CFTC Tweaks Rules to Ease Business Reporting Burdens

2026-14509, Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants

Starting August 17, 2026, swap dealers and big swap players get some margin rule relief! New rules say certain new investment funds won’t have to exchange initial margin for up to three years, and more types of money market funds can now count as good collateral. Plus, the rules tweak how much value gets discounted on some assets, making it easier and cheaper to trade uncleared swaps.

2026-17079, Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading Advisors: Reduction of Duplicative Regulation Through Intermediary Registration Exemptions; Expansion of the Exemption for Small Commodity Pools

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") is proposing several amendments to its registration requirements for certain commodity pool operators ("CPOs") and commodity trading advisors ("CTAs") to reduce duplicative and overlapping regulation and reflect inflation ("Proposal"). The Proposal would add an exemption from CPO registration for certain investment advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Registered Investment Advisers" or "RIAs") in relation to commodity pools for which the participants are limited to certain sophisticated investors and which meet other conditions; add a related registration exemption for CTAs; and increase the total gross capital contributions threshold in the CPO registration exemption for small commodity pools (commonly referred to as the "Small Pool Exemption") to account for inflation. The Commission preliminarily intends for the Proposal, if adopted, to supersede certain no-action positions issued by the Commission's Market Participants Division ("MPD").

2026-16876, Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Intent To Extend Collection 3038-0059: Part 41, Relating to Security Futures Products

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission" or "CFTC") is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed renewal of a collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act ("PRA"), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on collection requirements relating to security futures products.

2026-16631, Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Intent To Extend Collection 3038-0005

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed renewal of a collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on the information collections associated with the rules relating to the operations and activities of commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs) and monthly reporting by futures commission merchants.

2026-16040, Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Intent To Renew Collection 3038-0103, Ownership and Control Reports, Forms 102/102S, 40/40S, and 71 (Trader and Account Identification Reports)

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) wants to keep collecting info from traders and accounts to better track who’s who in the futures and swaps markets. They’re asking for public feedback by October 5, 2026, before renewing these reporting forms. If you’re involved in trading, this affects you, but no new fees or big changes are planned—just a smooth continuation of current rules.

2026-16074, Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Intent to Extend Collection 3038-0091: Disclosure and Retention of Certain Information Relating to Cleared Swaps Customer Collateral

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission") is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed renewal of a collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act ("PRA"), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on the proposed extension of the existing collection of information relating to Cleared Swaps Customer Collateral.

Previous: 2025-08069, Town of Stowe Electric Department; Notice of Reasonable Period of Time for Water Quality Certification Application

The Town of Stowe Electric Department asked Vermont to check if their project meets water quality rules on April 25, 2025. Vermont has one year, until April 25, 2026, to say yes or no. If Vermont doesn’t respond by then, it’s like they said yes, so the project can move forward without delay.

Next: 2025-08071, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 21st Century Community Learning Centers Annual Performance Report

The Department wants to bring back and update the yearly report that 21st Century Community Learning Centers fill out to show how well their programs are doing. This affects the centers that run after-school programs, and the changes aim to make reporting easier and clearer. They’re asking for public feedback soon, so everyone has a chance to weigh in before the new rules kick in.