The Lobbyist Connection Newsletter
This Week in U.S. Policy & Lobbying
Week of December 1, 2025 • Curated for government affairs, public policy & lobbying professionals
Top Lines
  • ACA subsidies cliff looms. Republicans are split on whether to extend expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire December 31, with roughly 24 million people at stake and 2026 premiums already spiking. Read the latest debate.
  • Trump v. Slaughter could rewrite the administrative state. On December 8, the Supreme Court will hear a case on whether President Trump can fire FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter at will, testing the “unitary executive” theory and Congress’s power to insulate independent agencies. Deep dive on the case.
  • WOTUS & critical habitat rules advance. EPA and the Army Corps have updated their definition of “waters of the United States” and the Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed new critical habitat regulations, reshaping permitting and project timelines nationwide.
  • FARA signals: more opinions, lighter enforcement? DOJ’s FARA unit briefly posted (then removed) 17 new advisory opinions, while new research suggests enforcement has eased after a post–Manafort surge—raising questions about future disclosure expectations for foreign influence work. Advisory opinions analysis • Enforcement study summary.
  • States drive housing & childcare models. Connecticut adopted a major compromise affordable-housing law, while New Mexico’s universal free childcare program—now live statewide—offers a template for equity-driven budget campaigns. CT housing law • NM childcare campaign.
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Legislation to Watch
Federal and state proposals your clients will ask about this week.
  • ACA Subsidy Extension Framework (federal). Negotiations continue over how—and whether—to extend enhanced marketplace subsidies before they lapse on Dec. 31. Look for draft text that either (a) simply extends current subsidies, or (b) redirects funds into HSAs as some GOP proposals suggest. Context & politics.
    Why it matters: health, employer, and insurer clients will want scenarios on premium shock, subsidy sunsets, and reconciliation options.
  • “Better Food Disclosure Act” (federal – stalled for now). Senator Marshall’s bill would have pre-empted state food-safety laws and chemical bans; a broad coalition forced removal of the pre-emption clause, but industry groups will likely revive pieces of it. Campaign that killed pre-emption.
    Why it matters: food, retail, and chemical clients should plan for a patchwork of state rules rather than one federal standard.
  • FARA Modernization & LDA Exemption Repeal (federal). DOJ has endorsed legislation that would repeal FARA’s Lobbying Disclosure Act exemption and tighten foreign influence reporting. DOJ support letter • Capitol Hill outlook.
    Why it matters: corporate and nonprofit clients with overseas links may face new registration and disclosure obligations.
  • State AI Frameworks (50-state surge). All 50 states plus D.C. have introduced AI legislation this year; 38 states have already adopted or enacted around 100 measures, from procurement standards to deepfake and algorithmic transparency laws. NCSL national AI tracker.
    Why it matters: tech, finance, health, and education clients all need state-by-state maps of AI rules and risk.
  • State Privacy Wave (multiple states). New analysis highlights 2025’s rapid expansion of state privacy laws and sectoral regulations, with dozens of new statutes and amendments. 2025 privacy roundup.
    Why it matters: digital advertising, data brokers, and consumer-facing clients will need continuous compliance updates.
Regulatory Moves
  • EPA’s Updated WOTUS Rule. The agencies finalized updates to the “waters of the United States” definition, following listening sessions and a recommendation docket earlier this year. Federal Register notice.
    Action: infrastructure, energy, ag, and real-estate advocates should reassess permitting timelines and mitigation strategies under the new definitions.
  • Critical Habitat Rule Rewrite. The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed new rules revising how “critical habitat” is designated under the ESA. Proposed rule.
    Action: prepare comment strategies for clients with large land footprints (transportation, utilities, extractives, housing).
  • Independent Contractor Standards in Flux (DOL). The long-running tug-of-war over the 2024 independent contractor rule continues: a federal court upheld the Biden-era rule early this year, yet DOL guidance has signaled reduced enforcement and potential revisions. DOL rule overview.
    Action: gig-economy, logistics, consulting, and creative-services clients should revisit risk assessments and Hill strategy.
  • SEC Market Structure Relief & Proxy Season Shift. The SEC issued exemptive relief pushing back key compliance dates under Regulation NMS and announced significant changes in no-action relief for the 2025–26 proxy season. Exemptive order • Proxy season update.
    Action: financial-services lobbyists should coordinate corporate governance messaging with IR and legal teams.
  • IRS Digital Asset Reporting Rules. Final regs now detail broker reporting, amount realized, and basis rules for digital assets, with some transition relief. Tax Adviser summary.
    Action: finance, fintech, and exchange clients should update compliance plans and anticipate possible legislative “fixes.”
Legal Industry & Judiciary
  • Nationwide class for detained migrants. A federal judge ruled that the administration’s policy of detaining certain migrants without bond hearings is unlawful, certifying a nationwide class and reinforcing due-process protections. Case summary.
  • Supreme Court pauses on Copyright Office firing. The Court declined to immediately let the administration remove the Register of Copyrights while related removal-power cases proceed, leaving lower-court blocks in place for now. AP coverage.
  • DC firms expand government affairs benches. K&L Gates added a former NOAA legislative affairs leader as a government affairs advisor, while Bernstein Shur expanded its government & public affairs practice with a DC-based hire. K&L Gates announcement • Bernstein Shur expansion.
