Legislation

This bill, the "Stopping Illegal Minor Simulations Act" (SIMS Act), prohibits the creation and provision of chatbots that simulate minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct or conversation. It establishes federal criminal and civil penalties for covered entities that willfully violate this ban. The law includes exemptions for research and law enforcement investigations.

This bill, the "Ultimate Human Responsibility in Defense Systems Act of 2026," establishes strict requirements for human judgment and oversight in the Department of Defense's use of autonomous weapon systems. It mandates that commanders must retain the ability to exercise ultimate human responsibility over the use of force by these systems. Furthermore, the legislation requires rigorous pre-fielding testing, incident reporting, and specialized training to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.

This bill exempts stinger-steered automobile transporters carrying assembled vehicles from the federal requirement to display warning flags on projecting loads. The exemption takes effect immediately upon enactment. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to quickly update federal regulations to reflect this change without a formal rulemaking process.

This bill, the Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2026, aims to improve benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service at specific Department of Energy facilities and Nevada test sites. It establishes presumptions of toxic exposure for service at these "covered locations," easing the burden of proof for disability claims. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of a veteran registry and requires a comprehensive study on toxic exposures at these sites.

This bill, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2026, significantly increases the penalties for stealing firearms from federally licensed dealers, importers, and manufacturers. It establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for theft committed during a burglary or robbery of these businesses. Furthermore, the act clarifies that attempts to steal firearms from licensed collectors face the same enhanced penalties as successful theft.

The Protecting American Consumers Act establishes a new, guaranteed minimum annual funding level for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This bill sets the compulsory funding floor at 12% of the Federal Reserve System's 2009 operating expenses, replacing the CFPB's previous funding structure.

This bill amends federal law to extend existing prohibitions on noncompliant motor vehicles to also cover noncompliant motor vehicle equipment. This ensures that equipment not meeting safety standards is subject to the same restrictions on manufacturing, selling, and importing. The legislation also allows for the introduction of certain noncompliant equipment in interstate commerce specifically for testing purposes.

This bill, the Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act of 2026, prohibits the entry of connected vehicles manufactured in or designed within designated foreign adversary countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The legislation targets vehicles with significant ownership ties to these nations due to national security risks like data exfiltration and remote manipulation. Exceptions exist for vehicles intended only for testing by qualifying U.S. entities, and a formal authorization process allows entry if risks are mitigated and Congress is notified.

The CHEERS Act of 2026 reclassifies qualified energy-efficient draft alcohol property, such as specialized kegs and tap equipment, as 15-year property for tax depreciation purposes. This change allows businesses like restaurants and bars to recover the cost of this qualifying equipment more quickly through tax deductions. The provision applies to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.

The CONSENT Act establishes a private right of action allowing individuals to sue those who knowingly transmit unsolicited intimate visual depictions, including deepfakes, across state or foreign commerce without consent. Successful plaintiffs can recover damages, attorney's fees, and obtain court orders to stop future transmissions. This civil remedy exists alongside any applicable criminal laws and must be applied in a manner consistent with First Amendment protections.

This bill, the SUSTAIN Act, prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force from reducing, retiring, or modifying existing MQ-9 aircraft units through September 30, 2032, with limited exceptions for unsafe aircraft or approved mission conversions. It also requires the Air Force to submit a comprehensive report detailing the recapitalization and modernization plan for the MQ-9 fleet through fiscal year 2035. The legislation aims to protect the current inventory and operational status of these critical unmanned systems.

This bill, the "Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act," directs the FCC to improve coordination of federal communications resources during emergencies. It mandates a review of how the FCC notifies parties when the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) is activated. The Act also requires the FCC to develop educational materials to help local officials understand available federal communications tools and evaluate ways to strengthen its public safety liaison work.

This bill, the Postal Delivery Accountability Act, mandates that the U.S. Postal Service implement specific recommendations from the Inspector General's report on undelivered and partially delivered routes. The goal is to improve the identification and notification processes for these delivery issues. The Postal Service must complete these required implementations within one year of the Act's enactment.

This bill, the "Right to Record Act of 2026," establishes a federal right to record, observe, or peacefully protest law enforcement activities in public view. It creates a civil remedy allowing individuals to sue federal officers and the United States for violations, including penalties like statutory damages. The Act explicitly states that merely recording or standing near an officer does not forfeit this right unless physical restraint occurs.

This bill, the **Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act**, establishes a U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group. The group will focus on jointly developing, producing, and acquiring specific unmanned defense systems and related technologies. It mandates analyzing Ukrainian combat experience to accelerate the integration of effective Ukrainian-designed systems into U.S. defense capabilities. The legislation also requires developing frameworks for technology sharing and reciprocal defense procurement between the two nations.

This bill, the NEW HORIZON Act, establishes a pilot program for the Department of Defense to evaluate commercially available, space-based cloud computing and orbital data center services. The goal is to test whether processing data in orbit can improve the speed, resilience, and security of national security space missions. The program will assess integration, security requirements, and operational viability before any potential permanent adoption.

This resolution formally acknowledges and apologizes for the decades of discrimination and mistreatment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the U.S. military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. It condemns past and recent discriminatory policies that led to wrongful terminations and exclusions. The resolution commits the nation to pursuing equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and federal employees moving forward.

This bill, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act, establishes a comprehensive maternity care coordination program within the VA. The program will provide coordinated care for eligible veterans from the start of pregnancy through 12 months postpartum. It also mandates training for community providers and requires detailed annual reports to Congress on maternal health outcomes, including mortality and severe morbidity data.

This bill, the FENCE Act, amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to allow farmers to use modern or emerging fencing technologies when repairing or replacing fences under the emergency conservation program. This update is permitted as long as the inclusion of new technology does not increase the overall cost of the repair or replacement.

This bill, the "Intelligence Community Inspector General Parity Act of 2026," grants the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG) full law enforcement authority. This authority mirrors that held by other federal Inspectors General, enabling IC IG investigators to carry firearms, make arrests, and execute warrants. The purpose is to ensure parity in the investigative powers of the IC IG.