Legislation

The Gun Violence Prevention and Public Safety Database Act of 2026 mandates the CDC to establish a publicly accessible database compiling peer-reviewed gun violence research within one year. This database must include research from key national health and safety systems and be updated every six months. The bill also authorizes dedicated federal funding to support this ongoing research and database maintenance.

The Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act seeks to revive the historical practice of Supreme Court justices serving on federal circuit courts. This legislation mandates that justices spend at least 10 days annually hearing oral arguments across various circuits. The stated goal is to reconnect the Court with the American public and lower courts, potentially rebuilding public trust.

The Governors’ Right to Inspect Act of 2026 grants state Governors and their designated public health or safety officials the authority to conduct unannounced health and safety inspections of all immigration detention facilities within their borders. This access is strictly limited to observing and documenting conditions related to detainee well-being, explicitly prohibiting interference with federal immigration enforcement operations. Following an inspection, Governors may report findings to Congress, which then requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue a public response regarding any identified deficiencies.

The Disaster Relief Integrity and Independence Act aims to ensure fair and timely federal disaster assistance. It explicitly prohibits basing disaster relief decisions on the political affiliation of a state or locality. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the President must respond to major disaster requests within 45 days, or the request is automatically approved.

The Transit Oriented Development Act of 2026 aims to boost the construction of affordable housing near public transit by significantly increasing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for qualifying projects in designated transit-oriented areas. This legislation defines these areas as being within a half-mile of transit stations and zoned for density. Additionally, the bill mandates a HUD study to recommend adjustments to state tax credit allocations based on geographic cost-of-living differences.

The Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026 establishes new protections for unaccompanied alien children encountered in the U.S. It mandates a judicial warrant for the arrest or detention of these children away from the border and prohibits the use of military assets for immigration enforcement, except during natural disasters. Furthermore, the bill ensures children cannot be coerced into signing legal documents affecting their status without first having a confidential consultation with a lawyer.

The Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2026 establishes a permanent, expert-led Children’s Commission to advise Congress and federal agencies on policies affecting children and marginalized youth. This Commission will promote child well-being, review agency actions, and ensure the voices of children are incorporated into federal decision-making. It will be led by a Children's Commissioner and is authorized to receive funding through fiscal year 2034.

The Parent PLUS Loan Fairness and Responsibility Act of 2026 establishes a pathway for parents to transfer eligible federal student loans directly to their dependent child. This transfer is contingent upon the child meeting specific criteria, including demonstrating the ability to repay the debt. Once transferred, the child assumes full responsibility for the loan, while the parent is released from all obligations.

The Tax Relief for First Responder Beneficiaries Act expands federal income tax exclusions for compensation received by the survivors of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. This legislation broadens the definition of eligible recipients for tax-free payments, including survivor annuity benefits. The goal is to provide greater financial relief to a wider range of beneficiaries.

This bill mandates that public colleges receiving Medical Student Education grants must incorporate comprehensive menopause training into their medical school curricula. This requirement, overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, aims to better equip future physicians across all specialties with the necessary knowledge regarding menopause care.

The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 aims to strengthen national resilience against increasing flood risks by establishing a new standard for federal actions in floodplains. This legislation directs federal agencies to evaluate and reduce flood hazards in their planning, funding, and property management activities, often requiring designs that account for future climate change impacts. The Act mandates compliance with the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard for federally funded projects and requires agencies to prioritize avoiding development in flood-prone areas whenever practicable.

The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 establishes a national platform, managed by a Department of Energy-funded National Laboratory, to centralize and accelerate biological research using AI and data science. This platform will serve as a single entry point for accessing federally funded biological data, incorporating robust quality metrics and tiered cybersecurity. The bill mandates a phased rollout, beginning with a pilot version within two years and expanding to full researcher access within five years, while strictly protecting data privacy and existing use limitations.

This bill seeks to amend immigration law to officially classify the processing of crawfish as agricultural labor. This change would allow foreign workers processing crawfish to qualify for temporary H-2A agricultural worker visas.

The Build Housing Affordably Act directs HUD to study the impact of the *Build America, Buy America Act* on affordable housing projects, including associated costs and waiver processes. It temporarily pauses the *Buy America* requirements for federally funded housing projects until the study is reported to Congress. Furthermore, the bill mandates a 90-day deadline for HUD to decide on waiver requests for these housing projects, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed.

The PRIDE Act of 2026 officially renames the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion at certain federal financial agencies to the Office of Minority, Women, and LGBTQI Inclusion. This expansion explicitly incorporates LGBTQI individuals and LGBTQI-owned businesses into existing diversity, inclusion, and contracting requirements. The bill adds specific definitions for "LGBTQI" and "LGBTQI-owned business" across relevant statutes.

The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026 aims to redirect funding by eliminating federal tax incentives for private school scholarships. Specifically, it repeals the tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and removes the income exclusion for certain scholarship amounts received. These changes are set to take effect starting in 2027.

The Travel Assistance for Veterans in Medical Deserts Act expands travel payment eligibility for veterans with service-connected disabilities residing in U.S. territories or the Freely Associated States. This change allows veterans in these remote areas to qualify for travel benefits regardless of their disability rating if no VA medical facility is nearby. The bill removes the previous 30% disability rating requirement for veterans living in these specific jurisdictions.

The Keeping Pets and Families Together Act establishes a federal program to provide funding for state and local governments to support the microchipping of dogs and cats in shelters. This initiative aims to increase the chances of reuniting lost pets with their original owners or ensuring proper tracking upon adoption or transfer. The Secretary of Agriculture must report on the program's effectiveness and recommend future funding by the end of 2030.

This bill, the TIMEOUT Act, mandates that most federal agencies must relocate their nonessential administrative offices out of designated "sanctuary jurisdictions" within 90 days of enactment. It also prohibits these agencies from establishing or renewing leases in such jurisdictions in the future. The legislation requires federal agencies to identify and move covered office space located in jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

This Act places an immediate moratorium on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarding new contracts for specific surveillance technologies used in immigration enforcement, such as facial recognition and location tracking. The freeze remains in place until the DHS Inspector General completes a comprehensive audit of these technologies and the Secretary reports on necessary safeguards. Upon completion of the audit and reporting requirements, DHS must issue annual public reports detailing the continued use of these surveillance tools.