Legislation

The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 establishes a new HUD grant program to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-time, first-generation homebuyers. Funds will be distributed to states and eligible entities based on need and the number of qualified buyers in their area. Assistance is capped per buyer and requires mandatory homeownership counseling, with strict rules governing eligible mortgages and primary residency requirements.

The GUARD Act, or Guarding US Authority for Removal and Detention Act, amends the Posse Comitatus Act to allow the National Guard to enforce immigration laws under state or federal orders. It also establishes severe new federal penalties, including up to life imprisonment or the death penalty, for assaulting federal immigration enforcement personnel or local officers assisting them. This legislation focuses on expanding the role of the Guard in immigration enforcement and increasing deterrence against attacks on those officers.

The Foreign Adversary Federal Offense Act of 2025 significantly increases penalties for economic espionage and the mishandling of defense information when committed to benefit a "covered nation." This bill establishes new minimum prison sentences, higher fines for both individuals and organizations, and removes supervised release eligibility for these specific offenses. It also clarifies that espionage causing severe harm to critical infrastructure falls under the strictest penalties.

The Prevent Illegal Gun Sales Act aims to strengthen federal oversight of firearms dealers by increasing compliance inspections and imposing stricter penalties for licensing violations and poor recordkeeping that aids trafficking. The bill also grants the Attorney General new authority to deny licenses based on public safety concerns and allows for immediate license suspension upon felony conviction. Finally, it authorizes the ATF to hire additional personnel necessary to enforce these expanded regulations.

The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 aims to expand healthcare access for immigrants residing legally in the U.S. by mandating their eligibility for Medicaid and removing state barriers to coverage. The bill also allows individuals with federally authorized presence to access ACA marketplace subsidies and makes it optional for states to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage to those without lawful status. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to simplify and broaden access to federally funded health programs for various immigrant populations.

The Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2025 mandates that federal courts must exclude a plaintiff's race, ethnicity, or sex when calculating potential future lost earnings in civil lawsuits. The bill requires the Secretary of Labor to develop new guidelines ensuring that future earnings tables used in these calculations are free from demographic bias. Furthermore, it directs federal bodies to conduct studies and provide training to ensure consistent and non-discriminatory application of these new damage calculation standards.

The GUARD Veterans Health Care Act requires private Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to reimburse the VA for healthcare provided to their enrollees starting in 2026. Additionally, the bill strengthens the government's ability to recover costs from third parties for non-service-connected veteran care. This includes setting strict deadlines and penalties for insurance companies and other responsible parties who delay or refuse reimbursement claims. All collected funds will be deposited into the VA Medical Care Collections Fund.

The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen the network supporting older Americans by improving health outcomes, enhancing nutrition services, and bolstering support for family caregivers. It focuses on increasing accountability, transparency, and coordination across federal and local aging services. Key provisions include dedicated mental health advocacy, modernized nutrition options like medically tailored meals, and significant support enhancements for family caregivers and Native elders.

The End Junk Fees for Renters Act aims to protect tenants in federally backed housing by prohibiting landlords from charging application fees and limiting late fees to 3% of the monthly rent, only after 15 days past due. This legislation mandates that owners must disclose total monthly costs, past rent increases, and known maintenance issues before a lease is signed. Furthermore, federal agencies are tasked with formally defining "junk fees" in the rental context.

The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to expand access to community solar, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income individuals and governments. It mandates that standard electric utilities must offer community solar programs to ensure fair access for all customers. Furthermore, the bill sets strict deadlines for states to review and implement these new community solar standards. Finally, it extends the maximum length for federal contracts for public utility services up to 30 years.

The GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive, next-generation missile defense shield to counter rapidly evolving global threats from ballistic, hypersonic, and unmanned systems. The bill creates a powerful, direct-reporting Program Manager to oversee the rapid development, testing, and deployment of integrated defense capabilities across space, air, land, and sea domains. It authorizes over $23 billion in funding, prioritizing the acceleration of space-based sensors, advanced interceptors, and non-kinetic defense technologies. Furthermore, the Act streamlines acquisition processes and enhances the Department of Defense's authority to protect assets against incursions by unmanned aerial systems.

The **SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen national efforts against substance use disorders and improve public health infrastructure. It significantly increases and extends funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs through 2030, while also updating regulations for provider training and controlled substance distribution. Key provisions focus on enhancing maternal health support, improving overdose monitoring, bolstering the mental health workforce, and ensuring accountability in state-level mental health spending.

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act aims to improve national recycling and composting efforts by requiring the EPA to gather comprehensive data on current infrastructure capabilities and material flows. This legislation mandates detailed reports on composting facilities, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and the development of standardized national recycling rates. Furthermore, it directs studies to measure how much recyclable material is lost from the circular market and ensures federal agencies report on their own waste diversion activities.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal right to access abortion services without facing state-imposed restrictions that are not medically necessary for comparable procedures. This Act prohibits states from enacting targeted regulations that create hurdles for abortion access, protects the right to travel out of state for care, and allows individuals and the Attorney General to sue to enforce these protections. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare decisions based on a provider's good-faith medical judgment.

The Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act prohibits the possession or use of body-gripping traps, such as steel-jaw traps and snares, on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This ban includes exceptions for federal agencies managing specific species, tribal subsistence use, and lands in Alaska. Violators face civil fines up to $500 per trap or use, potential jail time, and forfeiture of illegal traps and wildlife.

The Equal Representation Act mandates the inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census starting in 2030. It requires the public release of state-by-state citizenship data following the count. Crucially, this act stipulates that non-citizens will be excluded from the population totals used to determine congressional apportionment and electoral votes.

The Head Start for Our Future Act amends federal work-study rules to explicitly allow students to use their funds for child development and early learning services, such as supporting Head Start programs. This legislation ensures that institutions placing work-study students in these roles guarantee program compliance with existing Head Start Act requirements. Furthermore, it establishes specific supervision rules for work-study students in Head Start and Early Head Start, mandating that they must always be supervised by paid staff and cannot count toward required staff-to-child ratios.

The Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2025 expands medical benefit authority under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. This legislation allows certified Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to prescribe, recommend, or order necessary care, appliances, and supplies for eligible employees. This change ensures that qualified NPs and PAs can manage the medical needs of benefit recipients within their state's scope of practice.

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025 officially recognizes the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians as a federally recognized Tribe. This Act restores their eligibility for all federal services and benefits available to recognized Tribes. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of the Interior to acquire and hold land in trust for the Tribe within specific Michigan counties. This legislation affirms the Tribe's continuous existence and rights despite past administrative delays.

The Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025 makes it illegal to knowingly import, sell, advertise, or distribute kangaroos or any products derived from four specified species within the United States. This legislation establishes clear definitions for protected animals and products, and outlines significant penalties for violations. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with developing the necessary regulations to enforce these prohibitions.