Policy & Government Affairs

Northern Ireland Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order 2026

The Department of Finance has issued the Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2026, effective April 1, 2026. The order specifies revaluation increases for pensionable earnings for the period ending March 31, 2026, with a 3.8% increase for prices and a 4.8% increase for earnings.

Discretionary Housing Payments Amendment and Revocation Regulations 2026

The UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has issued the Discretionary Financial Assistance and Discretionary Housing Payments (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026, effective April 1, 2026. These regulations amend existing provisions and revoke several previous orders and regulations concerning housing payments in England and Wales.

Social Security Contributions Agreement (Northern Ireland and India)

The UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has issued the Social Security (Contributions) (Republic of India) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026. This Order modifies UK legislation to give effect to an Agreement on Social Security Contributions signed with India on February 10, 2026.

Health and Safety Act Application Outside Great Britain Variation Order 2026

The UK government has issued the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2026. This order amends the 2013 Order to include structures used for hydrogen production within the definition of offshore installations subject to health and safety regulations.

CCUS and Offshore Hydrogen Production Regulations Amendments

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage and Offshore Hydrogen Production (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, effective April 6, 2026. These regulations amend the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 to introduce new definitions and clarify existing ones related to carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) and offshore hydrogen production.

Senators Urge President to Prioritize US Potato Market Access in Japan

US Senators have urged President Trump to prioritize opening the Japanese market for U.S. potatoes during the Japanese Prime Minister's visit. This action could result in an estimated $150 million annually in new American exports for the U.S. potato industry.

K-12 CSI Schools: Characteristics, Turnaround Strategies, and Challenges

The GAO released a report on K-12 Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools, detailing their characteristics, turnaround strategies, and challenges. The report notes an increase in CSI schools and identifies factors influencing their improvement, such as student demographics and school size.

GAO Report on Federal Grants for Health Care Mental Health

A GAO report details three federal grant programs administered by HHS from 2022-2024, which provided $103.2 million to 45 grantees to improve mental health among health professionals. The report highlights the stress faced by healthcare workers and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental well-being.

GAO: DOT Grants Need Lessons Learned Plan

The GAO released a report recommending that the Department of Transportation (DOT) develop a comprehensive lessons-learned plan for its Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants program. The report highlights that while DOT has collected project data, it has not fully analyzed it to identify lessons for future technology deployments.

GAO Reviews Senate Records Receipts and Procedures

The GAO has published a review of the Senate Office of Public Records' fiscal year 2024 receipts and procedures, as requested by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The report details agreed-upon procedures performed to assist the Secretary of the Senate in verifying the accuracy of the office's financial records.