Legislation

The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act updates conservation programs by broadening definitions to explicitly include climate change mitigation and "enhancements." It revises how stewardship contract offers are evaluated to prioritize soil health and carbon sequestration goals. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of climate change mitigation bundles for producers and requires the Secretary to adjust conservation payments for inflation.

The Small Cemetery Conveyance Act establishes a streamlined process for the Secretary to convey up to 40 acres of federal land used as a cemetery to a qualified entity, such as a state, local government, or Indian Tribe. This transfer must be for the express purpose of operating a cemetery, with the government retaining the right to reclaim the property if the condition is violated. The Act also grants the Secretary authority to waive associated transfer costs for qualified recipients.

The Lanier Parks Local Access Act modifies the challenge cost-sharing program for managing recreation facilities. This change allows fees collected at one recreation site to count toward the cost-sharing requirements for any recreation facility within the broader civil works project area. This broadens the scope for how local cost-sharing obligations are calculated.

The Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act updates existing law to ensure consumers can easily obtain and use their contact lens prescriptions. This bill specifically requires online sellers to provide a HIPAA-compliant method for electronically receiving prescriptions and mandates encryption for any protected health information sent via email. Additionally, it updates seller record-keeping requirements to include customer email addresses.

This Act mandates the relocation of the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the end of 2026. The Secretary of Energy must report to Congress afterward detailing employee turnover resulting from the move and plans to address resulting staff shortages.

The Autonomous Vehicle Accessibility Act ensures that individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against when obtaining licenses to operate highly automated vehicles. It mandates a study to identify necessary infrastructure changes for accessible pickup and drop-off of passengers using driverless ride-hail services. The Act also authorizes funding to support the recommendations resulting from this accessibility study.

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program allowing individuals to treat pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrolling in TRICARE Select outside of standard enrollment periods. The Secretary of Defense must implement this program within 180 days and provide annual reports to Congress detailing enrollment changes made under this new provision. This aims to offer greater flexibility in healthcare plan selection during pregnancy for eligible beneficiaries.

The Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act establishes a pilot program allowing the FAA to grant waivers for federal funding to repair or replace previously subsidized sound insulation at select airports. This program targets homes where original soundproofing has failed, caused structural damage, or proven ineffective. Airports can also use funds to survey older, federally insulated properties to check current noise levels and potential eligibility for repairs.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations for reimbursing Senior ROTC students for educational expenses. This reimbursement applies specifically to students who are ultimately deemed medically ineligible for continued participation after waiting for a financial aid determination. The regulations must also establish a clear process for students to claim these covered costs.

This bill officially renames a specific segment of U.S. Highway 75 in Texas. The portion between the President George Bush Turnpike and U.S. Highway 380 will now be known as the "U.S. Congressman and Prisoner of War Sam Johnson Memorial Highway." This action formalizes the designation for all official records and maps.

The Joint Chiefs Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates the existing Landscape Restoration Partnership program to enhance collaboration between federal agencies. This bill expands the program's focus to specifically include post-wildfire recovery and requires greater alignment with state-level forest action plans. It also clarifies restrictions on activities within sensitive Forest Service areas and extends the program's operational timeline through 2031.

The U.S. Diplomatic Posture Review Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of State conduct a comprehensive review of all U.S. diplomatic offices and resource allocation globally. This annual report, the USDPR, must align the State Department's posture with current U.S. national security and foreign policy priorities. The Act requires detailed reporting on staffing, foreign aid, operational costs, and planned strategic shifts to ensure effective global engagement.

The Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act establishes a new grant program, administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, to fund renewable energy projects and efficiency improvements in U.S. territories. The bill also mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess clean energy potential and grid modernization options across these territories. This legislation aims to boost clean energy infrastructure and resilience in American territories by providing dedicated funding and technical support.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes mandatory, phased-in standards to drastically reduce the carbon intensity of marine fuels used by large vessels on voyages involving U.S. ports, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to set standards ensuring that ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters achieve zero greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions by 2035, or the maximum feasible reduction if that goal proves impossible. The legislation also mandates annual public reporting on fuel usage and emissions data for compliance monitoring.

The Resilient LEO PNT Act establishes a program for the Secretary of the Air Force to contract with commercial providers to demonstrate a resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system operating in Low Earth Orbit. This demonstration must prove the system can operate independently of GPS, resist jamming, and maintain high accuracy for users. Following a successful test, the Secretary is directed to move toward awarding a contract for full operational deployment of the proven technology.

The Satellite-Based Agricultural Data Act prioritizes research utilizing commercial weather information within the existing agricultural research grant programs. This amendment specifically encourages the use of data and tools from private weather companies in federally funded agricultural research projects. The goal is to integrate cutting-edge commercial weather technology into agricultural science priorities.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act establishes strict new rules for businesses using automatic renewals and free-to-paid trial conversions. It mandates clear upfront disclosures, requires express consent for annual renewals, and demands easy, comparable cancellation methods for consumers. The Federal Trade Commission is empowered to enforce these provisions, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices and specifically targeting the use of "dark patterns."

The Secret Service Recording Accountability Act of 2025 mandates that the Secret Service record all communications made while actively protecting an individual entitled to protection. These recordings must generally be deleted within 90 days, unless specific Congressional committees request their retention for at least 18 months. Recordings related to an attempt or act of harm against the protected individual must be provided to designated Congressional committees upon request.

The End the Cyprus Embargo Act lifts the existing policy that automatically denies requests to export U.S. defense articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus. Congress finds that allowing these defense sales strengthens U.S. security interests in Europe by reducing Cyprus's reliance on other nations for military equipment. This change is contingent on Cyprus meeting certain requirements and allows the President to reinstate the denial policy temporarily for national security reasons.