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Northern Ireland Small Business Rate Relief Extended

The Department of Finance in Northern Ireland has amended the Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) Regulations 2010. This amendment extends the small business rate relief scheme by substituting the end of the qualifying year from April 1, 2026, to April 1, 2027.

Non-Domestic Rating Hereditament Amendment Regulations 2026 Correction

The UK Treasury has issued the Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, effective April 1, 2026. This instrument corrects an error in a previous regulation by removing marinas, wharves, piers, and jetties from the list of excluded purposes for qualifying hereditaments.

National Savings (Amendment) Regulations 2026

The UK Treasury has issued the National Savings (Amendment) Regulations 2026, effective April 6th, 2026. These amendments modify the National Savings Regulations 2015 concerning deposits to individual savings accounts.

UK Paternity Leave Rules Amended for Overseas Adoptions

The UK government has issued the Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Adoptions from Overseas) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, amending rules regarding paternity leave for overseas adoptions. These regulations come into force on March 10, 2026.

Employment Rights Act 1996 (Parental Order Cases) Amendment Regulations 2026

The UK Secretary of State has amended the Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Parental Order Cases) Regulations 2014. These amendments, effective March 10, 2026, introduce the definition of 'primary parental order parent' and clarify its application in relation to parental order cases.

Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) Order 2026

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2026, effective March 15, 2026. This order amends various pieces of legislation across the UK to replace references to 'carer's assistance' with 'the carer support payment component of carer support'.

Social Security and Statutory Maternity Pay (Evidence of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Department for Communities has amended the Social Security and Statutory Maternity Pay (Evidence of Pregnancy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, effective April 1, 2026. These amendments remove the requirement for maternity certificates to be completed in ink or other indelible substance, allowing for non-original copies to be submitted as evidence.

Supreme Court Fees (Amendment) Order 2026

The UK Lord Chancellor has issued the Supreme Court Fees (Amendment) Order 2026, increasing court fees by 5.9% effective April 1, 2026. This amendment to the 2024 Order adjusts specific fees to account for inflation between March 2023 and March 2025.

Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

The UK Treasury and Secretary of State have issued the Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2026. These regulations amend existing customs legislation, primarily updating tariff versions and definitions. The majority of the provisions come into force on April 1, 2026.

GAO Report: Museum Maintenance Backlog and Risks

A GAO report highlights that approximately 85% of US museums have a maintenance backlog, with many facing risks to collections and visitor safety due to aging infrastructure. The report notes that federal funding is not available for construction-related expenses, and the total cost of repairs remains unknown.