At the RM Shootout there was some confusion about home plate and where a batter could start in the batter's box. Based on the National Rules Committee meeting notes on 12/6/2023, the rule was interpreted correctly. I believe the main focus on the new rule has been "The batter will be called out if he hits the ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front
edge of home plate." The part of the updated rule that hasn't received as much attention is, “The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a line defining the front edge of home plate."

National Rules Committee Official Minutes (December 6-7, 2023)
§1.5 • BATTERS BOX and §7.3 • BATTING POSITION – There were multiple proposals presented by both
public and committee membership regarding changes to the batters box and batter position rules. For
the sake of consistency across all venues where SSUSA plays, the committee adopted, generally, the
USSSA Rule 1, section 5, as follows:

“The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a
line defining the front edge of home plate. The batter will be called out if he hits the
ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front
edge of home plate. NOTE: All other illegally batted ball infractions regarding the side
and rear lines of the batter’s box, along with stepping on home plate, remain in effect.”

• PASSED: 12-0-0

What is confusing about this?

The confusion on this arises from the technical inconsistency between the "new" rule from last year's National Rules Committee action (as stated above) and the pre-existing Rulebook provision §7.3 • BATTING POSITION regarding the permitted positioning of the batter's feet prior to the pitch ...
__________

§7.3 • BATTING POSITION
A. The batter must have at least some portion of both feet on or inside the lines of the batter's box at the start of the pitch. A batter who steps out of the batter’s box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out. Steps out means touching the ground completely outside of the lines of the batter’s box. (See §1.5)....
__________

It's likely there will be discussion about, and a possible technical rulebook language amendment at this year's sessions to reconcile those conflicting provisions ...

DBAX, the confusion is that one rule states you have to have both feet in the box. The new rule PRIMARILY focused on being called out if your back foot is in front of the front of home plate. However, the new rule also says you can't start with in front of home plate AND in the box.

Basically, umpires were not allowing pitches to pitch until both feet of the batter were behind the front of home plate. You know how with a 3-1 count some batters will stand up in front of the box as far as they can. This wasn't allowed.