Legislation

This bill enacts technical corrections across several New Mexico water rights acts, primarily authorizing specific, adjusted interest payments to boost the Navajo Nation, Taos Pueblo, and Aamodt Settlement Pueblos water development funds. It also waives certain past interest payments owed by the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos. Finally, the legislation includes disclaimers to ensure these changes do not invalidate previously settled agreements or administrative findings under existing law.

The Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to use portable, specialized solid waste disposal systems for the on-site destruction of seized contraband, counterfeit goods, and unauthorized materials. This legislation explicitly prohibits the use of open-air burn pits for disposing of illicit or classified items. The Act provides $8.95 million in funding for fiscal year 2026, offsetting this cost by reducing funds previously allocated for open-air burn pit operations.

The Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security must keep all information submitted for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program confidential. This law strictly prohibits sharing DACA application data with agencies like ICE, CBP, or local law enforcement for general immigration enforcement purposes. Information can only be disclosed narrowly for DACA program administration, fraud prevention, or in specific, serious criminal or national security investigations.

The Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a public database containing detailed historical and ongoing real estate appraisal data from federal mortgage entities to promote transparency and combat bias. It also grants consumers the right to request a reconsideration of value or a second appraisal if they believe their home's valuation was unsupported, flawed, or discriminatory. Lenders must follow specific procedures for handling these consumer challenges and ordering new appraisals when necessary.

The Advanced Reactor Modernization for Operational Resilience Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program for the Army to deploy advanced nuclear micro-reactors or small modular reactors to power critical infrastructure by 2030. It also grants military departments the authority to enter into long-term, 50-year contracts for energy generated by advanced nuclear reactors. Furthermore, the bill expands the technology focus of the Office of Strategic Capital to explicitly include nuclear energy and technologies.

The SHOWER Act revises the federal definition of a "showerhead" for energy efficiency standards by aligning it with the ASME A112.18.1-2024 standard. This change specifically excludes "safety shower showerheads" from efficiency regulations. The Secretary of Energy is required to update all relevant regulations within 180 days to reflect this new definition.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 expands existing federal whistleblower safeguards to cover nearly all contracts, grants, and agreements funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This ensures that individuals reporting wrongdoing on HUD-funded projects receive standard federal whistleblower protections. These protections apply retroactively to existing agreements.

This Senate resolution expresses the view that the Federal Reserve should immediately lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth and improve affordability for families and businesses. It argues that current high rates are hindering job creation, increasing borrowing costs, and slowing down consumer spending. While respecting the Fed's independence, the Senate urges the Board of Governors to adjust policy to prioritize economic expansion.

The Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act of 2025 authorizes small, legal cannabis cultivators and manufacturers to ship their products interstate using the mail, provided the recipient is in a state where possession is legal. The bill mandates strict age verification (21+) for all deliveries and preempts state laws that would otherwise block these legal interstate shipments. This entire Act will only take effect after cannabis is removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act schedule and all federal criminal penalties related to cannabis are eliminated.

The 340B PATIENTS Act of 2025 clarifies that drug manufacturers must provide 340B discounts to covered entities regardless of how or where the drugs are dispensed, including through contract pharmacies. This legislation confirms the right of covered entities to use outside pharmacies to dispense discounted drugs without facing manufacturer restrictions. Furthermore, the Act establishes significant civil monetary penalties for manufacturers who violate these rules by imposing limiting conditions on the provision of 340B pricing.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act aims to enhance professional boxer safety and provide them with greater operational choice. It establishes an alternative compliance system for "Unified Boxing Organizations" (UBOs) that must meet stringent medical testing, emergency service, and anti-doping requirements for their boxers. Additionally, the Act upgrades general safety standards, mandates minimum insurance coverage, and sets a minimum per-round payment for all professional boxers.

The "Don’t Mess With My Home Appliances Act" significantly reforms the process for setting and reviewing federal energy conservation standards for consumer products. It establishes strict, consumer-cost-focused criteria that new or amended standards must meet to be deemed economically justified, including prioritizing short-term consumer savings over long-term energy reduction. Furthermore, this Act immediately halts the Department of Energy from establishing any new or amended energy standards for distribution transformers.

The Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund career pathway training in forestry. These grants aim to support workforce development in eligible rural areas by focusing on forestry operations and product processing industries. Priority will be given to programs that address aging workforces, retain young residents, and partner with educational institutions. Funding is authorized from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030.

The Trusted Foreign Auditing Act of 2025 strengthens the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) ability to inspect accounting firms operating in countries that pose a national security risk. It defines and prohibits the use of "compromised auditors"—firms influenced by "covered countries"—in preparing required audit reports. Companies headquartered in concerning nations that use such compromised auditors may face trading prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act mandates public hearings when compromised auditors are involved in related proceedings.

The Ally's Act mandates that certain private health insurance plans must cover auditory implant devices, related supplies, and necessary services for qualifying individuals. This coverage must be comparable to other medical and surgical benefits regarding cost-sharing and treatment limitations. Furthermore, plans cannot deny coverage if a physician or qualified audiologist determines the required hearing items or services are medically necessary. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The NEPTUNE Act authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to procure up to two new ships specifically designed for laying and repairing submarine telecommunications cables. Furthermore, this legislation prohibits the retirement of the existing cable ship, USNS Zeus, until a fully capable replacement vessel is officially in the Navy's active inventory. This ensures the continuous protection and maintenance of vital undersea networks.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.

The BEACON Act establishes a new Office of Inspector General (IG) within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) to provide oversight. This EOP IG will operate under the President's direction regarding highly sensitive matters like intelligence or confidential sources. The bill also mandates new, detailed reporting requirements for the EOP IG, including certification of full access to information and reporting on any presidential limitations on investigations.

The Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025 ensures that small businesses receive prompt interim payments when the government mandates changes to their existing construction contracts. Upon requesting an equitable adjustment for contract modifications, the agency must issue an immediate partial payment covering at least 50% of the estimated additional costs. This legislation also mandates that prime contractors promptly pass these interim funds down to affected subcontractors.

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025 incentivizes the construction of new housing near public transit by awarding extra points on federal capital investment grants. These extra points are given to applicants whose jurisdictions have adopted "pro-housing policies," such as reducing parking minimums or streamlining approval processes for multi-family housing. The Secretary must consult with HUD to ensure these local policies are expected to result in measurable increases in housing, particularly for low-income residents.