Washington Legislative Update

Breakfast Session: Political Landscape Heading Into the 2026 Midterm Election Cycle

This session will feature reflections and insights on the evolving political environment in D.C. as we head into the midyear elections. You can expect a candid assessment of what’s happening and what lies ahead.

Shifting Federal, State and Local Approaches to Benefits

This panel discussion will consider how and why our approach to benefits is shifting. Topics for discussion may include:

• What is changing
• How are people thinking about benefits (employers, employees, legislators)
• Universalizing of accounts
• Moving away from employers
• Emergency savings accounts
• Out-of-plan action
• State IRA programs
• Retirement security for all—mandate with public option
• Change in economic policy
• Focus on regulatory side
• Executive orders.

Congressional Interest in ESOPs

Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) seem to be in favor. This session will review:

• ESOP bills
• Models of EE ownership
• KSOP
• State ownership models
• Changes tied to ERISA litigation
• Reforms to encourage this
• Regulatory environment.

Rx Industry Update

This session will examine what is happening in the world of prescription drugs, including:

PBM transparency

Trump Rx go-live

State actions

Fertility drugs

Direct purchasing

GLP-1 in HRA.

Lunch Session: EBSA Update

Daniel Aronowitz, assistant secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Department of Labor, has been invited to share the latest initiatives and enforcement activity as well as address issues of concern to the employee benefits industry.

Multiemployer Challenges and Opportunities

Join your peers to discuss the unique issues impacting your plans. Topics may include:

• Withdrawal liability
• Roth
• Surprise billing and IDR
• GLP-1 coverage.

Public Sector Challenges and Opportunities

Join your peers to discuss the unique issues impacting your plans. Topics may include:

• Investment restrictions
• Tax bills and possible revenue raisers
• Federal oversight
• Constraints on federal grants/awards
• Social Security reform and expanded coverage.

Single Employer Challenges and Opportunities

Join your peers to discuss the unique issues impacting your plans. Topics may include:

• Litigation standards
• Policymaking through regulations
• Defined benefit pension plan

Breakfast Session

Health Care Legislation and Regulation

This session will provide an overview of legislative and regulatory activities relating to health care. Potential topics include:

• ACA subsidies
• Association health plans
• Health savings accounts
• No Surprises Act
• Pharma-related issues and action.

Retirement and Investment Legislation and Regulation

This session will provide an overview of legislative and regulatory activities relating to investments. Potential topics include:

• Cryptocurrency and private equity
in 401(k) plans
• Trump accounts
• New plan designs
• Real estate
• PBGC update.

Litigation Reform Prospects and Impact

This session will examine litigation relating to employee benefits and consider the prospects for reform. Topics include:

• Health care and Rx litigation update
• Investment and 401(k) litigation update
• Need and prospects for reform.

Lunch Session: Mental Health

Mental health continues to be a crisis in this country. This session will feature a discussion on how both government and plan sponsors are approaching the many issues and challenges associated with mental health.

Artificial Intelligence in Benefits

This session will examine how the explosion in AI is impacting the benefits industry. Topics include:

• How plans are using (service delivery)
• How it impacts health and retirement industry
• State initiatives
• Fraud prevention for record keepers
• Use in prior authorization and litigation
• Government role in setting boundaries and oversight.