The insights industry scored important legislative victories in the last month for pharmaceutical MR in Pennsylvania, data security in Utah, and more COVID-19 small business loans and grants at the federal level and in California. At the same time, we’re staring down lots of problematic legislation, including a new comprehensive data privacy law in Virginia and a complex excise tax on data collection in New York. Meanwhile, advocacy continues on issues like: California A.B. 2257; worrisome legislation in Congress that would allow for the unionization of research subjects; limitations on coronavirus-related exposure liability; the census; and restrictions on exit polling.

February may have the fewest days, but this month certainly is not short on legislative activity pertinent to the insights community, including comprehensive privacy bills, data security legislation, new taxes on the industry, liability limitation for COVID-19-related exposure, new leadership to oversee the census, and new rules for determining independent contractor status. Changes are also in the works for California A.B. 2257.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued intensive new Loan Necessity Questionnaires for recipients of forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Insights Association (IA) warned could inadvertently make the forgiveness process even more confusing and cumbersome for small businesses in the insights industry who received PPP loans to “preserve as many jobs as possible, despite the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

August is normally quiet in Washington, DC, but in keeping with the theme of 2020, this month has been more frenetic. While we beat back new taxes on the insights industry, the Insights Association has had to tangle with the demise of the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield for data transfer, further pandemic relief, some new threats to pharma MR, the finalization of CCPA, and an attempt to rush the 2020 Census that threatens the statistical viability of most marketing research and data analytics in the U.S.

The past month has seen significant developments on CCPA, COVID-19, data taxes, small business-crippling legislation in California, immigration work visas, and TCPA. The Insights Association is grateful for your membership and support in combatting these tough issues. Check out what we’re up to!

It has been an odd few months for businesses across the country. Working from home is now the new norm.

The Paycheck Protection Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration's program offering forgivable loans to small businesses that keep workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 crisis, has been extended until August 8.

A new law in Louisiana, backed by the Insights Association, provides people and businesses in the state basic protection from liability for exposure to COVID-19 during the “public health emergency” if following “applicable government standards and guidance.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration released revised rules and EZ forms for its forgivable small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The rules implement changes made by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010), a bill backed by the Insights Association which was signed into law on June 5, 2020.

A leading Republican in the U.S. House wrote that “Main Street” businesses following “rules and guidelines set by state and federal officials to reopen their doors and reimagine their operations” should not need “to worry day and night about getting sued, too.”