Legislation

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The Farm Rescue Act of 2025 allows agricultural producers to receive an advance partial payment for the 2025 Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program if projected payments are anticipated. Producers can opt to receive an immediate advance payment of 40% to 50% of their projected PLC amount for the 2025 crop year. The final payment will be adjusted after the marketing year concludes, and the Secretary retains the right to recover erroneous advance payments.

The Flood Insurance Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax credit for taxpayers who purchase flood insurance for their primary residence, beginning in tax year 2026. This credit is calculated based on premiums paid for federal and private flood insurance, subject to specific dollar limits for structure and contents coverage. The total credit amount is subject to phase-outs based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income.

The Second Chance at Life Act of 2025 establishes new federal requirements for abortion providers offering chemical abortions involving two drugs. These rules mandate that doctors inform women about the possibility of reversing the effects of the first pill, mifepristone, at least 24 hours in advance. The law also requires specific signage in clinics and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create an accessible, privacy-focused website detailing reversal information. Finally, it creates a pathway for civil lawsuits against providers who knowingly violate these new informed consent and disclosure mandates.

The HEALTH Act of 2025 permanently updates Medicare rules for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) regarding telehealth. This legislation permanently recognizes audio-only calls as reimbursable telehealth services and removes geographic location requirements for patients receiving care from these clinics. Furthermore, it ensures permanent payment parity for these telehealth visits, treating them as standard outpatient services for billing purposes.

The Preventive Home Visit Act establishes new Medicare coverage for comprehensive, in-home preventive assessments conducted by qualified health professionals. These visits aim to identify home-based health risks and provide necessary referrals for modifications or training to prevent falls and maintain wellness. Coverage is limited to once every two years, with payments set at 100% of the actual cost or the established rate.

The Make America's Youth Healthy Again Act of 2025 establishes a new Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. This Council will advise the President on promoting physical activity and setting new national fitness goals for American youth. Its key responsibilities include recommending the return of the Presidential Fitness Award and developing strategies to combat childhood obesity. The Council is set to operate for two years unless the President extends its term.

The Combating Hate Across Campus Act mandates that colleges and universities must provide more detailed reporting on campus hate crimes. Specifically, institutions are now required to disaggregate their reported hate crime statistics based on the specific identity of the targeted person or group, following FBI guidelines. This aims to increase transparency regarding incidents motivated by prejudice on campus.

The TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Defense provide TRICARE beneficiaries with proactive, multi-stage electronic notifications before coverage transition requirements take effect. This ensures beneficiaries are clearly informed about necessary actions, such as re-enrollment due to age limits. The Act also requires a public awareness campaign and annual reporting to Congress on the effectiveness of these notification efforts.

The 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025 aims to enhance mental health support for LGBTQ youth by ensuring dedicated resources for specialized services within the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline. This bill mandates that a minimum of 9% of annual hotline funding be reserved specifically for maintaining the specialized "Press 3 option" or equivalent service for LGBTQ callers. This action is driven by findings showing disproportionately high rates of suicidal ideation among LGBTQ high school students.

The Pipeline to Service Act aims to strengthen the federal workforce by expanding opportunities for students and recent graduates. It establishes new recruitment partnerships with colleges, mandates a minimum intern wage of $15 per hour, and streamlines pathways for interns and Presidential Management Fellows (renamed TALENTS) to convert into permanent federal employees. The bill also doubles the intake for the leadership development program to build a stronger pipeline of future government managers.

The A Chance To Serve Act significantly expands benefits for current and former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers. This legislation increases education awards, provides federal job hiring advantages, and offers one year of post-service healthcare coverage for former volunteers. Furthermore, it suspends federal student loan payments and interest accumulation during service periods for both groups. The bill also makes certain national service payments and educational awards exempt from federal income tax.

The Faith in Housing Act of 2025 aims to address the national housing shortage by empowering religious organizations to build affordable housing on their owned land. This Act preempts restrictive local zoning laws that currently hinder these faith-based efforts to create housing for low-income families. By overriding conflicting local ordinances, the bill seeks to unlock existing property for the development of deed-restricted affordable units.

The Improving Child Care for Working Families Act of 2025 significantly increases the tax exclusion limit for dependent care assistance programs. This change raises the maximum exclusion from $\$7,500$ to $\$10,500$ for most taxpayers. The bill also adjusts the limit for married individuals filing separately to $\$5,250$. These provisions apply to dependent care expenses incurred in calendar years beginning after the Act's enactment.

The Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study assessing the suitability and feasibility of designating the Monterey Bay region as a National Heritage Area. This assessment will cover Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties, along with adjacent areas sharing similar heritage. The study requires close collaboration with state, local, Tribal, and non-profit partners.

The Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General to assess the data used in allocating disaster recovery grants in Puerto Rico following major events. This report must detail the grants awarded, the statistical tools employed by agencies, and identify critical data gaps that hindered recovery efforts. Ultimately, the Act aims to improve future federal data products and processes to ensure more effective oversight and distribution of aid to the territory.

The Promoting Permanency Through Kinship Families Act aims to prioritize placing children in the care of relatives and close family friends (kinship care) as a primary path to permanency. This legislation mandates that states actively seek and support kinship placements by removing barriers like age limits for caregivers and ensuring access to necessary resources. Furthermore, the bill strengthens support programs and makes participation in the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program mandatory for all states.

The Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act aims to address the epidemic of child sexual abuse by eliminating state statutes of limitations for civil and criminal cases involving child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking. The bill incentivizes states to adopt these reforms by offering federal grants to those that eliminate time limits for filing lawsuits or reopen previously time-barred claims. This legislation is designed to ensure survivors have a meaningful opportunity to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of how long it took them to come forward.

The CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act updates federal law to expand mental health and substance use disorder services to include area career and technical education (CTE) schools alongside traditional institutions of higher education. This is achieved by replacing the term "institution of higher education" with the broader term "covered institution" throughout relevant sections of the Public Health Service Act. Essentially, the bill broadens the scope of federal support for student mental health programs to cover CTE students.

The Choice Arrangement Act of 2025 establishes new rules for employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) integrated with individual health insurance, creating a "CHOICE arrangement." This legislation outlines specific nondiscrimination, substantiation, and notice requirements for employers offering these plans. Furthermore, the Act allows participants to use pre-tax cafeteria plan funds for their coverage and introduces a new, temporary tax credit for eligible small and medium-sized employers who offer these arrangements.