Insights

Washington – April 30, 2026: Crowell & Moring hosted its 27th annual George Bailey Public Service Awards ceremony this month, named after the hero of the classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." The awards recognize the firm's lawyers and staff who have made a substantial impact on the lives of others through their pro bono efforts. 

On September 4, 2026, the IRS published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools” (REG-119986-25). The proposed rule would extend the prohibition against racial discrimination in private schools to policies and practices that are intended to serve “remedial or diversity-related objectives,” such as those commonly associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Under the proposed rule, any private primary or secondary school, college, professional or trade school, or university, would lose its tax-exempt status if it adopts, maintains, or enforces any policy or practice that considers race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of any admissions policy, scholarship or loan program, athletic program, or other school-administered program. Comments are due November 3, 2026, and, if finalized, the proposed rule would go into effect on May 31, 2027. 

On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J. / Little v. Hecox, holding that Title IX permits schools to limit participation in girls’ and women’s sports to students assigned female at birth and that state laws limiting such teams to students assigned female at birth do not violate the federal Equal Protection Clause. The decision provides significant guidance for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, athletic departments, and state policymakers navigating participation rules for school-sponsored athletics.

As pharmaceutical weight-loss therapies have surged in popularity, health plans, regulators, and courts have found themselves grappling with a set of increasingly pressing and complex questions: who must cover these drugs, under what circumstances, and for whom?