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Corporate Transparency Act: Business Owners Must Act Now

Client Alert

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) has been in effect since January 1, 2024. It is vital for reporting companies to file their beneficial ownership information (BOI) report before the year ends. Reporting companies formed prior to January 1, 2024, have less than six (6) months left to file. It is important to act now in order to avoid facing steep penalties for failing to comply with the CTA. Business owners should identify whether their company must report and if so, which individuals within the business entity are required to disclose the personal information designated under the CTA.

The CTA requires reporting companies to file a BOI report. Reporting companies must provide information regarding their entity, beneficial owners, and in some cases, the professional advisor(s) that helped form the entity. Reporting companies must submit the information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Domestic reporting companies include corporations, LLPs, LLCs, and other similar entities that were formed through a filing with the secretary of state or similar office under the law of a state. Foreign reporting companies are those formed under the law of another country and are registered to do business in any U.S. state through filing with a secretary of state or any similar office under the law of a state.

Under the CTA, reporting companies that were formed prior to January 1, 2024, have one (1) year to comply and file their beneficial ownership information report. Reporting companies formed in 2024, must file their report within ninety (90) days of their formation. Reporting companies formed on or after January 1, 2025, will have only thirty (30) days to file their report following their formation.

The purpose of the CTA is to safeguard the U.S. financial system from fraud, money laundering, and other illegal activities. There has been a concern in recent years that the U.S. has become a jurisdiction of choice for bad actors to create shell companies that hide the ultimate beneficiaries. Through the CTA, a national registry will be created that will allow the U.S. to obtain all relevant ownership information regarding reporting companies. The registry will enable the U.S. to crack down on illegal activity such as tax fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, and more.

There are harsh penalties for reporting companies that fail to file a timely report to FinCEN. Civil and criminal penalties may result in fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to two (2) years, or both. Any person who (i) willfully provides or attempts to provide false/fraudulent information, or (ii) fails to report and/or update a report previously made, may be subject to the aforementioned penalties.

For more information about the CTA or how to comply, please contact BMD Member Blake Gerney at brgerney@bmdllc.com.


RNs and APRNs Take Note: Ohio Board of Nursing Mandates a New CE Reporting Period

Ohio’s Board of Nursing has updated the continuing education reporting period for RNs and APRNs. Beginning March 26, 2026, CE credits must be completed between July 1 and June 30 of odd-numbered years, replacing the previous November to October timeframe.

Substance Use Disorder Providers: 42 CFR Part 2 Now Enforceable

Updates to 42 CFR Part 2 are now enforceable, bringing significant changes to how substance use disorder (SUD) records are handled. The Final Rule aligns Part 2 more closely with HIPAA, introduces updated penalties, allows a single patient consent for treatment, payment, and operations, and adds new requirements for Notices of Privacy Practices. It also creates a formal definition of SUD counseling notes and imposes strict consent requirements for their use and disclosure. Providers should review and update policies to ensure compliance.

AAA Introduces AI-Assisted Arbitrator for Certain Disputes

The American Arbitration Association has introduced an AI-assisted arbitration platform designed to streamline certain document-based disputes. While a human arbitrator still makes the final decision, the technology can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate case resolution. Companies should weigh these benefits against considerations such as transparency, risk, and contractual requirements before adopting AI-assisted arbitration.

Quiet Hours Texts and TCPA Claims: Consent Remains King as Courts Divide on Text Messages

Businesses face increasing TCPA lawsuits over off-hours marketing texts, but recent court decisions highlight strong defenses. Clear consumer consent and updated terms and conditions can defeat many claims, while a growing number of courts are finding that text messages are not “telephone calls” under the statute. Proactive compliance measures, including clickwrap agreements and forum-selection clauses, are critical to reducing risk.

New Ohio Reporting Requirements for Non-Residential Contractors

Ohio’s E-Verify Workforce Integrity Act, effective March 19, 2026, requires all nonresidential construction companies, subcontractors, and labor brokers to use E-Verify to confirm employee work eligibility on projects across the state. The law applies regardless of company size and carries financial penalties and potential restrictions on future state contracts for noncompliance. Some uncertainty remains around requirements for existing employees, making early compliance planning important.