As we plan for 2026, many CX, UX, and Market Research teams are focused on anticipating project volume, evolving method mixes, AI-enabled workflows, and resource allocation. But regulatory policy deserves attention too—with changes coming that could directly shape how we run qualitative and quantitative projects.
In a recent episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff interviewed Howard Fienberg, Senior VP Advocacy at the Insights Association, about two regulatory shifts that could impact researchers. Kathryn and Howard also discuss how these regulations could create meaningful cost savings and workflow improvements for researchers in both qual and quant settings.
Federal Privacy Rules: One Framework to Rule Them All?
Today’s U.S. privacy landscape is fragmented—and data collection often means juggling a patchwork of state-level laws. It creates complexity for teams running multi-state studies or managing large participant datasets. Some firms have even declined projects in high-regulation states to avoid compliance risk.
Howard shared the current progress toward a federal privacy framework that could simplify this landscape. If passed, national rules might create cost savings due to standardized privacy policies and consent flows. Compliance would be simplified, in theory, versus having to meet state-specific requirements (since some states are more onerous than others).
Still, a key question remains: if a federal law passes, will it replace or simply layer on top of state rules? That distinction could mean the difference between a true simplification—or a new regulatory burden.
In this episode, Howard shared updates on where Congress stands, what’s being debated, and the likely timeline if legislation moves forward. For anyone managing qual or quant studies across jurisdictions, this is one to watch closely.
Incentive Thresholds: A Long-Needed Update Brings Relief
For years, the $600 per-person annual cap on research incentives has created headaches. Go over the cap, and we’re required to issue 1099s to research participants, a deterrent for participants, and a hassle for research ops.
Howard shared the origins of this threshold and how the cap is officially being raised.
This update is especially helpful for researchers who need to offer higher incentives, such as for longitudinal studies with repeat participation and hard-to-reach Medical and B2B populations (where per-person incentives can easily top $500).
For teams balancing compliance, recruitment, and budget efficiency, this change offers real benefits.
Better Rules Ahead for Qual and Quant Research
A potentially simplified set of privacy regulations and a higher cap on incentives are both good news for teams planning ahead for 20026 and beyond.
Note: Check out the IA’s Fighting for You newsletter as a trusted source for ongoing advocacy news. While it’s written for members, past issues are open-access and valuable for staying informed.
▶️ Watch the full conversation with Howard Fienberg on Conversations for Research Rockstars (YouTube).
🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Howard Fienberg on Conversations for Research Rockstars on Apple or Spotify.
📰 Browse past issues of Fighting for You.
About Our Guest Expert: Howard Fienberg, Senior VP, Advocacy at Insights Association
Based in Washington, DC, Howard Fienberg is the Insights Association’s lobbyist for the U.S. insights, market research, and analytics industry. He has 25+ years of public policy experience. Prior to IA, Howard was a senior legislative staffer in Congress and an analyst for a science policy think tank. He is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ organization coalition in support of the funding and integrity of the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS). Howard has a BA in Politics from Trent University (Canada) and an MA in International Relations from the University of Essex (UK). Howard can be reached at [email protected].