  • Trade & tariffs: ongoing turbulence. Snell & Wilmer’s latest Global Connection newsletter highlights shifting international trade rules and tariffs, underscoring the need for coordinated trade-policy and lobbying strategies. Read the trade law roundup.
Supreme Court Watch
  • Trump v. Slaughter – December 8 arguments. The Court will weigh whether the President can fire an FTC commissioner for political reasons, potentially weakening Congress’s ability to shield independent agencies and reinforcing a strong “unitary executive” theory. Explainer.
  • Birthright citizenship EO: still no decision. The latest SCOTUS order list did not act on challenges to President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship, keeping uncertainty high for immigration advocates and state AGs. Order list coverage.
  • Key 2025 merits decisions with policy impact. Recent opinions span e-cigarette regulation, CBD-related drug testing and employment, and big-ticket administrative and gun-control cases. 2025 term opinions overview.
Statehouse Watch
  • Connecticut’s big housing compromise. After vetoing an earlier version, Gov. Lamont signed a revised affordable-housing bill that lets municipalities set their own targets (subject to state review) and ties compliance to new housing-growth funds. Bill details.
  • New Mexico universal childcare in effect. NM is now the first state to offer free childcare to all families regardless of income, funded by its land-grant permanent fund under a 2022 constitutional amendment. How advocates won.
  • Indiana special session: tax conformity & maps. Lawmakers will use an upcoming special session to both redraw legislative maps and address tax-code conformity, with small-business groups pushing hard on key federal provisions. Session preview • NFIB perspective.
  • Nevada special session on film tax credits. Gov. Lombardo has called a special session to address film tax incentives and other “unfinished business” from the regular session. Background & stakes.
  • AI & privacy: states stay in the lead. NCSL notes that all states introduced AI legislation this year, and a fresh 2025 privacy roundup underscores how quickly states are filling perceived federal gaps. AI bills by state • Privacy roundup.
  • State-level foreign influence laws taking effect. Several states (e.g., Florida) now bar certain foreign-linked individuals from lobbying on state laws or state-funded awards, with new requirements effective November 1. Client alert.
Action Items for Lobbyists & Government Affairs Teams
  1. Brief clients on the ACA subsidy cliff. Prepare 1–2 page memos for health and employer clients outlining policy scenarios if Congress deadlocks vs. passes a limited extension.
  2. Map your exposure to FARA reforms. Inventory all foreign-linked work that currently relies on the LDA exemption and model what happens if that exemption disappears.
  3. Update project-siting playbooks. For infrastructure, energy, and land-use clients, refresh internal guidance to reflect WOTUS and critical-habitat changes before 2026 project pipelines lock in.
  4. Launch a 2025–26 state AI & privacy tracker. Create a simple spreadsheet or dashboard listing AI and privacy bills across your top 10 states, with status and client impact notes.
  5. Re-check year-end lobbying reporting. Confirm that internal calendars include all December and January filing deadlines in D.C., New York, and key states (particularly where new lobbyist training or foreign-influence rules just took effect).
Calendar & Deadlines
  • December 1–7: Full committee and subcommittee schedule on Congress.gov – Weekly Committee Schedule.
  • House floor & Rules Committee activity: Keep an eye on the House legislative activity page for meetings on education, small business, and regulatory bills. House schedule.
  • State lobbyist registration updates: NCSL’s lobbyist registration requirements table (updated Nov. 7, 2025) is a good cross-check as you plan 2026 registrations.
  • New Hampshire: The Secretary of State has posted the updated list of 2025-session lobbyists and income/expense forms—helpful as a model for tracking your own disclosures. NH lobbyist resources.
  • Year-end compliance planning: Many jurisdictions have January 15/31 filing deadlines and annual-report requirements—MultiState and state ethics sites are updating their calendars now. Recent state-level compliance overview.
Careers & Openings (Federal & State)
Handpicked roles in lobbying, government affairs, and public policy. Always verify postings and deadlines directly.
  • Vice President, Government Affairs – North America (De Beers Group, Washington, DC). Senior-level leadership role on North American government affairs strategy. Listed on the Public Affairs Council job board. View on PAC job board.
  • Senior Director, Policy & Government Affairs (Nokia – Remote). High-level remote position focusing on federal policy strategy and advocacy. Job listing hub.
  • Director, Government Relations (US) (TD Securities, Washington, DC). In-house GR role at a major financial institution. More details.
  • Director, State Government Affairs (Mid-Atlantic) (preferred base: Pennsylvania). Serves as a registered lobbyist in several Mid-Atlantic legislatures. Job posting.
  • In-House Lobbyist, Health Policy & Government Affairs (Southfield, MI). Senior-level health-policy lobbyist role with deep state/federal engagement. Posting & requirements.
  • More listings: Daybook, LobbyingJobs.com, and Glassdoor’s DC government-affairs search remain active hubs.
For Sale Now
A couple of hand-picked reads from the Lobbyist Connection universe—perfect for your commute, holiday downtime, or gifting.
  • Breaking In: The Federal Lobbyist Playbook – A clear, candid guide to breaking into Washington the right way and building a sustainable, long-term career as a federal lobbyist—from first informational interviews to growing a book of business over time. Grab the Playbook on Amazon →
  • When the Lanterns Rise: A Small-Town Christmas Romance – A cozy holiday romance set in a small town, full of second chances, twinkle lights, and just enough snow and nostalgia to carry you through the season. Order the Christmas romance →
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Written and curated by Jay C. Taylor • This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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