Legislation

This bill, the Merger Agreement Approvals Clarity and Predictability Act, directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how federal banking regulators use commitments and conditions when reviewing insured depository institution merger applications. The study must evaluate metrics and review whether these regulatory decisions adhere strictly to existing law. The GAO is required to report its findings to Congress within six months of enactment.

This bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President on August 6, 2025, which authorized the imposition of duties on articles imported from India. It effectively ends the trade restrictions put in place under Executive Order 14329.

The Failing Bank Acquisition Fairness Act tightens restrictions on bank mergers that would create excessive market concentration. Exceptions to these limits are now only permitted for failing bank acquisitions necessary to prevent significant economic disruption, provided no qualified, non-concentrated buyer is available. The bill also mandates that regulators report to Congress when granting such waivers. Finally, it prohibits the FDIC from considering bad faith bids when determining the least costly resolution for a failed bank.

This resolution expresses support for designating the first Saturday of May as "National Lowrider Day." It recognizes lowrider culture as an integral part of American history and celebrates the contributions of its builders and artists. The resolution also acknowledges the community's importance in building connections while calling for support for related cultural events and education.

The Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act of 2025 (BOWOW Act) establishes new immigration consequences for harming animals used in federal law enforcement. This legislation makes noncitizens inadmissible to the U.S. and subject to deportation if they have committed acts that violate federal laws against harming these working animals.

The Main Street Parity Act modifies the criteria for Small Business Investment Act loans used for facility acquisition, construction, or expansion. Specifically, it removes certain restrictive clauses related to loan eligibility under Section 502(3)(C). This aims to streamline the process for small businesses seeking capital for physical expansion.

This Act mandates that federal banking agencies jointly conduct a study to find ways to improve the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of depository institutions serving rural areas. The study will also identify federal regulations that may hinder these improvements or the establishment of new rural banks. The agencies must submit a report of their findings to Congress within six months of enactment.

This act, the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act, amends the Small Business Act to officially include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the federal microloan program. This change expands access to crucial microloans for small businesses operating in the CNMI. The bill also includes a minor technical correction to the existing statute.

The Tailoring and Indexing Enhanced Regulations Act of 2025 (TIER Act) adjusts current dollar thresholds across major banking laws to reflect historical increases in U.S. GDP, potentially reducing regulatory burdens for some financial institutions. It also mandates that key regulatory thresholds be automatically adjusted every five years based on future GDP growth, starting in 2031. Furthermore, the bill requires federal financial agencies to jointly review and adjust non-statutory regulatory thresholds every five years to maintain consistency with economic changes.

The AI for Main Street Act directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to assist small businesses in evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence for their operations. This assistance includes providing guidance, training on best practices, and conducting outreach regarding AI use. The bill ensures these new duties are implemented without increasing the federal deficit.

The AI–WISE Act directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and publish free, publicly accessible educational resources and modules about artificial intelligence for small businesses. These materials must cover topics like how AI works, risk management, and best practices for adoption. The SBA Administrator must ensure the content is accurate, actionable, and impartial, establishing an advisory group for ongoing consultation.

This bill, the 504 Program Risk Oversight Act, mandates the Small Business Administration (SBA) to conduct an annual risk analysis of its 504 loan guarantee portfolio. The SBA Administrator must then submit a detailed report to Congress every year, beginning in 2025, outlining the findings. This report will analyze program risk across various factors, including industry concentration and loan size, and detail steps taken to mitigate identified risks. Finally, the results of this analysis must be made publicly available on the SBA website.

This bill, the Enhancing Bank Resolution Participation Act, mandates a joint study by the Comptroller of the Currency and the FDIC regarding the use of "shelf charters" and the "modified bidder qualification process" in bank failures. The study will analyze how these tools could expand competition and better protect the Deposit Insurance Fund during resolutions. The agencies must report their findings and any recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes to Congress within 270 days.

The Regulatory Efficiency, Verification, Itemization, and Enhanced Workflow (REVIEW) Act of 2025 mandates that Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies review all their regulations every five years instead of every ten. This legislation requires agencies to conduct a comprehensive internal review assessing the cumulative impact of their regulations on consumers, financial markets, and the economy. Furthermore, agencies must report these findings to Congress along with concrete plans to streamline or eliminate burdensome rules.

The Least Cost Exception Act amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to allow the FDIC to select a bank resolution method that is not the absolute least costly option for the Deposit Insurance Fund. This exception can be used if the FDIC and Federal Reserve determine the higher cost is justified by preventing further concentration among the largest, globally significant banks. Any alternative resolution chosen must still be the least costly option that avoids selling the failed bank to a global systemically important banking organization. The FDIC must establish a maximum allowable cost for utilizing this exception.

The Community Bank Representation Act amends the Federal Reserve Act to establish a dedicated community bank member on the Board of Governors. This member will focus on the supervision and regulation of smaller banking organizations, defined by an asset threshold that adjusts annually with GDP growth. Furthermore, this designated Governor will be required to provide regular testimony to Congress regarding policies affecting these community banks.

The Merger Process Review Act mandates that the Inspector General of each federal banking agency regularly review how merger applications from banks and credit unions are processed. These reviews will evaluate processing times, identify sources of delay, and offer recommendations for improving efficiency. Following each review, the agency must submit a formal response and implementation plan to Congress.

The New BANK Act of 2025 mandates that key federal financial regulators—including the OCC, NCUA, Federal Reserve, and FDIC—publish detailed annual reports on all applications for new bank charters, credit union charters, holding company approvals, and deposit insurance. These reports must standardize data collection on application outcomes, processing times, and common reasons for denial or withdrawal across federal and state levels. The goal is to increase transparency regarding the chartering and approval processes for depository institutions.

The Regulation A+ Improvement Act of 2025 significantly updates securities regulations by raising the maximum aggregate offering amount under the JOBS Act exemption from \$50 million to \$150 million. This new threshold will be automatically adjusted for inflation every two years by the SEC. The bill aims to provide greater capital-raising flexibility for businesses.

The Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act mandates a joint study by the Federal Reserve, OCC, and FDIC on how partnerships between banks and financial technology companies can foster new bank formation and improve community bank health. This study will specifically analyze the impact on product launch times, compliance costs, and technological capabilities. The agencies must report their findings and recommendations for regulatory changes to Congress within six months of enactment.