.
In this issue:
- Governor Tony Evers Signs 2025–2027 Wisconsin Biennial Budget into Law
- K-12 Education and Child Care
- UW System and Technical Colleges
- Tax Relief for Household Affordability
- Investments in Tourism Industry
- Health care and Public Health
- Transportation and Infrastructure Development
- Support for Veterans and Military Families
- Agriculture, Conservation, and Clean
E-Verify Users Beware: New E-Verify Feature Makes it Easier to Charge Employers with Knowledge that an Employee’s EAD Has Been Revoked
On June 20, 2025, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced a new functionality of E-Verify called a Status Change Report. The announcement instructs E-Verify employers to regularly log in to E-Verify to generate Status Change Reports and to immediately begin the reverification process for “each current employee whose EAD the Status Change Report indicated was revoked” within a reasonable amount of time.
As all employers should be aware, federal law makes it unlawful for an employer
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Recent Supreme Court Decision Reinforces ‘Honesty is the Best Policy’
On June 5, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision that continues to reinforce the importance of providing honest and accurate feedback to employees regarding employment decisions. Marlean Ames, a straight woman, was employed by the Ohio Department of Youth Services. She interviewed for a new management position but was passed over in favor of a lesbian woman. Ames was later demoted, and a gay man was hired to replace her. Ames sued under Title VII, alleging
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F-1 Visa Changes Create Uncertainty for Employers and Students
Over the past month, the Trump administration has announced several changes impacting F-1 visa programs. F-1 visa interviews have been paused, visas have been purportedly cancelled, and some program certifications have been revoked. Lawsuits have been filed to stymie these changes and conditions continue to evolve. These developments may affect an employer’s plans for CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT employment of foreign nationals.
Employers—current or prospective—concerned about how these changes may impact their staffing or immigration strategies are encouraged
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Kathi Kilgore Joins Ruder Ware
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Estate Planning 101
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Zoning and Legal Compliance: Key to Successful Downtown Development
For developers, adeptly navigating the intricate web of zoning laws and regulations is paramount to ensuring that projects not only comply with local ordinances but also align with community standards.
Understanding Zoning Regulations
Zoning laws are essential for urban planning, dictating how land can be used. They help maintain order and prevent conflicts between different land uses, like residential and industrial areas. Developers must possess a thorough understanding of these laws to avoid legal disputes and project delays. Interpreting
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2026 HSA Limits Are Announced
On May 1, 2025, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2026. With respect to contribution limits, the limits are slightly higher than the ones for 2025 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2026.
HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP
2025 – $4,300
2026 – $4,400
Limit on HSA Contributions – Family HDHP
Noncitizens Should Review their Compliance with Registration and Change of Address Notification Requirements
On March 12th, the Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule (“IFR”) partially implementing section 7 of Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025) (the “Executive Order”). Section 7 of the Executive Order directed the Secretary of Homeland Security, and others, to ensure that all previously unregistered noncitizens in the United States comply with the registration provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the “INA”). The INA generally requires that all noncitizens
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USCIS Announces Revised Form I-9
On April 2nd, USCIS announced they had made available a revised Form I-9 for employment eligibility verification. The new form, available at the USCIS website, has an edition date of 01/20/25 and an expiration date of 05/31/27. USCIS will also continue to accept the following previous versions of the form:
- Form I-9 (08/01/2023 edition) with expiration date of 05/31/27.
- Form I-9 (08/01/2023 edition) with expiration date of 07/31/26.
Employers with questions about the new I-9 form, their employment
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DHS Announces Termination of CHNV Parole Program
On March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice terminating the categorical parole program for certain aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (“CHNV”) and their immediate family members. The program is set to end on April 24, 2025.
Individuals currently in the United States under the CHNV parole program who wish to remain in the United States should immediately seek a lawful immigration status or other basis allowing them to stay.
Employers concerned about
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Bye Bye Bye: FinCEN Issues CTA Update
On March 21, 2025, FinCEN announced an end to Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements for U.S. citizens and domestic companies.
In line with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s announcement earlier this month, FinCEN has issued an interim final rule narrowing the scope of beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting under the CTA.
Under the interim final rule, reporting companies are now limited to “those entities that are formed under the law of a foreign country and that have registered
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Welcome R. Fletcher Koch
We’re excited to welcome Attorney Fletcher Koch to Ruder Ware’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team. Fletcher excels at negotiating favorable outcomes by mastering the facts, identifying each party’s strengths and weaknesses, drafting persuasive briefs, and effectively advocating for our clients. Join us in celebrating his addition to the team! Learn more about Fletcher.
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Hello, Goodbye: CTA Enforcement Suspended
The U.S. Department of the Treasury suspended enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies. On Sunday night, the Treasury announced that U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies will no longer face penalties or fines for failure to report under the CTA.
In its announcement, the Treasury stated it plans to issue a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the reporting requirements only to foreign reporting companies. The Treasury stated that the proposed
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Yo-Yo-Yo: CTA is Back
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its reporting requirements are back in effect. This afternoon, a federal district court in Texas granted the U.S. government’s motion to stay (i.e., pause) the nationwide CTA injunction.
Based on FinCEN’s most recent alert, FinCEN intends to extend the reporting deadline for all reporting companies to 30 days from today (March 20, 2025), but FinCEN has not announced an official deadline. FinCEN also stated that it intends to “assess its options to
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