Legislation

This act simplifies annual reporting for employee benefit plans by modernizing the Form 5500 filing process. It extends the filing deadline and allows for the use of electronic signatures on required reports. These changes aim to streamline compliance for plan administrators.

The ICE Out of Our Faces Act prohibits U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from using biometric surveillance systems, such as facial recognition, to monitor individuals at public assemblies. This legislation bans the acquisition and use of this technology and mandates the deletion of any previously collected biometric data within 30 days of enactment. Violations can lead to evidence being inadmissible in court and allow harmed individuals to sue the responsible federal agencies.

The Riley Gaines Act allows female college athletes to file a civil lawsuit against institutions that negligently allow biologically male athletes to compete in women's sports. This legislation provides a legal avenue for female athletes to seek damages if they suffer physical injuries as a result of such competition. Winning plaintiffs are entitled to recover their attorney's fees.

This bill authorizes the establishment of two memorials to honor Wisconsin infantry soldiers who fought in the Civil War battles of Antietam and the Second Battle of Bull Run. The memorials will be placed at the respective National Park Service battlefields. All design, construction, and installation costs must be covered by non-federal funding.

This act ensures that Medicare will reimburse qualified providers for essential on-scene emergency medical services, even when patient transportation is not required. This change takes effect starting in 2027. The reimbursement rate for these non-transport services will be comparable to what is paid for transport services.

This bill significantly reforms the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) by expanding its authority and moving it to the Executive Office of the President. It establishes new definitions and processes for addressing national security risks posed by certain suppliers, allowing the Council to issue binding "recommended" and "designated" exclusion orders against sources of concern. The legislation also creates a dedicated Program Office to support the Council's expanded functions in securing the federal supply chain.

The Cost of Police Misconduct Act of 2026 establishes a national system requiring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to track and report detailed data on judgments and settlements related to officer misconduct. This information will be compiled by the Attorney General and published in a public, searchable database maintained by the Department of Justice. Non-compliant state and local governments face potential reductions in federal grant funding. The Act also mandates future studies by the GAO to analyze the collected data on misconduct trends and costs.

The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026 addresses growing biological threats by establishing a national strategy to secure the synthetic nucleic acid supply chain. It mandates new security regulations requiring DNA/RNA synthesis providers to screen orders and customers against dangerous sequences. Furthermore, the Act creates pilot programs and governance sandboxes to foster innovation in biosecurity technology and streamline fragmented federal oversight.

The GROW SMART Act establishes a drought planning assistance program to support innovative, voluntary water-sharing agreements and the adoption of water-thrifty crops. This program provides technical and financial assistance for projects that keep agricultural land in production while offering community water benefits. Priority is given to new approaches involving partnerships that aim to insulate users from water risk and reduce consumption without fallowing land.

The Water Security and Drought Resilience Act aims to enhance water availability across Reclamation States through federal financial assistance. It expands funding for water storage projects and reauthorizes and modifies the small storage grant program. Additionally, the Act establishes a new grant program to support natural water retention and release projects within critical watersheds.

This Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System project. The study will assess the viability of supplying municipal, rural, and industrial water across South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The Federal government will cost-share the study equally (50/50) with the non-Federal entity, Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, Inc.

This bill permanently authorizes an emergency safety and security grant program for public housing agencies. The program provides dedicated federal funding to improve security measures, such as cameras and lighting, and address critical health and safety needs like fire and temperature control. Public housing agencies can apply for grants to purchase, install, or repair these essential safety improvements.

This act establishes that the maximum annual percentage rate (APR) for consumer credit transactions will be determined by the laws of the consumer's state of residence. It amends the Truth in Lending Act to ensure state consumer protection laws regarding interest rates take precedence. This effectively caps interest rates based on the strongest applicable state standard.

This Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for expanding the Lewis Clark Regional Water System across Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The study will evaluate the project's engineering, economic, and environmental aspects, culminating in a report to Congress with a construction recommendation. The federal government will cover up to 50% of the study's cost, which is authorized up to $10 million.

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed rural water supply project in Western South Dakota. The study, conducted in partnership with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., will determine the project's viability and recommend federal authorization for construction. The resulting report must also outline the non-Federal cost share, which must be at least 25% of construction costs.

This bill, the No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act, prohibits the use of federal election administration funds in any state that permits third parties to collect and transmit absentee ballots. It mandates that states must ban the practice commonly known as "ballot harvesting" to remain eligible for federal election funding. Exceptions are made for election officials, mail carriers, and immediate family or caregivers of the voter.

The Opportunities in Organic Act renames and significantly expands the existing national organic certification cost-share program. It establishes new grant funding for nonprofits to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and direct support for farmers transitioning to or maintaining organic certification. The bill also increases resources for technical assistance and mandates comprehensive reporting on the program's impact and participant demographics.

The Dual Hatting Limitation Act of 2026 prohibits certain key federal officials and their acting counterparts from simultaneously holding or performing the duties of any other federal position. This restriction specifically applies to the Directors of OPM and OGE, the Special Counsel, the Archivist, and all Level I Executive Schedule appointees. The bill also prevents the President from directing an individual to serve as an acting official in a vacant office if they are already serving in another acting capacity.

The RARE Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to narrow the scope of 7-year market exclusivity for orphan drugs. This change limits exclusivity to the specific approved use or indication, rather than the entire rare disease or condition. These new limitations apply to all currently designated orphan drugs.

The Produce Prescriptions for Veterans Act establishes produce prescriptions as a covered medical service for eligible veterans. This service provides veterans with diet-related chronic conditions who are also food-insecure with vouchers or direct benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables. The goal is to improve their health outcomes through better nutrition.