Legislation

The FAIR Act amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to mandate that all Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used for SNAP benefits must feature a photograph of the authorized cardholder. This change requires both recipients and retailers to verify the identity of the person using the card during transactions. The legislation also includes provisions for caregivers accessing benefits on behalf of minors, the elderly, or disabled individuals.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery within one year of enactment. Before proceeding, the Secretary must notify the next of kin. The remains will then be relinquished to the next of kin or disposed of as the Secretary deems appropriate if no kin responds.

The Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act ensures public broadcasting entities have an annual opportunity to apply for FEMA's Next Generation Warning System grants. This legislation mandates that the application period for these critical warning system grants remains open for at least 30 days each year.

This bill officially renames the United States Post Office facility located at 35 South Main Street in Glendale, Utah. The facility will now be known as the "Deputy Sheriff Brian Harris Post Office."

The Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025, or the DO NOT Call Act, establishes new criminal penalties for willful violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This legislation also significantly increases the civil fines associated with providing inaccurate caller ID information. These measures aim to deter illegal and unwanted telemarketing and robocalls.

The Electronic Filing Improvement and Logistical Efficiency Act of 2025 mandates the IRS to create a fully automated electronic filing system for employment taxes within one year. To encourage adoption, the bill establishes a refundable tax credit for employers who file and pay electronically. Conversely, it imposes a $250 user fee on employers who choose to file employment tax returns on paper, with specific exceptions for undue hardship or lack of access.

The Retirement Rollover Flexibility Act simplifies retirement savings by allowing individuals to directly roll over funds from an eligible Roth IRA into a designated Roth account within a 401(k) or similar employer plan. This transfer is treated as a tax-free rollover, and the existing holding period for the funds is preserved for future qualified distributions. This measure aims to increase flexibility for savers consolidating their retirement assets.

The READ AI Models Act establishes a pilot program, managed by NIST, to create standardized documentation for artificial intelligence models and their training data. This initiative will develop a flexible template and technical guidelines, incorporating stakeholder input, to ensure transparency about AI model development. Following a review, NIST will report on the program's effectiveness and potentially establish permanent documentation standards.

The RCORP Authorization Act establishes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program within HRSA to combat substance use disorders in rural areas. This program authorizes grants to eligible entities for expanding prevention, treatment, and recovery services. The legislation allocates $165 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these critical community efforts.

The Empowering Small-business Ownership Participation Act, or ESOP Act, modifies an existing pilot program designed to incentivize federal contracting with employee-owned businesses. This bill lowers the employee ownership threshold required for participation in the program from 100 percent to a minimum of 30 percent. This change aims to broaden participation and encourage more employee ownership structures.

The Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act of 2025 mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) clean water technical assistance programs. This review will detail the scope, effectiveness, and coordination of current assistance efforts, especially for economically distressed communities. Following the GAO report, the EPA Administrator must submit annual plans to Congress outlining actions taken to address the GAO's findings and recommendations.

The Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 prohibits federal agencies and contractors from purchasing or installing solar panels manufactured or assembled by entities connected to the People's Republic of China. This ban applies to all federal projects and property unless a specific national security waiver is jointly approved by the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security. The Act also mandates reporting on current federal purchases and requires a study on domestic solar production capabilities.

This act, the Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025, aims to strengthen the quality of care within the Veterans Health Administration by eliminating conflicts of interest in medical peer reviews. It mandates that reviewers with direct involvement in a case must recuse themselves. Furthermore, it ensures that reviews of VA medical facility peer review committee members are conducted by a neutral committee at a different VA facility.

The Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to issue a specific right-of-way for an emergency exit from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 9.6. This issuance is conditional upon the Secretary certifying that alternative non-federal routes have been evaluated, a fire behavior analysis is complete, and all necessary environmental reviews are finalized. This legislation aims to secure a vital emergency egress route for the Wintergreen area.

The Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act establishes a direct payment program administered by the USDA to compensate specialty crop growers and wine producers for specific financial losses, such as those related to increased tariffs or reduced exports. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to purchase surplus crops for distribution through federal nutrition assistance programs. This assistance is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with required reporting to Congress on payments and purchases.

The Inspector General Access Act of 2025 amends existing law to streamline investigations of Department of Justice personnel. Specifically, this bill removes a previous exception regarding certain types of allegations from the general investigation procedures governing the Inspector General. This change ensures that the Inspector General has broader authority to investigate all relevant matters concerning DOJ personnel.

The CLEAR Act of 2025 aims to streamline energy project development by limiting repeated legal challenges through a "single action" rule for all related authorizations. It also establishes a deferential standard for judicial review of federal agency decisions, requiring courts to uphold agency discretion unless an abuse is found. If procedural errors are identified, courts must remand the issue to the agency with a strict 180-day deadline for correction, during which the project authorization remains valid. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict deadlines and participation requirements for filing lawsuits challenging project authorizations.

The FAIR Leave Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to remove restrictions on leave for married couples employed by the same company. This legislation repeals the existing limitation that capped the combined leave spouses could take. The goal is to ensure fair and equal access to leave benefits for married employees.

The WATER Act of 2025 establishes a program allowing states to voluntarily assume federal permitting responsibilities for certain transportation projects under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This assignment requires a written agreement with the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, mandating that states adhere to existing federal environmental review standards. The law outlines application, oversight, and termination procedures for state participation in this permitting process.

The VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act mandates comprehensive reviews by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the causes of recent and projected funding shortfalls within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This legislation requires the VA Secretary to report the GAO's findings annually to relevant Congressional committees. The goal is to improve budget accuracy and implement measures to prevent future funding gaps for veterans' services.