Notice and Comment

• The Office of Postsecondary Education in the Department of Education (ED) is seeking comment by May 17 on a proposed rule to amend the regulations, in accordance with the Secretary’s authority to waive repayment of a loan provided by Higher Education Act of 1965, to provide targeted debt relief as part of efforts to address the burden of student loan debt. The proposed regulations would modify the Department’s existing debt collection regulations to provide greater specificity regarding certain non-exhaustive situations in which the Secretary may exercise discretion to waive all or part of any debts owed to the Department. to provide for the waiver of certain student loan debts. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking comment by May 21 on a proposed amendment to the rules regarding admission to practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to give parties the option to designate non-registered practitioners who are recognized pro hac vice ( i.e., granted recognition in a specific PTAB proceeding) as lead counsel; excuse parties from the requirement to designate back-up counsel upon a showing of good cause such as a lack of resources to hire two counsel; establish a streamlined alternative procedure for recognizing counsel pro hac vice that is available when counsel has previously been recognized pro hac vice in a different PTAB proceeding; and clarify that those recognized pro hac vice have a duty to inform the Board of subsequent events that render inaccurate or incomplete representations they made to obtain pro hac vice recognition. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.
• The Rural Housing Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking comment by May 28, 2024 on a proposed rule to update its regulations on how credit reports are obtained for the purposes of determining eligibility and feasibility for Multifamily Housing (MFH) Programs. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking comment by May 28, 2024 on a proposed rule to ban electrical stimulation devices intended for self-injurious behavior or aggressive behavior. FDA has determined these devices present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury that cannot be corrected or eliminated by labeling. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, or mailed to Dockets Management Staff (HFA–305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Read more from CNN.
• The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking comment by May 28, 2024 on a  proposed rule to set and adjust trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018. The proposed fee adjustments will provide the USPTO sufficient aggregate revenue to recover the aggregate costs of trademark operations in future years (based on assumptions and estimates found in the agency’s Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Justification), including implementing the USPTO 2022–2026 Strategic Plan. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking comment  by June 10 on a proposed rule that would amend the regulations for certain HUD Public and Indian Housing and Housing Programs. The proposed amendments would reduce barriers for applicants with criminal records or a history of involvement with the criminal justice system and eviction or termination of assistance of persons on the basis of illegal drug use, drug-related criminal activity, or other criminal activity. The proposed revisions are intended to minimize unnecessary exclusions from these programs by requiring that prior to any discretionary denial or termination for criminal activity, PHAs and assisted housing owners take into consideration multiple sources of information, including but not limited to the recency and relevance of prior criminal activity. Comments may be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, or mailed to Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-0500.

Members can also search the Federal Register for other comment opportunities.