Federal Roundup — ND Business Impact

1) OSHA injury/illness e‑filing is due soon
What happened: Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminded employers the 2025 injury/illness data must be submitted via the ITA.
Why it matters: Missing this filing can trigger citations and penalties; data are public for many industries.
Who is affected: ND employers covered by OSHA recordkeeping (construction, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, warehousing, etc.).
Dates/deadlines: Submit 2025 data by March 2, 2026. Post OSHA 300A at worksites Feb 1–Apr 30. Source:

2) FAA Super Bowl airspace restrictions (travel/ops alert)
What happened: Federal Aviation Administration issued a Super Bowl LX TFR over Santa Clara, CA, with layered restrictions and a “No Drone Zone.”
Why it matters: ND companies flying crews/clients or shipping time‑critical parts to the Bay Area could see flight plan changes and UAS limits.
Who is affected: ND charter users, corporate flight depts, drone operators, logistics teams.
Dates/deadlines: TFR active Sunday, Feb 8, 2026 (outer 30‑NM ring; tighter 10‑NM core). Source:

3) IRS information‑return updates + e‑file deadline
What happened: The Internal Revenue Service confirmed e‑file deadlines and 2026 threshold changes (under the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”).
Why it matters: Accounting/HR and marketplaces must adjust systems and comms now.
Who is affected: ND employers, payers, and platforms issuing 1099s/ACA forms.
Dates/deadlines: Recipient statements for certain forms due Feb 17, 2026; e‑file most information returns by March 31, 2026. 1099‑K threshold reverts to $20,000 and 200 transactions; 1099‑MISC/NEC reporting floor rises to $2,000 (payments after Dec 31, 2025). Sources:

4) SBA speeds disaster‑loan rebuilds (preemption rule)
What happened: U.S. Small Business Administration issued an interim final rule preempting state/local procedural holdups that delay use of SBA disaster‑loan proceeds; comments invited.
Why it matters: Faster post‑storm rebuilds and fewer carrying costs when permits/approvals drag—key for ND firms in disaster‑declared counties.
Who is affected: ND borrowers under SBA disaster loans; local governments interfacing with those projects.
Dates/deadlines: Effective Jan 29, 2026; comments due March 2, 2026. Source:

5) USDA Rural Development: Q3 deadlines approaching
What happened: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development kept FY26 quarterly windows open for financing that can backstop expansions or pass‑through lending.
Why it matters: Low‑cost capital for ND utilities/co‑ops and local lenders to relend to small businesses; decisions here can ripple region‑wide.
Who is affected: ND electric/telephone co‑ops, municipals, CDFIs, and intermediary lenders.
Dates/deadlines: March 31, 2026 deadlines for Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) and Intermediary Relending Program quarterly rounds. Sources:

6) REAP energy grants: last FY26 window inside the quarter
What happened: Final FY26 REAP application deadline posted.
Why it matters: Matches ND producers’ and rural small firms’ energy‑savings or renewables projects with grants/guaranteed loans.
Who is affected: ND agricultural producers and rural small businesses statewide.
Dates/deadlines: Apply by March 31, 2026 (FY26 round). Source:

7) Postal planning marker: one‑time‑per‑year mail rate hikes + next filing window
What happened: The Postal Regulatory Commission finalized once‑per‑year limits on Market Dominant rate hikes; U.S. Postal Service signals next Market Dominant price filing expected in April 2026 for a July 2026 change.
Why it matters: ND mailers can budget with clearer cadence; shipping prices already changed Jan 18, 2026 (separate Competitive products).
Who is affected: ND marketers, publishers, e‑commerce shippers, utilities, banks.
Dates/deadlines: Watch April 2026 PRC docket for July rate details; USPS Board of Governors open meeting Feb 5, 2026. Sources: