# 2026-00696: Commerce Dept. Clears Cobwebs from Tort Claims Rules

2026-00696, Updating and Streamlining the Regulations Governing the Handling and Settlement of Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department published 2026-01-15, effective 2026-01-15 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00696
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00696
- Title: Updating and Streamlining the Regulations Governing the Handling and Settlement of Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department
- Citation: 91 FR 1677
- Published: 2026-01-15
- Effective: 2026-01-15
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0605-AA83
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Commerce Dept. Clears Cobwebs from Tort Claims Rules

## Summary

The Department of Commerce is updating its rules for handling claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act to make them clearer and simpler. They’re removing outdated job titles and cutting out confusing, unnecessary language to speed up the process and keep things accurate. These changes take effect on January 15, 2026, helping anyone filing claims get through the system more smoothly.

## Abstract

By this rule, the Department of Commerce ("Department") is amending its regulations governing the administrative handling and settlement of claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA"). This rule updates outdated references to a position that no longer exists within the Department, eliminates redundant restatements of sections of the FTCA and other applicable authorities, consolidates and simplifies the framework governing the issuance of supplementary regulations, and removes some unnecessary and inconsequential language. This action is necessary to update and streamline the Department's regulations governing the handling and settlement of FTCA claims and to ensure that such regulations conform with the underlying statutory text. The intended effect is to promote accuracy and clarity for the public and to ensure that the Department's regulations are both statutorily proper and efficient.

## Effects PRIA read

- Where to File FTCA Claims Now: benefit, low. If you file a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act with the Department of Commerce, you must now file it with the Assistant General Counsel for Employment, Litigation and Information at the Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. This change takes effect January 15, 2026 and replaces refer…
- Simplifying FTCA Rules and Removing Clutter: benefit, low. The Department removed several redundant or unnecessary regulatory provisions (15 CFR 2.2; 2.3(c); 2.4(c); 2.5(d); and 2.7) to make the Commerce Department's FTCA rules clearer and less cluttered. The Department says this will promote accuracy and clarity for the public and make the regulations mor…
- Attorney General Approval for Awards Over $25,000: mixed, medium. If a proposed FTCA award from the Department of Commerce exceeds $25,000, approval by the Attorney General is required and the Assistant General Counsel for Employment, Litigation and Information will prepare the materials the Department of Justice requires. This procedural step is described in the…

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## Sources
- [2026-00696 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/15/2026-00696/updating-and-streamlining-the-regulations-governing-the-handling-and-settlement-of-claims-under-the)
- [2026-00696 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-15/pdf/2026-00696.pdf)

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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00696 (as of 2026-06-11).