Legislation

The Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026 aims to boost academic success for high-need students in higher education. It authorizes competitive grants for institutions to implement evidence-based activities that increase student participation, retention, and completion rates. The bill specifically reserves funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities and prioritizes reforms supported by the strongest research evidence.

This resolution honors the life and celebrated career of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, recognizing his numerous championships, record-breaking victories across all national series, and lasting impact on motorsports. It commemorates his achievements, including being the only modern-era driver to win at every active Cup Series track. The resolution also acknowledges his legacy as a devoted family man and mentor before extending condolences to his family.

The PEARL Act establishes a three-year pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to acquire and train dogs from local animal shelters. These shelter dogs will serve as support dogs, enhancing CBP's existing Support Canine Program.

This bill mandates the Secretary of the Army to establish requirements for a networked, autonomous kinetic system to defend ground platforms against small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The system must feature integrated detection, tracking, and automated neutralization capabilities that can share information across combat units. The Secretary is required to report on the implementation timeline for this technology between fiscal years 2028 and 2032.

The Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act establishes mandatory disclosures, consumer protections, and federal preemption rules for earned wage access services. A key requirement is that providers must offer a no-cost option if a fee-based option is available. The bill explicitly clarifies that these services are not considered credit or loans under federal law. Finally, it outlines restrictions on fees, payment collection, and mandates reimbursement for certain overdraft fees caused by the provider.

The China Exchange Rate Accountability Act of 2026 places conditions on U.S. support for increasing China's voting power at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It requires the Treasury Secretary to certify that China meets specific standards regarding exchange rate transparency and fair practices before the U.S. can approve any increase. If these standards are not met, the U.S. must oppose the increase unless the President issues a national interest waiver.

This bill mandates a comprehensive study by federal banking agencies on the current use, effectiveness, and barriers to adopting advanced fraud detection technologies like AI and machine learning in financial institutions. The study must specifically address challenges faced by smaller community banks and credit unions in accessing these tools. Following the study, the agencies are authorized to launch a voluntary pilot program to help smaller institutions gain better access to and implement these advanced fraud prevention technologies.

The Small LENDER Act modifies how financial institutions collect and report demographic data from small business loan applicants under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. It mandates written notice to applicants, limits data gathering to self-reporting, and delays enforcement until at least June 1, 2033. The bill also introduces exemptions for smaller financial institutions and narrows the definition of a "small business."

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

The Health Data Access, Transparency, and Affordability Act of 2026 significantly increases the required access group health plans have to claims data, payment information, and pricing terms from their network service providers. It voids contract clauses that restrict this data access and strengthens requirements for annual attestations regarding price and quality information. The bill establishes civil penalties for non-compliance and mandates specific electronic formats for data delivery.

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act directs the Secretary of Energy to assess how artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing can enhance the capacity and efficiency of the bulk-power system. This assessment will identify current uses, potential benefits, and existing barriers to adopting these advanced technologies. The resulting report will include recommendations for overcoming these barriers to promote grid modernization.

The Workforce for AI Trust Act aims to strengthen the U.S. artificial intelligence workforce by investing in research and training. It directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish new AI fellowships and skills programs focused on trustworthy AI development. Additionally, the bill mandates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create a comprehensive AI workforce framework to define roles, skills, and competencies for the growing AI sector.

The Veteran Headstone Honor Act establishes a new tax credit for private cemeteries that attach government-issued veteran headstone medallions to grave markers. This credit covers the cemetery's qualified expenses incurred for the attachment work. Cemeteries can use the credit to offset their tax liability or elect to receive a direct payment.

The Medicaid Equal Standards Act mandates that states implement an asset (resources) test for adults covered under the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, beginning January 1, 2029. This test will set an initial $10,000 limit on countable resources for eligibility determination. States retain the option to set a lower threshold or count normally excluded assets. This requirement applies at initial enrollment and subsequent eligibility redeterminations.

The AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a program supporting the voluntary reporting, collection, and tracking of artificial intelligence (AI) flaws. This initiative involves multi-stakeholder collaboration to define terms, develop technical standards, and create infrastructure, including a national database, for managing AI-related vulnerabilities and incidents. The ultimate goal is to enhance AI security and safety through standardized reporting and disclosure norms.

The Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act aims to lower electricity costs by promoting the deployment of advanced transmission technology. It directs the Department of Energy to establish a public clearinghouse and provide technical assistance for this technology. Additionally, the bill establishes voluntary best practices for electric utilities to mitigate wildfire risks associated with bulk-power system equipment.

This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop voluntary guidelines to help federal agencies prepare their datasets for use in training artificial intelligence models. These guidelines will cover data formatting, quality, labeling, and maintenance to ensure data is "AI-ready." NIST may also launch pilot programs to test these guidelines in specific high-priority sectors.

The Load Forecasting Enhancement Act establishes regional joint boards to study and identify best practices for electric load forecasting to improve grid reliability and affordability. It then mandates that electric utilities incorporate these best practices into their forecasting methods through an amendment to PURPA. Finally, the bill requires states to update their energy conservation plans to include procedures for improving load forecasting accuracy and transparency.

The Ratepayer Protection Act establishes a new federal standard requiring electric utilities to ensure large industrial customers (100 MW or more) fully cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades. This mandates that large-load customers provide financial assurances before construction begins, protecting existing ratepayers from bearing the risk of future contract terminations. States must consider and adopt this standard within two years, unless they have already implemented similar requirements.

This bill, the "Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act," prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading on prediction markets based on government policy, political outcomes, or information gained through congressional service. Violations result in significant financial penalties levied against the responsible Member, which cannot be paid using official or campaign funds. The supervising ethics office is tasked with issuing guidance and enforcing these new restrictions.