Legislation

The "Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act" enhances the rehabilitation credit for historic buildings in rural areas, offering increased credit percentages for both affordable housing and other projects. It allows taxpayers to transfer these credits and removes the basis adjustment, aiming to incentivize the revitalization of rural communities through historic preservation. The bill defines specific criteria for "applicable rural projects" and "affordable housing projects" and introduces recapture rules for non-compliance with affordable housing requirements. These provisions apply to properties placed in service after December 31, 2025.

The "Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025" adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for agricultural matters. It mandates CFIUS review of agricultural land transactions, particularly those involving entities from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, to safeguard American agriculture. This ensures scrutiny of foreign investments in agricultural land and related industries, addressing potential threats to national security. The requirements for a specific country will end if that country is removed from the list of foreign adversaries in section 791.4 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

The PREVENT DIABETES Act aims to expand access to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) by allowing entities to participate solely through online services from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update regulations by January 1, 2026, to accommodate virtual suppliers, ensuring they meet MDPP enrollment conditions. This act also ensures that these entities will not be denied claim payments for online MDPP services solely because the beneficiary was in a different state when the services were provided and places no limit on the number of times an individual may enroll in the MDPP.

The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2025 aims to hold the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) accountable for providing payments to terrorists and their families by mandating the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and financial institutions involved in facilitating these payments. These sanctions include blocking property, visa restrictions, and prohibiting U.S. bank accounts for foreign financial institutions. The Act will be terminated once the Secretary of State certifies that the PLO and PA have ceased these payments.

Eric's Law addresses instances where a jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision regarding sentencing in death penalty cases. It mandates that the court impanel a new jury to determine sentencing. Should the second jury also fail to reach a unanimous agreement, the court is required to impose a sentence other than death.

The Gun Trafficker Detection Act requires non-licensed firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the Attorney General and local law enforcement within 48 hours, and it mandates the Attorney General to establish a web-based portal for such reporting. States must allocate a portion of their grant funding to manage data on lost or stolen firearms. The act also establishes penalties for failing to report or for falsely reporting the loss or theft of a firearm, and it updates the national criminal background check system accordingly.

The "Stop the Delta Tunnel Act" prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing a permit for the Delta Conveyance Project, a proposed water diversion project in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This effectively halts the project as it is currently designed.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 28 East Airy Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, as the "Charles L. Blockson Post Office Building." Any reference to this facility in any document will now refer to it as the Charles L. Blockson Post Office Building.

The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2025 aims to bolster the cybersecurity of the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct regular risk assessments of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It also mandates annual cross-sector crisis simulation exercises to assess preparedness, identify gaps, and improve coordination in the food supply chain. These exercises will involve government and private sector entities, with reports submitted to Congress to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the agriculture and food sector. Finally, the Act authorizes $1,000,000 per fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the simulation exercises.

The Poverty Line Act of 2025 updates the calculation of the federal poverty line to more accurately reflect the true costs of basic needs such as housing, childcare, and healthcare, while also accounting for geographic variations and household spending norms. This updated calculation aims to expand eligibility for federal assistance programs. The Act requires regular evaluations and adjustments to the poverty line, ensuring it keeps pace with economic changes and accurately reflects the needs of households striving for economic mobility. It also mandates a report to Congress on necessary updates to federal laws and regulations that rely on the poverty line for program eligibility.

The Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025, or VETS Opportunity Act of 2025, refines the requirements for independent study programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs. It clarifies necessary regular interaction between students and instructors, and hones the definition of eligible higher education institutions. These changes will apply to academic terms starting on or after August 1, 2025.

This bill mandates that all Department of Veterans Affairs domiciliary facilities and State homes must have resident advocates. These advocates will serve as liaisons for veterans, addressing complaints and escalating them to higher authorities when necessary. The goal is to ensure veterans' concerns are heard and addressed effectively within these facilities.

This bill seeks to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness (SOAR) Training Program. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the program's authorization through fiscal years 2026-2030.

The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess and report on terrorist threats to the U.S. posed by individuals in Syria linked to foreign terrorist organizations. This assessment will evaluate the origin, affiliations, and the Department of Homeland Security's capabilities to identify, track, and mitigate these threats, ensuring congressional oversight through required reports and briefings.

The Pell Grant Sustainability Act aims to increase the buying power of Pell Grants for lower-income students. It indexes the maximum Pell Grant award to inflation, starting with a \$1,060 increase for the 2024-2025 award year, and adjusts it annually based on the Consumer Price Index. This adjustment is added to the maximum Pell Grant specified in the latest appropriation act, ensuring Pell Grants keep pace with rising education costs. The bill also extends provisions of the Higher Education Act related to Pell Grants indefinitely.

The "PROTECT Student Athletes Act" seeks to ban betting on individual college athlete's performance during games, known as "covered prop bets," to protect their well-being and the integrity of college sports. It asserts that sports betting's impact on interstate commerce necessitates federal regulation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce the Act.

The POLE Act aims to protect local elections by ensuring they are held in odd-numbered years to increase focus on local candidates and issues. Starting in fiscal year 2027, states that do not allow local governments to hold elections for local offices in odd-numbered years will be prohibited from receiving federal funds for election administration. This act supports the idea that local governance is crucial and that voters should be well-informed about local representatives.

The "Family Building FEHB Fairness Act" amends title 5 of the United States Code to include fertility treatment benefits to federal employee health benefits. Fertility treatments include: preservation of eggs, sperm, or embryos; artificial insemination; assisted reproductive technology; genetic testing of embryos; fertility medications; gamete donation; and other related services. These changes will take effect one year after the enactment of the Act.

The Postal Processing Protection Act amends title 39 of the United States Code to include any Postal Service owned or operated acceptance, processing, shipping, delivery, or distribution facility that supports one or more post offices. This change broadens the scope of facilities subject to specific requirements when the Postal Service considers closing or consolidating them.

The "Social Security for Americans Reform Act of 2025" aims to prevent non-citizens from receiving Social Security benefits by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to notify the Social Security Administration of changes in immigration status. It also mandates an annual report to Congress detailing these notifications and their impact on preventing fraud. This act limits access to various Social Security benefits, including old-age, survivors, disability insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, and other related assistance programs, for non-U.S. citizens or nationals.