Nonrival

Expert analysis from think tanks and academia, on public policy, economics, and technology.
Human experts. AI summaries.

The SEC Has Quietly Stepped Back from Decades of Overseeing Shareholder Proposals

harvard_corpgov

• The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance announced it will no longer respond to companies' requests for guidance on excluding shareholder proposals from proxy ballots, ending a decades-old informal review process.
• Companies must still file procedural notices when they want to exclude a proposal, but they're now on their own legally — the SEC won't weigh in on whether the exclusion is justified.
• This is part of a broader deregulatory retreat that could culminate in shareholder proposals being governed by state law rather than federal rules, a fundamental shift in corporate governance.

Corporate Shareholders Are Pushing Back on ESG — But Companies Are Still Letting Most Votes Happen

harvard_corpgov

• Fewer shareholder proposals were submitted for the 2026 proxy season, but more ended up on ballots than expected because companies took a cautious approach to blocking them under new SEC rules.
• Support for executive pay packages (Say-on-Pay) remained strong, and the number of failed votes dropped sharply — suggesting shareholders are broadly satisfied with how companies are handling compensation.
• The piece offers an early read on corporate governance trends heading into the 2026 proxy season, with implications for how companies navigate ESG pressure and executive pay scrutiny.

As Summers Get Hotter, Young Athletes Are Increasingly at Risk from Heat Illness

yale_climate

• Climate change is making fall sports seasons more dangerous for young athletes, who are especially vulnerable early in the season before they've acclimated to intense exercise in the heat.
• Experts recommend schools ramp up practice intensity gradually, modify workouts on dangerously hot days, and have emergency response plans ready.
• A key cultural challenge: coaches need to create environments where athletes feel safe speaking up about symptoms like dizziness or nausea before they become emergencies.