Money-Saving Licensing Tips for Startups
A Discussion with Nacha on Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Fraud - Payments Pros: The Payments Law Podcast
CFPB's Section 1071 Final Rule (Part 3): Potential Problem Areas – The Consumer Finance Podcast
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: Perspectives on Counseling on the Creation of Consumer Finance Products, with Guest Joseph Schuster, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, Goldman Sachs
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: Recent Federal and State Debt Collection Developments
Medical Spa Start-Ups: What Providers Need to Know
Patent Licensing Tips and Takeaways
A Changed Legal Landscape? Analyzing California’s New Cannabis Laws
Obtaining a Recreational Marijuana License from Your Local Municipality
Mergers and Acquisitions in Healthcare: Getting Your House in Order
Nota Bene Episode 72: Space Law: License, Launch, Finance, Insurance, and Responsible Space Stewardship with Brian Weimer
Meritas Capability Webinar - Legal Cannabis and the Health Care Industry
Following its enactment earlier this year, Myanmar's Cybersecurity Law No. 1/2025 (the “Cybersecurity Law”) came into effect on 30 July 2025. It introduces a comprehensive framework regulating both domestic and international...more
The Football Governance Act was passed into law on 21 July 2025. This follows a long period of debate amongst legislators, regulators, clubs, fans and other market stakeholders about the future of English football, in...more
The Rhode Island Medical Spas Safety Act (RI MSSA) was signed into law by Governor Daniel McKee on June 30, 2025, and is the latest example of the increasing regulation of medical spas. Despite their growth in popularity...more
More than two years after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis, and eleven years after the establishment of the state’s medical cannabis program, adult-use cannabis businesses are...more
On June 30, 2025, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act No. 25-66, enacting broad revisions to Connecticut’s money transmission statutes. The new law, effective October 1, 2025, updates definitions, expands...more
Once hailed as the sleek, interest-free alternative to credit cards, buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) loans have become a defining feature of modern consumer finance. Consumers like them because with just a few clicks, they can...more
On June 27, Pennsylvania enacted Senate Bill 202, which significantly expands the Commonwealth’s Money Transmitter Act (MTA) to include virtual currency transmission. Under the amended law, transmitting virtual currency is...more
Taking effect in August 2025, the new legislation will bring issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins into the regulatory perimeter. By Simon Hawkins, Adrian Fong, and Sam Maxson On 21 May 2025, the Legislative Council of Hong...more
Colorado has adopted a new Money Transmission Modernization Act (“Act”), replacing the old Colorado Money Transmitters Act...more
On May 28, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo approved SB 437, creating a new framework for internet-based consumer lenders that lend to Nevada residents. The law defines an “Internet consumer lender” as any entity that exclusively...more
Licensing Link is a periodic publication that will keep you informed on hot topics and new developments in state licensing laws, and provide practice tips and primers on important issues related to state licensing across the...more
The regulatory environment for “Buy Now, Pay Later” (or “BNPL”) loans is entering a new era. On May 9, 2025, New York enacted legislation that will require providers of BNPL loans to be licensed by the state and adhere to...more
On May 25, the Maryland General Assembly chaptered HB 1294 and affirmatively subjected earned wage access products to the Maryland consumer credit and licensing provisions. The law requires companies that offer earned wage...more
On May 21, 2025, Governor Bill Lee signed House Bill No. 979 (the Bill) into law. In addition to amending laws regarding the employment of Hospital-Based Physicians (see this article), the Bill also introduces a new provider...more
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies with values tied to fiat currencies or other assets, and are often said to be “pegged to” a single or a basket of fiat currents and/or other assets....more
On May 21, 2025, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed the Stablecoins Bill, establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins–cryptocurrencies whose value is tied to an external asset or commodity. This marks an important...more
Minnesota Adult Use Cannabis Update - We assisted multiple clients in completing and submitting their adult-use cannabis license applications to the Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”), and we continue to monitor how and...more
Tennessee enacted new legislation governing HDC - hemp derived cannabinoids, the state’s term for legal CBD and hemp that contains less than 0.3% THC. The new law does not take effect until January 1, 2026...more
On April 18, 2025, Colorado enacted the Model Money Transmission Modernization Act (MTMA) (HB 25-1201), which repeals and replaces the state’s previous Money Transmitters Act. The law updates standards for the licensing,...more
Alabama has enrolled legislation regulating the sale of consumable products (including beverages, edible products, and topical creams) containing THC or CBD derived from hemp, and has designated the Alabama ABC Board as the...more
At Ward and Smith, we are closely monitoring these developments to help our clients with the potential impacts on their businesses. Below is an overview of what stakeholders in the hemp industry need to know about this...more
“Compromise” sometimes gets a bad rap. And history teaches us that there can be bad compromises. But as your resident glass-is-half-full contributor who has also been closely following debate over access to consumable hemp...more
Indiana has enacted a law that establishes a financial-services oversight regime for earned wage access services, also known as on-demand pay services, which allow workers to access earned but unpaid income before payday....more
In a prior Legal Update, we discussed the introduction of legislation in the Maryland General Assembly that would amend Maryland law to address guidance issued by the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation (“OFR”). That...more
There’s a great scene in the movie Wall Street when the up-and-coming Charlie Sheen (pre-Tiger Blood and now that I think about it maybe the precursor to the “winning!” mantra that seems to resonate today) is playing the role...more