Government & Policy
Legislation, executive orders, regulatory changes, and government actions that directly impact personal finances, taxes, benefits, or the economy.
Latest in Government & Policy
California will require restaurants to list major allergens on menus this July
Diners with food allergies who eat at chain restaurants in California will soon see allergen information printed directly on menus. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB...
North Dakota would cut up to $1,550 off every homeowner’s property-tax bill
North Dakota homeowners stand to save up to $1,550 or more on their annual property tax bills after Governor Kelly Armstrong signed House Bill 1176...
Property-tax bills have outrun home values, fueling the push to scrap them
Homeowners in several states are watching their property-tax bills hold steady or rise even as the market value of their homes flattens or falls. The...
Starting July 1, Oregon shields more of your paycheck from garnishment — the greater of 75% of pay or $400 a week
Oregon workers facing wage garnishment will keep more of their paychecks when a new protection takes effect on July 1, 2026. Under the state’s updated...
Georgia would cap yearly property-assessment increases at 3% or inflation, whichever is less
Georgia homeowners in fast-appreciating neighborhoods could see their property-tax bills grow more slowly under House Bill 1116, a proposal that would cap yearly assessment increases...
Pulling more than $10,000 in cash out of your bank triggers a federal report, and splitting it into smaller trips is its own crime
Anyone who walks into a bank and withdraws more than $10,000 in cash triggers a federal filing that lands directly with the U.S. Treasury. That...
Virginia will bar lenders from foreclosing on a home over unpaid medical debt starting July 1
Virginia homeowners who owe money for medical care will gain a direct legal shield against losing their homes when a new state law kicks in...
Florida’s governor wants to quadruple the homestead exemption to $150,000 on the way to ending property taxes
Florida homeowners could see their property-tax bills drop sharply starting in 2027 after the state legislature cleared a constitutional amendment that would raise the homestead...
Indiana lawmakers have floated abolishing homeowner property taxes entirely starting in 2027
Indiana homeowners could see their property tax bills disappear entirely under a proposal introduced in the 2026 legislative session. House Bill 1288, filed in the...
New data-privacy laws in Arkansas and Utah let residents demand companies delete their data on July 1
Residents of Arkansas and Utah gained a direct tool to control their personal data when new privacy statutes took effect on July 1. Under the...
California will bar streaming services from blasting ads louder than the show you’re watching, starting in July
Streaming viewers in California who have grown tired of reaching for the remote every time an ad break sends volume levels spiking will soon get...
States are racing to wipe out homeowner property taxes, and Oklahoma’s plan would end them for anyone over 65 who owns a home outright
Older homeowners in Oklahoma who have paid off their mortgages could soon owe nothing in property taxes, under a proposal the state House advanced earlier...
Breaking a big cash deposit into chunks under $10,000 can bring up to five years in prison, even if the money is clean
Federal law treats splitting a large cash deposit into smaller chunks under $10,000 to avoid bank reporting as a crime that can send someone to...
3.5 million people have lost SNAP food aid since the new work rules took hold last summer
Millions of Americans who relied on federal food assistance are no longer receiving benefits after expanded work requirements took effect under the One Big Beautiful...
New Medicaid work rules in 2027 will require 80 hours a month to keep coverage
Millions of adults enrolled in Medicaid will need to prove they are working, volunteering, or training for at least 80 hours each month to keep...
$900 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade are now written into federal law
Tens of millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid for doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital care now face a federal funding reduction of $989.7 billion...
$6,000 in tariffs can land on a new car priced under $40,000
Buyers shopping for a new car under $40,000 face a hidden cost that has nothing to do with dealer markups or interest rates. When a...
Adults 60 and older on SNAP can deduct out-of-pocket medical costs to raise their food benefit, a break most never claim
Older adults receiving SNAP benefits can subtract unreimbursed medical expenses above $35 a month from the income used to calculate their food allotment, a federal...
Low-income households can get federal help with summer cooling bills through LIHEAP, and many states are taking applications now
Families facing steep summer electricity bills now have a narrowing window to apply for federal cooling assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Georgia...
Congress killed the rule that would have capped overdraft fees at $5, so big banks keep charging full price
Bank customers who overdraw their checking accounts at the largest U.S. financial institutions will keep paying fees far above $5 per transaction. Congress used the...