California

Assembly Bill 198 (Chapter 381) clarifies for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2007, that total income from all sources reportable to California means gross income, as defined, plus the cost of goods sold, as specified, derived from or attributable to this state within the meaning of the Corporation Tax Law.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_198_bill_20071010_chaptered.html

AB 1168 (Chapter 627) among other things applies requirements to redact or truncate Social Security Numbers from filings at the Secretary of State and other state and county filing offices and permits only public record version of filing to be available for inspection, copying or public disclosure except by subpoena or court order.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1151-1200/ab_1168_bill_20071013_chaptered.html

AB 1484 (Chapter 711) enacts Model State Trademark Law and expands information required to be provided with application for registration of a mark.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1451-1500/ab_1484_bill_20071014_chaptered.html

AB 1670 (Chapter 716) revises the conditions under which a new Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statement must be filed and allows county clerks to establish an additional fee sufficient to pay cost of notifying registrants of pending expiration of statements.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1651-1700/ab_1670_bill_20071014_chaptered.html

Senate Bill 998 (Chapter 101) changes filing requirements for corporations to include a corporation’s mailing address on the Statement of Information and to require a street address of a designated individual as agent for service and not allow a P.O. box. New Statement of Information forms will be required effective January 1, 2008 and old forms will not be accepted for filing after December 31, 2007.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/corp/pdf/so/sb998_notice.pdf

Hawaii

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) recently announced that annual report forms will no longer be mailed to business entities. Annual filers will receive reminder cards with a printed annual report file number and will access the pre-filled reports online at http://www.ehawaii.gov/annuals. Changes can be made online and users can submit online with a credit card or check or print the report and mail with a check.

Illinois

Senate Bill 1544 (Public Act 095-0233) the FY2008 Budget Implementation (Revenue) Act included provisions for an amnesty program from February 1, 2008 to March 15, 2008 for taxpayers owing franchise tax or license tax under the Business Corporation Act of 1983.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB1544lv.pdf

International

British Columbia, Canada

The Corporate Registry effective October 29, 2007 implemented an upgrade to permit online incorporation, amalgamation, continuation and alteration filings for unlimited liability companies (ULCs) pursuant to Section 51.3 of the Business Corporations Act.  ULCs, which provide certain tax benefits to U.S. owners of Canadian companies, also are permitted under the companies acts of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia.
http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/registries/corppg/forms/reg50u.pdf

England and Wales, United Kingdom

A ministerial announcement in Parliament stated that most final provisions of the new Companies Act 2006 that were due for implementation by October 1, 2008 will be deferred for one year until October 1, 2009.  A provision making company secretary optional for private companies is expected to become effective April 2008.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/bbf/co-act-2006/whatsnew/page42202.html

Motor Vehicle Updates

Maryland

Effective immediately, the fee for a Maryland Title is $23.00.

Virginia

Vehicle registration fee for a standard passenger vehicle has increased to $39.50 annually.

The DMV will issue a one-time only 30 day temporary registration if the vehicle owner is unable to produce proof of successfully passing an Emission Inspection. The vehicle owner will be charged a pro-rated registration fee for the one-month registration.