Legislation

The Stop the Rate Hikes Act limits electric utilities to requesting a retail rate increase only once per year. This measure aims to provide consumers with greater stability by restricting how frequently utility companies can seek to raise electricity rates.

The Rivers Law amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to implement new mandatory safety standards for funded child care providers. This legislation prohibits the operation of swimming pools on child care premises. Furthermore, it requires all covered facilities to install alarms on all doors and windows for enhanced security.

The Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act (COUNT Act) mandates that federal agencies must assist the Department of Commerce in gathering comprehensive administrative records to accurately determine the citizenship status of the U.S. population. This data collection effort aims to provide policymakers with precise facts regarding immigration's impact. Furthermore, the bill requires the addition of a citizenship question to the 2030 decennial census and terminates the Census Bureau's use of differential privacy for data protection six months after enactment.

The Tariff Revenue Used to Secure Tomorrow (TRUST) Act establishes a dedicated Tariff Trust Fund within the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive excess tariff revenue collected in any fiscal year immediately following two consecutive years of budget deficits, starting in fiscal year 2026. All money deposited into this fund must be exclusively used for reducing the national deficit.

The Defense Contractor Competition Act mandates that the Comptroller General conduct a comprehensive assessment of the competitive effects resulting from mergers and acquisitions within the defense industry over the past decade. This report must analyze the effectiveness of post-merger remedies, information sharing between regulatory bodies, and the impact of vertical integration on competition. Ultimately, the Act aims to ensure a sustainable and competitive defense industrial base by reviewing past consolidation efforts.

The Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025 mandates that defense contractors provide the Department of Defense (DoD) fair and reasonable access to necessary repair materials, including parts, tools, and technical information, under terms equal to those offered to authorized third parties. This act requires the DoD to review existing contracts to remove intellectual property barriers preventing the military from performing its own maintenance and repairs on acquired equipment. The goal is to ensure the DoD can efficiently maintain and fix the advanced systems it purchases.

The Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act updates the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) requirement for updating its advanced manufacturing strategic plan. This bill changes the required update frequency from every three years to every four years. This adjustment aligns NIST's planning cycle directly with the established schedule for the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.

The Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 reauthorizes and significantly improves the Water Source Protection Program to better safeguard national forest watersheds. This legislation expands eligibility for water protection projects to include more local entities and private partners, while prioritizing work that builds resilience against drought and wildfire. The bill also sets stricter standards to ensure forest management activities do not degrade long-term watershed health and increases annual funding authorization for these critical restoration efforts. Importantly, the Act explicitly preserves all existing state and federal water rights and laws.

This bill exempts federal actions related to the construction of qualifying infill housing from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It defines qualifying infill housing based on location, size, and successful environmental site assessments. Additionally, the legislation accelerates the required frequency for states to update their natural hazard risk assessments from every five years to every three years.

The Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act designates specific segments of the Gallatin, Madison, Hyalite, and Cabin Creeks in Montana as components of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This designation aims to protect the ecological, recreational, and cultural values of these important rivers within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The bill ensures that existing water rights, private property rights, and the operations of the Hebgen and Madison Dams remain unaffected by the new protections. Overall, the Act secures these treasured waterways for future enjoyment while respecting current land uses.

The Foundation for Enabling Biotechnology Innovation Act establishes a new, private, non-profit organization to accelerate the transition of biotechnology products from the lab to the U.S. market. This Foundation will foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies to overcome commercialization hurdles. It is explicitly prohibited from creating or enforcing regulations and must develop a plan to become financially self-sustaining within five years.

The Protecting Older Americans Act of 2025 invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements for claims of age discrimination against individuals aged 40 and older. This legislation ensures that employees alleging age discrimination can pursue their claims in court rather than being forced into arbitration based on prior agreements. Federal courts, not arbitrators, will decide if this new rule applies to a specific dispute.

The SkyFoundry Act of 2025 establishes a new program managed by the Department of the Army to rapidly develop, test, and mass-produce small unmanned aircraft systems (drones). This initiative mandates the creation of an Innovation Hub for R&D and a Production Hub capable of manufacturing one million drones annually. The bill directs the use of expedited contracting methods and leverages domestic manufacturing through the Defense Production Act to ensure rapid fielding of these critical defense systems.

The Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act signals the U.S. commitment to supporting the return of democracy in Tunisia against the current authoritarian power grab. This bill mandates the suspension of U.S. assistance to Tunisian security units linked to human rights abuses and establishes mandatory sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, against individuals undermining democracy or engaging in corruption. Furthermore, it requires the State Department to develop a strategy focused on restoring Tunisia's democratic institutions and the 2014 constitution before the Act automatically expires in four years.

The HIV Prevention Now Act secures **\$2.165 billion** in dedicated funding for the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention for Fiscal Year 2026. This appropriation is specifically earmarked to support the center's prevention programs and activities. This funding is supplemental to, and cannot be transferred from, other existing appropriations.

The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal program, managed by the EPA Administrator, to assess, reduce, and prevent exposure to indoor air contaminants in all buildings, with a special focus on schools and childcare facilities. The Act mandates the creation of science-based guidelines for contaminants of concern and supports technical assistance, training, and voluntary "Healthy Building Certifications." It also directs the development of model building codes and a national assessment of air quality in educational settings to ensure healthier indoor environments nationwide.

The BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons issue a REAL ID-compliant photo identification card to all departing federal prisoners, valid for at least 18 months. This federal release card must be accepted for identity verification when accessing major federal benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. Furthermore, the BOP must establish agreements with states to help former inmates use this card to obtain standard state identification. The Attorney General will also issue guidance to states on creating similar release ID programs for state prisoners.

The Union Participation for All Act completely repeals the section of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 that prohibited certain individuals from holding office in labor organizations. This legislation removes a long-standing ban, opening up leadership positions within unions to a wider range of people. The bill also makes minor conforming amendments to ensure other reporting requirements align with the repeal.

The Feed Hungry Kids Act establishes a fixed threshold of 25 percent for calculating a school's "Identified Student Percentage" starting in the school year beginning on or after July 1, 2025. This change directly impacts how schools qualify for certain federal nutrition programs. The bill standardizes this key metric for future program eligibility.

This Act grants federal recognition to the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, acknowledging their long historical presence in the region. Federal recognition makes the Tribe and its citizens eligible for all services and benefits provided to federally recognized Indian Tribes. The legislation also establishes rules for land-into-trust status, affirms the Tribe's current governing documents, and explicitly prohibits gaming operations under this Act.