Legislation

The Enhanced Small Business Growth Act of 2026 significantly boosts the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction for eligible domestic manufacturers from 20% to 30%. This legislation also raises the wage cap for this deduction from 50% to 100% of W-2 wages for businesses meeting specific domestic production criteria. These changes aim to incentivize and strengthen U.S. manufacturing operations starting in the 2026 tax year.

This Act imposes a 100% excise tax on windfall profits from crude oil exceeding \$75 per barrel, applicable to large producers and importers during periods of conflict with Iran. Revenue generated from this tax funds a new trust, which in turn finances fully refundable quarterly gasoline price rebates for eligible individuals. The tax and rebate provisions are effective through the end of the conflict and when oil prices stabilize below the threshold.

The Moms Matter Act establishes two grant programs to improve maternal mental health. The first program funds initiatives to expand mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals, prioritizing high-risk populations. The second program provides grants to grow and diversify the workforce of mental and behavioral health providers specializing in maternal health.

The Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2026 excludes certain strike-related payments received from a labor union from a worker's federal taxable income. This provision ensures that these qualified strike benefits are tax-free. Furthermore, the bill specifies that these tax-exempt benefits will not be counted as earned income when calculating the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act establishes a new federal crime for assaulting or attempting to assault passenger train crew members while they are performing their duties. This legislation specifically targets interference with engineers, conductors, and other essential personnel on trains, platforms, or in stations. Penalties range from fines and short imprisonment up to 20 years, depending on the severity of the offense and the use of weapons.

This act, the "Bulletproof Law Enforcement Vehicles Act," amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to allow federal funding to be used for vehicle security upgrades, specifically including the installation of bulletproof windows for law enforcement vehicles.

The Diesel Prices Relief Act of 2026 suspends the federal excise tax on diesel fuel until the end of 2026 to lower consumer prices. To prevent revenue loss, the bill directs the Treasury to replenish the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. Furthermore, the Act establishes that consumers must immediately benefit from the tax reduction, with the Treasury authorized to enforce this pass-through.

The Rural MOMS Act of 2026 aims to support maternity care in small rural hospitals. This bill amends Medicare rules to exclude beds used only for labor and delivery from the acute care inpatient bed count for Critical Access Hospitals. This change allows these vital rural facilities to maintain their special status while continuing to offer essential maternity services.

The Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act of 2026 directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to authorize the use of standard commercial-grade steel and concrete in non-safety-related structures at nuclear power plants. This aims to streamline construction by reducing regulatory hurdles for commonly used materials. The NRC can only impose stricter standards if commercial materials pose a specific safety risk.

The CAL Repayment Act mandates that states immediately use specific federal funds received to repay any outstanding unemployment insurance (UI) advances within five business days. This requirement takes precedence over all other uses for those funds. States that fail to comply face a penalty equal to the amount improperly spent.

The DC Rejecting Oppressive Automotive Driving Surcharges Act, or DC ROADS Act, explicitly prohibits the District of Columbia from imposing any congestion toll. This means the DC Council cannot enact or the Mayor enforce any charge for entering or passing through any area within the District of Columbia. The legislation amends the Home Rule Act to permanently block the creation of such tolls.

The HUD Data Privacy Act of 2026 establishes strict limits on how the Department of Housing and Urban Development can share personal information collected from housing assistance recipients. Information may only be shared with other entities for the specific purposes of benefit qualification verification and benefit determination. This Act explicitly prohibits the use of shared data for civil immigration enforcement purposes.

The Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act establishes a 25% tax credit for businesses purchasing or acquiring printed circuit boards fabricated in the United States. This credit aims to incentivize domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience for critical electronic components. The provisions apply to purchases made after December 31, 2025.

This Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish task forces to develop technical standards for identifying content generated by artificial intelligence. These standards will focus on provenance metadata, watermarking, and digital fingerprinting for various forms of digital content. The goal is to create technical measures that help platforms and users distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 overhauls federal student loan programs to eliminate debt for educators serving in high-need schools and early childhood education settings. After five years of qualifying service, educators can receive 100% forgiveness on remaining federal student loans. The bill also provides monthly loan assistance while educators are actively serving, treating these payments as qualifying service toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This legislation aims to stabilize the educator workforce by significantly reducing the financial burden of student debt.

This resolution supports the designation of May 2026 as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. It recognizes BPD as a serious but treatable condition affecting millions, highlighting the need for increased awareness, research funding, and accessible care. The bill aims to combat stigma and promote evidence-based support for those living with BPD.

The Tropospheric Ozone Research Act of 2026 directs the EPA to establish a competitive grant program to fund research on the climate impacts of tropospheric ozone. This research will focus on improving understanding of ozone's effects on global and regional temperatures, ecosystems, and crop loss. The Act also mandates the strengthening of monitoring infrastructure and requires the EPA to report on mitigation strategies and policy recommendations.

This bill fundamentally restructures U.S. immigration by replacing family-chain and diversity visa systems with a strict, merit-based approach requiring proof of national benefit for entry. It drastically reduces family-based immigration, eliminates the Diversity Visa Lottery, tightens employment visas, and raises the bar for citizenship and asylum. Furthermore, it mandates E-Verify for all employers and strengthens public charge rules to reduce immigrant reliance on public benefits.

This bill, the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, invalidates mandatory arbitration agreements and class action waivers for Amtrak passengers involved in consumer or civil rights disputes. It ensures that passengers alleging personal injury, discrimination, or other civil rights violations can pursue their claims in court. These new rules do not apply to disputes covered under the Railway Labor Act.

The FORTIFY Act streamlines defense cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by removing the requirement for Presidential consent for the transfer of U.S.-provided defense articles and services between these Baltic states. This legislation aims to enhance regional security and deter aggression by allowing the Baltic nations to more flexibly share military assets. It also mandates the creation of a shared ammunition system among the three allies.