The Essentials 2026

Welcome to our Bond Law Bootcamp! Log in or create an account to register for The Essentials 2026, hosted in Austin, Texas, April 8-10.

Please add all of your session selections to your conference schedule during registration so we can accurately track your CLE credits.

Substitutions and cancellations are permitted upon written request by Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Any requests received after March 17th will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after April 4, 2026. Please email all requests to [email protected].
When
4/8/2026 - 4/10/2026
Registration
Sign in or create an account to register
Last day to register is 4/8/2026

Registration Instructions

  1. Login to your NABL account.
  2. Click the “Register Myself” button.
  3. Select your Registration Option(s).
  4. Click "Proceed to Checkout" where you will be redirected to the shopping cart page. Enter your payment information and click “Submit Order.”
  5. An order confirmation will appear on the screen and be emailed to the address of the account. NABL On-Demand registrants will receive instructions on how to access their purchased event via email.
  6. Please allow up to 30 days for processing CLE credits. 

Program

Description
Attendees will be provided with an overview of the conference and previews of what to expect over the 2.5 day conference.
Track
A. General Sessions
Time
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
4/8/2026 12:00 PM
This session will cover the central structural elements, documentation, and financial aspects of a municipal bond transaction.
Track
A. General Sessions
Time
12:15 PM - 2:15 PM
4/8/2026 12:15 PM
Introduction to federal tax laws governing municipal bonds.
Track
A. General Sessions
Time
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
4/8/2026 2:45 PM
This session will address federal securities laws applicable to municipal bonds.
Track
A. General Sessions
Time
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
4/8/2026 4:30 PM
Track
L. Welcome Reception
Time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
4/8/2026 6:00 PM
Overview of the role of and expectations imposed on underwriter’s counsel in a municipal bond transaction.
Track
B. Breakout Session 1
Time
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
4/9/2026 8:30 AM
Discussion of common state law issues that need to be addressed throughout the structuring of a municipal bond transaction and related disclosure issues.
Track
B. Breakout Session 1
Time
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
4/9/2026 8:30 AM
Overview of the private activity bond rules applicable to tax-exempt municipal bond transactions.
Track
B. Breakout Session 1
Time
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
4/9/2026 8:30 AM
Introduction to and discussion of the underwriting process, including all aspects of structuring the deal through taking the municipal bonds to market.
Track
C. Breakout Session 2
Time
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
4/9/2026 10:15 AM
Discussion of hypotheticals that involve the application of certain private activity bond rules to tax-exempt municipal bond transactions.
Track
C. Breakout Session 2
Time
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
4/9/2026 10:15 AM
Introduction to state law creation of and limitations on conduit bond issuers, the roles of counsel, multi-state issuers, and many other issues unique to conduit bond issues. Overview of the rules applicable to qualified small issue bonds, including qualifying projects, prohibited and restricted uses and maximum amounts, and the rules relating to qualified exempt facility bonds.
Track
C. Breakout Session 2
Time
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
4/9/2026 10:15 AM
We all know the pithy Schoolhouse Rock version of how a bill becomes law. Now join our Chief Policy Officer, Brian Egan, for a deeper dive into how ideas become law, the federal rulemaking and comment process, how and why NABL advocates for sensible public finance policy, and (most importantly) how you can get involved.
Not CLE eligible. 
Track
D. Lunch Session: Federal Advocacy 101
Time
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
4/9/2026 12:15 PM
Overview of the role of, responsibilities and expectations imposed on issuer's counsel in a municipal bond transaction.
Track
E. Breakout Session 3
Time
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
4/9/2026 1:00 PM
Introduction to the tax requirements applicable to the issuance of 501(c)(3) bonds, including ownership and use requirements and issues specific to hospital, residential housing, and school financings as well as commonly used financing structures.
Track
E. Breakout Session 3
Time
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
4/9/2026 1:00 PM
Overview of general arbitrage concepts, arbitrage rebate requirements, and the application of the various exceptions to the arbitrage rebate rules.
Track
E. Breakout Session 3
Time
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
4/9/2026 1:00 PM
An overview of the logistics of closing a bond transaction, including drafting of various closing papers, preparing the Form 8038G or 8038, and DTC’s role prior to, during, and after a bond closing.
Track
F. Breakout Session 4
Time
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
4/9/2026 2:45 PM
Overview of certain transactions that do not fit typical structures but are common such as leases, installment payment contracts, pool programs, certificates of participation and others.
Track
F. Breakout Session 4
Time
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
4/9/2026 2:45 PM
Introduction to the legal and tax aspects of refundings and the core tax concepts of a reissuance; combined with discussion of hypotheticals that involve the application of certain federal tax laws relating to refundings, including the repeal of tax-exempt advance refundings, as well as reissuance.
Track
F. Breakout Session 4
Time
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
4/9/2026 2:45 PM
Discussion of best practices for emerging bond lawyers for professional and practice development
Track
G. Breakout Session 5
Time
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
4/9/2026 4:30 PM
Discussion of hypotheticals that involve the application of certain federal tax laws relating to arbitrage rebate and the exceptions to the arbitrage rebate.
Track
H. Breakout Session 6
Time
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
4/10/2026 8:30 AM
Discussion of hypotheticals that involve the application of certain private activity bond rules to tax-exempt municipal bond transactions.
Track
H. Breakout Session 6
Time
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
4/10/2026 8:30 AM
This session will address, in an interactive format, some of the ethical and practical issues related to legal representations in municipal finance, including: engagement letters, delivery of opinions and conflicts of interest, and a discussion of applicable ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. This session is anticipated to qualify for CLE ethics credit.
Track
I. Ethics Session
Time
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
4/10/2026 10:15 AM
The Essentials concludes with a fourth General Session entitled “Tying It All Together.” This popular session takes attendees through a typical bond issue - from the initial client call to closing - using an interactive, informal platform that incorporates concepts from across the General Sessions and breakout sessions. Panelists play the roles of issuer, underwriter, bond attorney, and tax attorney as they navigate through a bond transaction from start to finish. Along the way, they encounter, explain, and resolve issues typically encountered in public finance transactions.
Track
J. Closing Session
Time
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
4/10/2026 12:00 PM
2026 Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law Textbook - Discounted $200 price for attendees only
Track
M. Textbook (Optional - $200 Attendee Price)
Time
1:30 PM
4/10/2026 1:30 PM