On March 13, 2020, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed House Bill 74 (HB 74) into law. After the Governor signed HB 74, it became House Enrolled Act 60. HEA 60 allows utilities and other power plant owners to replace retiring coal and natural gas electric generation plants with small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
In a letter ruling published March 16, 2020, the Tennessee Department of Revenue concluded that a contractor’s purchase of materials and equipment for use in the construction and installation of a new steam production facility at a federally owned manufacturing plant was exempt from Tennessee sales and use tax. Tenn. Letter Rul. No. 20-02 (issued Feb. 10, 2020).
The SEC has provided conditional regulatory relief regarding filing deadlines and has issued guidance regarding annual meetings to assist public companies impacted by COVID-19. In “COVID-19: Q&A for Public Companies,” colleagues Davina K. Kaile, Gabriella A. Lombardi, Christina F. Pearson and Stanton D. Wong addresses some of the most frequently asked questions of public companies on how to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and, pursuant to his broad authority under the California Emergency Services Act and other statutory provisions, has issued Executive Orders suspending or modifying the effect of certain state statutes and regulation in response to COVID-19, and authorizing the commandeering of property needed for the response. In “California Executive Power and Industrial Facilities in the Wake of COVID-19,” colleagues Michael S. McDonough and Christopher W. Smith provide an overview of the recent updates and rulings on California’s facilities and operations.
In California, localities led the way with mandates, but the governor’s Executive Order has left confusion in its wake on the extent to which local rules are preempted. In “California State and Local COVID-19 Orders,” colleagues Robert A. James, Brian E. Finch, Callie A. Bjurstrom and Amanda G. Halter provide an overview of the recent updates and rulings.
On Saturday, March 21, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.8 (EO 202.8) requiring all nonessential employees to stay home, effective at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2020, through April 19, 2020. Any business not in compliance with the order is subject to civil fines and mandatory closures. There will also be restrictions placed on civilians, though specific enforcement measures for those provisions have not been specified. Colleagues Brian E. Finch and Amanda G. Halter summarize the terms under EO 202.8 in the alert “New York State on PAUSE: New York State Shuts Down All Nonessential Businesses to Combat COVID-19.”
If the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in the United States as it has in other countries, drastic expansions of hospital and quarantine facility capacity are likely to be necessary. In the hard-hit Seattle area, several temporary facilities are already under construction, including a 200-bed temporary quarantine and isolation center built on a soccer field. China’s response to the initial outbreak in the city of Wuhan demonstrates how rapidly authorities can add capacity in an emergency.
In times of uncertainty, every enterprise should undertake a stress test of its supply chain and manage the risks accordingly. The responses to this outbreak are evolving so rapidly that most communications should be expressly based on the state of knowledge on the day and at the hour they are issued. In the alert “Supply Chain Coronavirus Impacts: Force Majeure and Beyond,” colleagues Robert A. James, and James Campbell provide a comprehensive overview to review the impact coronavirus has on the entire supply chain.
On March 10, 2020, the Wyoming legislature passed House Bill 74 (HB 74). If signed into law, HB 74 will allow utilities and other power plant owners to replace retiring coal and natural gas electric generation plants with small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
Pillsbury colleague David F. Klein outlines four key points to keep in mind when reviewing various insurance policies during the coronavirus pandemic in the alert, “COVID-19 Insurance Checklist.”
