Labor Department Seeks Feedback on Benefit Plan Paperwork
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Labor wants your thoughts on keeping some paperwork rules the same for now. This affects businesses and nonprofits who help manage employee benefit plans, with no new changes or extra costs proposed. You’ve got until April 20, 2026, to share your feedback and help keep things running smoothly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
401(k) Fee Disclosure Extension
The Department seeks comment on extending fee and expense disclosure rules for participant-directed individual account plans (29 CFR 2550.404a-5) under OMB Control No. 1210-0090. The collection covers 619,650 respondents, about 1,039,819,787 responses, estimated 5,204,349 burden hours, and an estimated total burden cost of $221,557,106, with current approval expiring on September 30, 2026.
Employee Hiring Marketplace Notice
The Department seeks comment on extending the FLSA section 18B notice to employees about Health Insurance Marketplace options under OMB Control No. 1210-0149. The collection covers 10,909,076 respondents, 31,595,244 responses, and an estimated total burden cost of $5,480,827, with current approval scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026. The notice must be provided at hiring and inform employees about Marketplace services and potential premium tax credit eligibility if an employer plan's share is less than 60 percent.
Defined Benefit Funding Notice Extension
The Department requests comment to extend the annual funding notice collection for defined benefit pension plans under OMB Control No. 1210-0126. The collection covers 32,209 respondents, 58,201,069 responses, estimated 166,067 burden hours, and estimated total burden cost of $5,758,314, with current approval scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026. For plans in 'critical and declining status,' notices must include the projected date of insolvency and a statement that insolvency may result in benefit reductions.
Summary Plan Description Continuation
The Department is requesting comment to extend the existing paperwork requirements for Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) under OMB Control No. 1210-0039. This collection covers 3,214,973 respondents, an estimated 117,968,000 responses, and an estimated total burden cost of $88,872,000, with current OMB approval scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.
Electronic Plan Disclosure Consent
The Department is requesting comment to extend the information collection on consent to receive employee benefit plan disclosures electronically under OMB Control No. 1210-0121. The collection lists 760,585 respondents, 55,055,864 responses, and estimated total burden cost of $3,101,381, with current OMB approval scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.
Plan Loan Documentation Requirement
The Department requests comment on extending the information collection for plan loan documentation under OMB Control No. 1210-0076, which requires plan documents to include eight specific loan provisions. This collection lists 2,606 respondents, 2,606 responses, an estimated 7,818 burden hours, and current OMB approval scheduled to expire on August 31, 2026.
QDIA Notice and Disclosure Extension
The Department is seeking comment to extend information collections related to qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs) under OMB Control No. 1210-0132, including annual notices and participant disclosures. The collection shows 384,183 respondents, about 49,546,060 responses, an estimated 87,978 burden hours, and an estimated total burden cost of $2,183,990, with current approval scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11140 — Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations
Starting soon, health plans and insurers must share clearer info when they pay or deny surprise medical bills. They’ll use special codes to explain these decisions, especially when dealing with folks they don’t have contracts with. This helps patients and providers understand bills better and speeds up fixing disputes, with no extra costs for most people.
2026-11093 — Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators
OSHA wants to make it easier for workers using certain respirators by removing some medical check-ups for filtering facepiece and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. This change affects workers who wear these masks and could save time and money on medical evaluations. The public can share their thoughts until July 6, 2026, before the rule is finalized.
2026-10849 — Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports
Starting July 1, 2026, big labor groups will fill out a longer financial report to boost transparency, while medium-sized groups get updated forms too. These changes help everyone see how union money is handled and apply only to fiscal years beginning after that date. If your labor organization handles $350,000 or more, get ready for clearer, more detailed reporting!
2026-10456 — Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2026
Good news for businesses and workers: the Department of Labor won’t raise any fines or penalties in 2026 because the usual inflation data wasn’t available. This means all civil penalties stay the same starting May 27, 2026. So, no surprise cost hikes this year—just steady rules and steady fees!
2026-07959 — Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act
The Department of Labor is proposing clear rules to decide when two companies share responsibility for workers’ rights under key laws like minimum wage, family leave, and farmworker protections. This change helps workers and employers understand who’s in charge and makes enforcement fair and consistent across the country. If finalized, these rules could affect many businesses and workers starting soon, with potential impacts on compliance costs and legal clarity.
2026-05492 — Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary: Notice of Court Vacatur
The court has canceled the Department of Labor’s 2024 rule that changed who counts as a trusted investment advisor for retirement plans. Starting April 20, 2026, the old rules from 2020 will be back in charge, affecting financial advisors and retirement plan managers. This means advisors should review their practices to stay on the right side of the law and avoid costly mistakes.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03144 — Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Charter Renewal
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is renewing the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes’ charter until February 27, 2028. This committee helps make sure medical uses of radioactive materials stay safe for patients, workers, and the public by giving expert advice on rules and new technologies. The renewal keeps expert voices in the mix without extra costs or delays, benefiting anyone involved in medical radiation use.
Next: 2026-03146 — Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is asking for your thoughts on a new paperwork plan they want to send to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. This affects anyone who deals with FRA’s information requests, and you have until March 20, 2026, to share your comments. No big costs or changes yet—just a chance to weigh in before the paperwork gets the green light!