AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Activity in support of reintroduction of the Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act concerning attorney-client confidentiality between attorneys and their incarcerated clients. General research and discussions surrounding Supreme Court ethics rule and funding for the federal courts and federal defender legal services. Activity in support of a repeal of the lifetime federal prohibition on access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for those with a prior drug conviction. H.R. 2955,S. 1351, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act - to provide greater oversight for youth treatment programs and promote best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse. Proposed changes to Customs and Border Protection Directive No. 3340-049 (Border Search of Electronic Devices Containing Information, dated August 20, 2009), Customs and Border Protection Directive No. 3340-049A (Border Search of Electronic Devices, dated January 4, 2018), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Directive No. 7-6.1 (Border Searches of Electronic Devices, dated August 18, 2009) to prevent border officials from reading, duplicating, seizing, or sharing attorney-client privileged or confidential client documents or information contained on attorneys laptop computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices at U.S. border crossings unless the officials first obtain a subpoena based on reasonable suspicion or a warrant supported by probable cause.

Communications regarding implementing a Guardianship Court Improvement Program.

Communications regarding international trade in legal services and overseas market access for U.S. firms and lawyers.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Statement of Policy Regarding Prohibition on Abusive Acts or Practices; Docket No CFPB-2023-0018; 88 Fed. Reg. 21883 (April 12, 2023)-provisions that could require creditor attorneys and law firms to act in the interests of consumers instead of their creditor clients in violation of the attorneys' existing ethical obligations or that would conflict with other existing state court ethical obligations S.4638,H.R. 8070, FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act - draft amendment regulating certain attorneys and law firms as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act and requiring them to report certain attorney-client privileged and other protected client information to the Treasury Department. H.R. 7947, Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers; Docket No. FINCEN-2024-0005; RIN 1506-AB54, 89 Fed. Reg. 12424 (February 16, 2024) Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Final Rule on Beneficial Ownership Information Access and Safeguards; Document No. 2023-27973; RIN 1506-AB59, 88 Fed. Reg. 88732 (December 22, 2023) Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Final Rule on Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements; Document No. 2022-21020; RIN 1506-AB49, 87 Fed. Reg. 59498 (September 30, 2022). Financial Action Task Force Public Consultation Paper, Proposed Updates to Risk-Based Guidance to the Real Estate Sector-provisions requiring attorneys to submit suspicious transaction reports on their clients high-risk real estate transactions even when the information is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Financial Action Task Force White Paper for Public Consultation, Potential Amendments to Recommendation 24 (Transparency and Beneficial Ownership of Legal Persons)-provisions considering requiring attorneys to hold their company clients' beneficial ownership information and disclose it to government authorities.

Draft legislation making it easier for spouses of U.S. servicemembers to practice law in the jurisdictions to which they move without undue delay or burden.