Inside U.S. Regulations

Covering Competition, Delinquent Filings, Unsafe or Unsound Practice, Temporary Restraining Order, Mail Voting. Explore critical updates on competition law, delinquent SEC filings, FDIC's unsafe practice rules, a court-ordered USPS mail voting restraining order, and FTC antitrust actions. Essential insights into evolving regulatory landscapes across multiple sectors.

Show Notes

This episode covers pivotal regulatory developments impacting competition, delinquent filings, unsafe or unsound practices, mail voting, and enforcement actions. Listeners gain insight into significant legal and regulatory shifts affecting these sectors.

One major highlight is the Massachusetts Attorney General's successful effort to obtain a court order blocking the USPS from enforcing a new mail voting rule that would have imposed stringent design approvals, voter data registration, and reporting requirements on states. This ruling halts potentially far-reaching changes to mail-in voting administration.

In banking regulation, the FDIC finalized a rule redefining "unsafe or unsound practices" to tighten the issuance of Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs), eliminating other supervisory notifications. This update refines risk management protocols by focusing on practices causing material financial harm or legal violations.

Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission approved a final consent order requiring Ascension Health to divest seven ambulatory surgery centers in multiple metropolitan areas and mandated prior notice for future acquisitions. The FTC also resolved antitrust issues involving Zillow and Redfin, compelling Redfin to reenter the market and remove anticompetitive restrictions.

For more information, visit the Carver Agents website.

Articles mentioned:
  1. AG Campbell Secures Court Order Temporarily Blocking Postal Service’s Unlawful Mail Voting Rule
  2. Implementation of the Final Rule on Unsafe or Unsound Practices; Matters Requiring Attention
  3. Interim Final Rule on Reciprocal Deposits
  4. Administrative Proceeding - INNOVATION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
  5. Administrative Proceeding - INTREorg Systems, Inc.
  6. Administrative Proceeding - ENERTECK CORPORATION
  7. Exemptions under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act
  8. Litigation Release - Ichcoin Tech Corp.
  9. FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Ascension Health-AmSurg Deal
  10. FTC Secures Order Resolving Antitrust Concerns with Zillow-Redfin Agreement

What is Inside U.S. Regulations?

Regulatory news, updates, and insights for USA presented by the Carver Agents team

Welcome to Carver's USA Regulatory Updates for August 31, 2026.

The Massachusetts Commonwealth has seen a significant development as Attorney General Maura Healey secured a court order temporarily blocking the United States Postal Service from enforcing a new mail voting rule. This rule would have required states to obtain USPS approval for ballot and envelope designs, register every mail-in voter with USPS, and submit voter data into a new USPS portal. The court order halts these requirements.

Turning to banking regulation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, has implemented a final rule defining "unsafe or unsound practices" under Part 305. This rule revises the issuance of Matters Requiring Attention, or MRAs, and ends the use of Matters Requiring Board Attention and Supervisory Recommendations. The update applies to FDIC risk management and consumer protection examination functions. MRAs will now be issued only for practices causing material financial harm, risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund, or substantive violations of banking laws. Outstanding MRBAs and SRs will be redesignated as MRAs or closed out.

In related banking news, the FDIC amended its brokered deposit regulations to conform with section 29 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Housing Act. The general cap for reciprocal deposits has increased with a tiered liability-based calculation up to $30 billion. The definition of agent institution now includes three-rated, well-capitalized institutions. The rule clarifies receipt and requalification conditions for reciprocal deposits and coordinates with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, or FFIEC, for updated Call Report instructions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, has initiated administrative proceedings under Section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against three companies for failure to file required periodic reports. Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc., Enerteck Corporation, and INTREorg Systems, Inc. have all been delinquent since September 30, 2023, or in the case of INTREorg, since 2018. Each respondent must file an Answer within 10 days of service of the Order and participate in a prehearing conference within 14 days of filing the Answer. They must also comply with SEC Rules of Practice, including electronic filing and service requirements.

The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has granted exemptions under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act to small dispensers and applicable trading partners until November 27, 2027. Small dispensers, defined as those with 25 or fewer full-time pharmacists or pharmacy technicians as of November 27, 2026, must complete a small dispensers assessment survey by September 22, 2026. Trading partners not qualifying for exemptions may request waivers or exceptions.

In enforcement news, the SEC charged Ichcoin Tech Corp. with making false statements regarding its ERA eligibility, business address, phone numbers, and Central Registration Depository number. Ichcoin also failed to respond to Commission requests. The SEC emphasizes that investment advisers must provide truthful and accurate information in Form ADV filings, respond promptly to staff requests, and avoid using false or misleading business addresses, phone numbers, or registration identifiers.

The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, has approved a final consent order in the Ascension Health-AmSurg acquisition. Ascension must divest seven ambulatory surgery centers located in the Nashville, Panama City, Tulsa, Waco, and Wichita metropolitan areas. The order also requires Ascension to provide prior notice to the FTC for any future acquisitions of ambulatory surgical centers in these areas and to obtain all necessary consents and governmental authorizations.

Additionally, the FTC secured a stipulated order resolving antitrust concerns with the Zillow-Redfin agreement. Zillow had paid Redfin $100 million to exit the internet listing services market. The order requires Redfin to reenter the market within six months and compete robustly. Redfin must remove anticompetitive restrictions, invest millions of dollars, and hire staff to support its internet listing services rental advertising business.

That wraps up today's regulatory updates. Visit carveragents.ai for more information.