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Traditionally, March brings the beginning of Spring. Longer days, warmer temperatures, Spring break trips and opening day at baseball parks across the county. However, in Washington DC, many celebrated Spring early with the signing of the American Rescue Plan on March 11, 2021. The $1.9 trillion legislation is the third and potentially the last installment of government intervention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation was passed on a party-line votes and President Biden signed the bill into law, kicking off a lengthy cross-country road show extolling the virtues of the Plan.

Now that Governor Abbott has opened up the State of Texas and many businesses are re-opening, keeping employees in the know about ongoing COVID-related policies and protocols is critical. The office and/or the job site looks different than when many employees last worked there over one year ago.  Ongoing education will help maintain a safe workplace and allow employees to feel comfortable returning to the physical workplace.  Here are 3 tips for educating employees on COVID-related changes to policy or protocol while or even after your business re-opens. 1.    Consistently Review and Updat

While the Payment Protection Plan (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) have stolen the media spotlight, other financial incentives for employers to retain employees during the ongoing pandemic abound.  In the recently enacted 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, one such incentive, the employment retention credit, has received a new lease on life.  First, a brief history about the credit during the pandemic. Under the initial COVID-19 stimulus act, the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed into law a mere 12 months ago, eligible businesse

On March 3, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he will end Texas’ statewide mask mandate on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 and will allow all businesses to operate at full capacity. Abbott’s announcement comes nearly one year after Texas, county-by-county and city-by-city and ultimately State-wide, went into a strict lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Executive Order GA-34 memorializes Abbot’s the end of the ask mandate and rescinds most of Abbott’s earlier executive orders issued over the past 12 months to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Even with the end of the ma

On March 3, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34 to provide that, in all counties in Texas not in an area with high hospitalizations: a.  there are no COVID-19-related operating limits for any business or other establishment; and b.  individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings over the nose and mouth wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household, but no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering. The Order, effective March 10, 2021, all

Bills are anticipated to be filed in the current Texas Legislative Session to reduce the statute of repose.  In general, the statute of repose in Texas for design professionals and contractors is 10 years from the date of substantial completion.  There are means of extending the repose period even further. The bills introduced in the last Legislative Session and anticipated to be filed in the current one aim to reduce the period to 7 years or less.  But, what does it mean and why does it matter? 1.    Limitations v. Repose Claims against design professionals and contractors relating to co

When winter storms created a state of emergency in all of Texas’ 254 counties, causing the lights, water, and heat to go out when they were needed the most, many Texans began looking for someone to blame.  The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has become the favorite scapegoat of the moment. In the days since Texas began to thaw out, several lawsuits have been filed against ERCOT, ranging from class-actions to a wrongful death suit regarding an 11-year old boy who died of hypothermia in his own home. With the spotlight on ERCOT more than ever, questions have been raised about th