SEC Withdraws 14 Rule Proposals
On June 12, 2025, the SEC withdrew fourteen (14) rule proposals, backtracking many Biden-era regulations including several in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) arena. This move clears the slate for what should be a very different spring regulatory agenda, expected to be published in early July. Each of these rules were discussed to some extent in my last Regulatory Agenda update – which can be reviewed here – HERE.
Withdrawn Rule Proposals
Shareholder Proposals – Rule 14a-8
The SEC has withdrawn certain proposed amendments Exchange Act Rule 14a-8. The withdrawn rule proposal was first published in July 2022. Rule 14a-8 allows a qualifying shareholder to submit proposals that, subject to substantive and procedural requirements, must be included in the company’s proxy materials for annual and special meetings, and provides a method for companies to either accept or attempt to exclude such proposals. The rule has been subject to many changes, including via updated Staff Legal Bulletins, over the
SEC Fall 2023 Regulatory Agenda
On December 6, 2023, the SEC published its semi-annual Fall 2023 regulatory agenda (“Agenda”) and plans for rulemaking. The Agenda is published twice a year, and for several years I have blogged about each publication. Although items on the Agenda can move from one category to the next, be dropped off altogether, or new items pop up in any of the categories (including the final rule stage), the Agenda provides valuable insight into the SEC’s plans and the influence that comments can make on the rulemaking process.
The Agenda is broken down by (i) Proposed Rule Stage; (ii) Final Rule Stage; and (iii) Long-term Actions. The Proposed and Final Rule Stages are intended to be completed within the next 12 months and Long-term Actions are anything beyond that. The number of items to be completed in a 12-month time frame is 43, down from 55 on the Spring 2023 Agenda.
Fourteen items are included in the proposed rule stage, down
SEC Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda
On June 13, 2023, the SEC published its semiannual Spring 2023 regulatory agenda (“Agenda”) and plans for rulemaking. The Agenda is published twice a year, and for several years I have blogged about each publication. Although items on the Agenda can move from one category to the next, be dropped off altogether, or new items pop up in any of the categories (including the final rule stage), the Agenda provides valuable insight into the SEC’s plans and the influence that comments can make on the rulemaking process.
The Agenda is broken down by (i) “Pre-rule Stage”; (ii) Proposed Rule Stage; (iii) Final Rule Stage; and (iv) Long-term Actions. The Proposed and Final Rule Stages are intended to be completed within the next 12 months and Long-term Actions are anything beyond that. The number of items to be completed in a 12-month time frame is 55, which is in-line with the average items under Gary Gensler’s regime (and much higher than
