Events

Navigating NEPA and ESA Compliance in a Changing Landscape This panel of environmental law experts will unpack recent and proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With a new focus on streamlining and flexibility, Federal reforms are reshaping timelines, processes, and standards. Municipal agencies face new challenges and opportunities in land use planning, infrastructure development, water supply planning, and conservation. Speaker: Gary M. Gold & Joseph Manalili

Election Law 2026: Legal Challenges and Readiness for the Midterms The 2026 mid-term elections are fast approaching amidst a continually changing environment of Presidential Executive Orders, litigation affecting voting rights and procedures, and concerns regarding the security of the nation’s elections infrastructure. While elections are generally the purview of states and localities, we will discuss the status of legal issues that may affect how elections are conducted around the country, as well as strategies for being prepared for challenges to...

Products Liability Law, PFAS, & Other Contaminants: Legal Strategies to Help Close Funding Gaps CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. This webinar will provide an overview of how legal action against polluting chemical manufacturers is providing significant funding for municipalities nationwide. Ken Sansone will first provide a brief update on state and federal standards for contaminants in drinking water, wastewater, and biosolids, including the impact of recent changes to federal...

ESA Law & Fraud Prevention — A 360° Municipal View HUD's September 2025 withdrawal of all Emotional Support Animal (ESA) guidance created a regulatory vacuum, placing municipalities as the primary arbiters of reasonable accommodation requests. This shift exposes local governments to significant legal and ethical risks. This program delivers the first comprehensive, post-HUD playbook for municipal attorneys. It provides a unified framework to navigate fair housing obligations, emerging state anti-fraud laws, and professional ethics— transforming a compliance challenge into a...

Federal Funding: Navigating a Changing Landscape, Winter Update Local governments across the United States are working to understand the implications of recent Executive Orders and other federal agency actions related to federal funding. This panel will summarize ongoing litigation, federal agency directives, and best practices for localities navigating this changing landscape. Speaker: Michael Gaffney & Ana Schwab

Public Comment: The Good, The Bad, And The Legal As Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from the show Parks and Rec humorously stated: “What I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.” This presentation will explore the benefits of public comment, some of the issues commonly associated with public comment, and what you can do to address those issues. Speaker: Todd Sheeran & Neal Falgoust