Legislation

The Litigation Transparency Act of 2025 requires parties in civil actions to disclose the identity of any third party entitled to payment contingent on the outcome of the case, along with the relevant agreements. This disclosure aims to increase transparency in civil litigation by revealing who financially benefits from the lawsuit's outcome. Certain payments, such as loan repayments and attorney's fees, are exempt from this disclosure requirement. The Act applies to both ongoing and future court cases.

This bill resolves water rights disputes in New Mexico for the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia by ratifying existing agreements and establishing trust funds to manage settlement money. It clarifies and protects the water rights of each Pueblo, ensuring long-term access to water resources, and requires the Pueblos to waive certain claims in exchange for the settlement benefits. The legislation allocates specific funding for water infrastructure, watershed protection, and economic development, contingent upon meeting key conditions and timelines for implementation. By settling these disputes, the bill aims to enhance water security and support economic development for the Pueblos.

The "Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2025" introduces 18-year term limits for Supreme Court Justices, ensuring regular appointments every two years following a Presidential election. It establishes a system for Senior Justices to temporarily fill vacancies and stipulates that Senate inaction on a nominee within 120 days results in automatic approval. Justices appointed before the enactment of this law are exempt from term limits and active panel rules. The nine most junior Justices will form the active panel.

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish drug adherence guidelines, using AI and machine learning, to achieve a 90% adherence rate for Medicare Part B and D drugs. These guidelines will prioritize the use of generic and biosimilar drugs when appropriate.

The "United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act" directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the African Americans who served with the Union forces during the Civil War. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and create the gold medal, which will be displayed by the Smithsonian Institution and available for research. The Act also authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

The "Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act" amends immigration law to define "criminal gang" and broadens the criteria for inadmissibility and deportability to include alien gang members. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate groups as criminal gangs, subject to Congressional notification and judicial review, and mandates the detention of inadmissible or deportable gang members. The Act also restricts asylum, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and parole eligibility for gang members, and applies retroactively.

The BOWSER Act repeals the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which currently grants a degree of self-governance to the District of Columbia. This repeal would take effect one year after the enactment of the BOWSER Act. Effectively, this would end the current form of local government in DC.

The "Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act" prohibits the United States from recognizing Russia's claim of sovereignty over any portion of Ukraine. It also prevents any federal department or agency from taking actions that would imply recognition of such claims.

The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 authorizes and ratifies a settlement of water rights claims for the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo within the Rio Chama Stream System, establishing a trust fund to support water infrastructure, resource management, and economic development for the Pueblo. The Act defines Pueblo water rights, outlines the process for managing and distributing funds from the trust, and requires specific waivers and releases of claims from the Pueblo and the United States. It also sets forth the conditions for the Act's enforceability, including necessary funding, legal changes by the State of New Mexico, and judicial approval of the settlement.

The Graduate Opportunity and Affordable Loans Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reform loan provisions for graduate and professional students. Starting July 1, 2025, it sets new annual and aggregate limits for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and discontinues Federal Direct PLUS Loans for graduate students. Institutions must notify students about these changes and have the authority to further limit loan amounts.

This bill, called the "Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act of 2025," allows taxpayers to exclude gains from their gross income when selling real property interests to qualified organizations for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program purposes. The exclusion does not apply to sales by pass-through entities within three years of acquisition, with an exception for family-owned entities. This exclusion encourages land conservation and military readiness. It applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

The Critical Materials Future Act of 2025 aims to bolster the domestic processing of critical materials by establishing a pilot program that utilizes innovative financial tools to support at least three domestic projects. This program seeks to stabilize financial aspects, attract private investment, and secure U.S. supply chains, while also studying the impact of these financial tools on the critical materials market. The Act prioritizes projects that enhance U.S. security, economic competitiveness, and sustainability, with a focus on mitigating risks from foreign entities and promoting domestic feedstock and offtake agreements. It also establishes a Critical Materials Revolving Fund to reinvest revenues and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress and recommendations.

The POWER Act mandates that electric utilities must notify consumers at least 30 days before any rate increase. These notifications must include the increase's percentage, reasons, and impact on consumers, as well as avenues for feedback. Utilities must also notify the Department of Energy of increases of 5% or more, which will then be reviewed and assessed for consumer impact. Non-compliant utilities may face civil penalties.

The Northwest Energy Security Act mandates that the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) be operated as outlined in the 2020 Supplemental Opinion, with limited exceptions for public safety, grid reliability, or removal of unnecessary requirements. It also prevents restrictions on electrical generation at FCRPS dams and navigation on the Snake River without explicit Congressional authorization. This act preserves the ability of the Secretaries to conduct operation, maintenance, and capital improvements.

The "Growing and Preserving Innovation in America Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate a scheduled decrease in the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income. This change maintains the deduction at a higher level, supporting companies that generate income from intellectual property developed and used abroad. The act is effective immediately upon enactment.

The "Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act" establishes a "Ski Area Fee Retention Account" within the Treasury, directing ski area permit fees collected by the Secretary of Agriculture into this account. These funds will be used to support the administration, maintenance, and improvement of ski areas and related visitor services within the National Forest System. A majority of the fees collected at a specific unit will be reinvested into that unit, with a smaller portion available for use across other National Forest System units. The funds cannot be used for wildfire suppression or land acquisition.

The "Right to Contraception Act" establishes a statutory right for individuals to access and for health care providers to offer contraception, free from governmental restrictions or bans. It overrides any conflicting federal or state laws, ensuring access to contraception and related services, and allows legal recourse for violations of these rights. The Act aims to protect individual autonomy in making decisions about contraception and reproductive health.

This bill reauthorizes the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994, updating the definition of "State" to include Guam and increasing the authorized appropriations for the program through 2031. The funding increases aim to bolster conservation education and design initiatives related to waterfowl and their habitats.

The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 amends the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to increase funding for dairy business innovation initiatives. It raises the allocated amount from $20,000,000 to $36,000,000, supporting further development and innovation in the dairy industry.

The "Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025" extends funding for programs that support the mental health and well-being of law enforcement officers. This reauthorization continues the initiatives under Section 1001(a)(21) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The funding is extended for an additional five years, from 2025 through 2029.