Legislation

The Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 expands the federal prohibition on feeding sharks to include the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast of Florida. This amendment aligns Florida's offshore waters with existing regulations in places like Hawaii. The bill makes it illegal to feed sharks in this designated area near the Florida coast.

The Elder Pride Protection Act of 2025 establishes the ELDER Task Force within the Department of Justice to combat abuse targeting older LGBTQI+ individuals. This group is charged with studying the causes of this abuse, developing national best practices, and creating training materials for law enforcement. The Task Force must report its findings and progress to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Knock Out Cancer Act aims to aggressively combat cancer by significantly increasing funding for the National Cancer Institute's research efforts through 2030. The bill also mandates a comprehensive report from the Department of Health and Human Services to address and recommend solutions for ongoing cancer drug shortages. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to accelerate breakthroughs, improve survival rates through better detection awareness, and reduce cancer-related deaths.

The Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025 establishes clear federal definitions for "plant biostimulant" and "nutritional chemical," explicitly carving them out from existing regulations for "plant regulators." This legislation also mandates the EPA to update relevant regulations to reflect these new definitions within 120 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on how biostimulants and farming practices impact soil health, carbon sequestration, and nutrient efficiency.

The Puerto Rico BEACHES Act mandates a comprehensive study led by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess the impact of coastal erosion on Puerto Rico's economy, including tourism and fishing. The GAO must coordinate with local Puerto Rican agencies to analyze these effects across coastal zones. The final report must provide Congress with specific recommendations for mitigating environmental damage and addressing industry-specific challenges caused by erosion.

The LIHEAP Staffing Support Act establishes minimum staffing requirements for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure effective program administration. It mandates a baseline of at least 20 dedicated employees, with limits on contractor usage during normal operations. Furthermore, the bill requires an emergency staffing boost to at least 30 employees within 45 days of declaring an energy crisis.

The SKIM Act, or Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act, mandates stricter sentencing guidelines for crimes involving counterfeit or stolen credit and debit cards, ensuring a minimum offense level for such offenses. It also requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on federal and local cooperation in combating access device fraud. This legislation aims to increase penalties and improve coordination against identity and payment card misuse.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act restricts how consumer reporting agencies can share your credit report when you are seeking a residential mortgage loan. Specifically, it limits the sharing of these reports unless they are connected to a firm offer of credit or are being sent to parties directly involved in your current mortgage, such as the originator or servicer. This ensures that your sensitive financial information is only accessed by relevant parties during the home loan process.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act aims to combat the opioid crisis by immediately classifying structurally similar fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances. The bill also streamlines the registration process for researchers working with Schedule I drugs and strengthens criminal penalties for trafficking these compounds. The Attorney General is required to issue implementing rules within six months of enactment.

The RNs for Rural Health Act of 2025 aims to improve preventative care access in rural areas by updating Medicare payment rules for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). This legislation allows RHCs to bill Medicare for "personalized prevention plan services" delivered by a licensed Registered Nurse (RN). This ensures RN-led preventative care is adequately covered and reimbursed under the Medicare program.

The EO 14282 Act of 2025 officially codifies Executive Order 14282 into federal law. This action transforms the provisions and requirements of the previous executive order into a binding statute. Consequently, the mandates established by the order now carry the full legal weight of legislation passed by Congress.

The Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 extends the timeline for current Sport Fish Restoration funding allocation rules until 2031 and removes the spending cap for Interstate Fisheries Commission activities. The bill also updates boating infrastructure priorities to specifically include funding for alternative marine fuel facilities for larger vessels. Finally, it significantly reduces the federal excise tax rate on portable, electronically-aerated bait containers from 10 percent to 3 percent.

The CLOUD Aircraft Act mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility and cost of equipping all military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground collision detection systems. This study, conducted in coordination with the FAA, must specifically address aircraft operating frequently in busy domestic airspace. The Secretary of Defense is required to report the findings and recommendations to Congress within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act officially expands the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the newly designated Rim of the Valley Unit. This legislation ensures that any newly acquired land within this unit will be managed under the existing rules of the National Recreation Area. Furthermore, the Act allows existing utility and water facilities within the expanded area to continue operations while requiring them to minimize damage to natural resources.

The Clear the ROADS Act mandates that states actively prevent dangerous and reckless obstruction of federal-aid highways by non-government actors. If a state fails to demonstrate a good-faith effort to clear these hazards, the federal government will begin withholding 10% of its federal highway funds. The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with establishing the necessary rules to implement this requirement.

The True Justice Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Attorney General to significantly improve public defense services nationwide. These funds are designated for providing legal representation to indigent defendants immediately following arrest and for specialized training of defense attorneys. Congress further affirms its belief that the constitutional right to counsel must extend to all post-arrest proceedings, not just the initial trial.

The EO 14218 Act of 2025 officially codifies Executive Order 14218 into permanent law. This legislation establishes the policies outlined in the original order, specifically ending taxpayer subsidization of open borders. By becoming statute, these measures now carry the full force of federal law.

This bill proposes a comprehensive ban on all forms of smoking and the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems on the premises of any facility operated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The legislation clarifies that this prohibition applies to all VHA-controlled land and buildings, ensuring a smoke-free environment for veterans and staff. It also makes necessary technical updates to existing federal laws to reflect this new policy.

The Special Relationship Military Improvement Act of 2025 streamlines defense exports to key allies by creating specific licensing exemptions under the Arms Export Control Act. This bill explicitly adds the United Kingdom to existing export exceptions shared with Canada. Furthermore, it removes certain bilateral agreement requirements for licensing exemptions with the UK and for implementing the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty with Australia, while maintaining strict controls over sensitive missile, biological, chemical, and nuclear technology for both nations.

The CURB Act, or Curtailing Unreasonable Remuneration at Banks Act, grants the Director authority to set reasonable and comparable compensation for executive officers at Federal Home Loan Banks. This new authority specifically overrides existing rules regarding executive pay under the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. The bill renames the relevant section of law to clarify the focus on executive officer compensation.