Legislation

The Build American Efficiency Act streamlines the process for HUD funding recipients to certify compliance with domestic content requirements under the Build America, Buy America Act. It directs HUD to recognize documentation from the Make It American Process Standard as sufficient evidence for this certification. This change offers flexibility, as recipients are not required to use this specific documentation.

The HEAR Act of 2026 generally prohibits the manufacture, transfer, and possession of firearm silencers and mufflers, with specific exceptions for government, law enforcement, and nuclear security personnel. The bill removes silencers from the federal definition of a "firearm" while simultaneously establishing penalties for violating the new ban. It also mandates the Attorney General to create a 90-day nationwide buy-back program for surrendered silencers using Byrne grant funds.

The Less Tax Paperwork for Digital Asset Owners Act aims to simplify the tax obligations for digital asset owners. It introduces tax exemptions for small network fees, creates an optional simplified accounting method for widely traded assets, and treats U.S. dollar stablecoin transactions much like cash. The bill also updates broker reporting requirements to reflect these changes.

The Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026 establishes a pilot program overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration to test the integration of diverse motive power sources, such as battery, hydrogen, and electric, into existing rail operations. This initiative aims to research integration challenges, develop adaptable rail car designs, and conduct demonstration projects. The Act also mandates a study identifying locations where power source limitations currently require train substitutions.

The Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act prioritizes updating land management plans to ensure public lands remain accessible for motorized recreation. It establishes criteria for "disability-accessible land" based on road mileage and mandates that road closures be limited, especially on accessible lands. The bill creates a streamlined process, including environmental review exemptions, for managing existing roads and replacing any that are closed.

The ReCement Act reforms regulations to streamline the use of alternative fuels and raw materials in cement manufacturing. This is achieved by excluding specific, non-hazardous secondary materials from the definition of "solid waste" under federal law. This change allows cement producers to utilize these recovered resources more easily without triggering stringent solid waste regulations.

The Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act of 2026 directs the Federal Railroad Administration to study the feasibility of upgrading rail corridors between Florida and Washington, D.C., to support modern power technologies like electrification and fuel cells. This study will identify segments suitable for these upgrades and detail the necessary improvements and associated costs for unsuitable segments. The findings will be reported to Congress within 18 months.

The VA Emergency Transportation Act expands VA reimbursement for veterans' emergency care by explicitly including emergency ambulance and air ambulance transportation as a covered service. This legislation renames the relevant section from "Emergency treatment" to "Emergency services" to reflect the broader scope. Crucially, it removes the previous restriction that limited reimbursement only to services provided outside of VA facilities.

The HAILEY Act of 2026 establishes new minimum standards for issuing AMBER Alerts through the national network. Specifically, it mandates that an alert can only be issued for an individual under the age of 18. Furthermore, the bill requires law enforcement to reasonably believe the missing person meets the criteria of a high-risk missing person before an alert is disseminated.

The Cost of Living Tax Cut Act adjusts federal income tax brackets based on regional differences in the cost of living, starting in 2027. This means taxpayers in areas with a higher cost of living will see their tax bracket thresholds adjusted accordingly. The Treasury Department will annually publish multipliers based on cost-of-living indexes calculated by the Department of Commerce.

The Drain the Slush Fund Act prohibits the federal government from paying any judgments, awards, or settlements resulting from lawsuits filed by the President or Vice President. This restriction applies to all current and future cases arising on or after January 20, 2025.

The Military Pension Protection Act aims to provide financial relief to military retirees by excluding all federal pensions and annuities received for military service from federal income tax. This change will apply to taxable years beginning after the date the Act is enacted.

The Restore Military Families’ Voices Act strengthens protections for tenants in privatized military housing by prohibiting landlords from requiring nondisclosure agreements. It also expands the list of officials to whom tenants can report housing issues without fear of retaliation. This legislation aims to give military families a safer voice in addressing housing concerns.

The Tax Dollar Accountability Act grants the Comptroller General of the United States the authority to access state and local government financial records related to the use of federal funds. This ensures transparency by allowing for necessary audits and evaluations of how federal money is spent. States that fail to provide this access may face the withholding or suspension of their federal funding.

This act establishes the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program within the State Department to create a surge workforce for supporting U.S. diplomatic operations during crises. The program will recruit retired Foreign Service members to provide temporary assistance during emergencies like conflicts or disasters. After three years, the Secretary of State will submit a final evaluation recommending whether to establish a permanent corps.

The "No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act" amends immigration law to bar entry to and mandate the deportation of specified close family members of foreign threat actors, including designated terrorists and senior officials from adversarial nations. This measure expands inadmissibility grounds to address national security risks posed by relatives of individuals involved in terrorism, state sponsorship of terrorism, or significant corruption. The Act requires mandatory visa revocation and prioritizes the removal of these inadmissible individuals, eliminating most forms of discretionary relief.

The BLANCHE Act of 2026 strictly regulates and prohibits any settlement where the federal government pays the sitting President or a third party at the President's direction to resolve a claim against the United States. Any such agreement must be reviewed and explicitly approved by a federal court after a public hearing to ensure the parties are truly adverse and the settlement is in the interest of justice. These rigorous standards apply retroactively to all existing and future agreements between the President and the United States.

The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General to examine federal authorities that impact wildfire mitigation efforts across land ownership boundaries. This study will assess how existing programs help or hinder collaboration between federal agencies and state, local, and tribal governments. The goal is to identify necessary changes to existing laws to improve cross-boundary wildfire risk reduction and forest health. The final report will include recommendations focused on simplifying these essential mitigation activities.

This bill implements significant reforms to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, primarily by establishing strict new limitations and warrant-like requirements for accessing the communications data of U.S. persons collected under Section 702. It generally prohibits warrantless queries for U.S. person data, creating only four narrow exceptions, and mandates detailed record-keeping for all searches. Additionally, the legislation provides a nine-month extension of the underlying Section 702 authority until March 12, 2027.

The Jewish American Security Act addresses the rising threat of antisemitism across the nation. This bill mandates new protections for Jewish students in educational settings and significantly increases funding and administrative support for securing Jewish community institutions. Furthermore, it requires increased transparency from large online platforms regarding their moderation of antisemitic content and mandates federal assessments of domestic and transnational antisemitic threats.