FTC Finalizes Procedural Rule Overhaul; Fed Logs Bank Control Notice Due Oct. 9

FTC Amends Rules of Practice, Effective September 24, 2026

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final rule amending several parts of its rules of practice, with an effective date of September 24, 2026. The rule covers multiple distinct areas of agency procedure — from the structure of its internal offices to the conduct of adjudicative proceedings and the handling of FOIA requests — and does not require notice and comment because, as the Commission states, the revisions "relate solely to agency procedure and practice, and do not substantively alter any rights or interests of members of the public" under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

The Commission explains that it is reverting to the term "Chairman" in § 0.8 of its rules to ensure consistency with the statutory language in the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 41, and is also amending § 0.8(c) to reflect the current title and responsibilities of the agency's EEO office. Separately, the rule revises the description of the FTC's Regional Offices in § 0.19(a) to reflect the creation of the American Competition Enforcement ("ACE") Division within the Bureau of Competition. According to the rule, ACE operates as a nationally integrated division with employees across the United States. The Commission is also removing from § 0.19(c) the reference to Assistant Regional Directors in the Regional Offices, a change the Commission says better aligns that section's description with how other FTC administrative units are described in Part 0.

OMB Control Numbers and Second Request Procedures Updated

On information collections, the Commission is amending § 1.101(b) — the centrally codified table where it publishes all OMB control numbers assigned to its rules — in three respects. First, the rule reflects the discontinuation of OMB Control No. 3084-0132 (Title: Prescreen Opt-Out Notice Rule), after the Commission determined, and OMB concurred, that the Rule's notice requirements do not constitute an "information collection" under the Paperwork Reduction Act because the PRA expressly exempts "[t]he public disclosure of information originally supplied by the Federal government to the recipient for the purpose of disclosure to the public," per 5 CFR 1320.3(c)(2). The Commission explicitly notes that this discontinuation does not affect motor vehicle dealers' existing obligations under the Prescreen Opt-Out Notice Rule, 16 CFR part 642. Second, the table is updated to reflect a new OMB approval — Control No. 3084-0169 (Title: FTC Administrative Activities) — for various administrative activities including applications by members of the public pursuant to 16 CFR parts 1, 4, and 6. Third, the table is updated to reflect OMB approval for information collection requirements under the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information, 16 CFR part 314 (the "Safeguards Rule").

The final rule also clarifies the procedures governing Second Requests — formal requests for additional information or documentary material relevant to an acquisition the Commission is investigating — by specifying that FTC staff may consider a variety of relevant issues when modifying such requests. The Commission notes, however, that the application of amended 16 CFR 2.20 to investigations pending as of September 24, 2026, may be excepted where the Commission determines such application "would not be feasible or would create an injustice." Additionally, the rule restores previously deleted language establishing a page limit for opening briefs in administrative adjudicative proceedings and clarifies the procedures by which Administrative Law Judges are assigned to such proceedings. Finally, the rule updates the list of documents constituting the Commission's public record, revises and clarifies methods for submitting FOIA requests, clarifies how the Commission calculates a quorum under its quorum rule, and adds several requirements to procedures governing motions seeking disqualification of Commissioners.

Federal Reserve: Sexton Family Trust Group Seeks to Retain Readlyn Bancshares Shares

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has published a notice under the Change in Bank Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and § 225.41 of the Board's Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.41) regarding a proposed acquisition of voting shares. The notificants — the Mark J. Sexton 2026 Grantor Trust (Mark J. Sexton, trustee and trust advisor) and the Jennifer Sexton Walther 2026 Grantor Trust (Jennifer Sexton Walther, trustee and trust advisor), both of Saint Paul, Minnesota, along with the Andrew G. Sexton 2026 Grantor Trust (Andrew G. Sexton, trustee and trust advisor) of Cedar Falls, Iowa — have applied to join the Sexton Family Control Group, a group acting in concert, to retain voting shares of Readlyn Bancshares, Inc., and thereby indirectly retain voting shares of Nashua Bancshares, Inc., both of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The public portions of the application are available for inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1414, and at the offices of the Board of Governors. The Board's Freedom of Information Office also makes such information available on an expedited basis upon request. Interested persons may submit written comments on the standards enumerated in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)), and the notice states that comments received are subject to public disclosure and will generally be made available without change.

What to Watch

• October 9, 2026: Deadline for public comments on the Sexton Family Control Group bank control notice, to be received at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago or the offices of the Board of Governors (Benjamin W. McDonough, Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20551-0001).
• September 24, 2026: Effective date of the FTC's amended rules of practice across 16 CFR parts 0 through 4, with a possible exception for application of amended 16 CFR 2.20 to pending investigations.

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