Legislation

The Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025 generally prohibits law enforcement and intelligence agencies from using cell-site simulators (devices that mimic cell towers) without obtaining a warrant. Warrants require agencies to prove other tracking methods failed and must narrowly define the scope and duration of use. The Act also establishes strict requirements for emergency use, mandates public notification after monitoring, and blocks evidence obtained through illegal simulator use from being admitted in court.

The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act establishes a new, streamlined federal framework for states to provide Medicaid coverage to survivors of major disasters for up to two years. This law simplifies enrollment through self-attestation and presumptive eligibility, while ensuring federal funding covers 100% of the costs for eligible survivors in impacted areas. Additionally, it mandates an independent, multi-year evaluation of the program's effectiveness and provides federal support for states developing emergency home and community care response teams.

This bill significantly strengthens the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016 by explicitly blocking time-based and procedural defenses that have previously prevented claims for Nazi-looted art from being heard on their merits. The changes ensure that courts must now focus on whether the art was actually stolen, regardless of when the claim is brought or the citizenship of the original owner. These improvements apply immediately to both pending and future lawsuits seeking the return of art expropriated during the Nazi era.

This Act, the Commission of Fine Arts District of Columbia Residency Act, mandates that a majority of the members serving on the Commission of Fine Arts must be residents of the District of Columbia. This residency requirement will take effect one year after the bill is enacted into law. The President will continue to appoint members, but must now ensure this majority residency standard is met.

The Psychiatric Hospital Inspection Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the public release of accreditation and inspection survey results for psychiatric hospitals on the CMS Care Compare website. This ensures consumers can easily access standardized information to make informed healthcare choices. The Secretary must develop a standardized reporting form while strictly protecting patient and individual provider privacy under HIPAA guidelines.

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025 establishes new reporting requirements and imposes fees on large cargo vessels engaged in "covered voyages" to account for their carbon dioxide and criteria air pollutant emissions. These fees are designed to fund significant investments in decarbonizing the shipping industry, modernizing the U.S. Jones Act fleet, and improving air quality monitoring in port communities. The fee structure will terminate if the International Maritime Organization implements a comparable global emissions fee.

The MEDIC Careers Act of 2025 aims to streamline the transition of military medics into civilian healthcare careers by developing recommendations to align military training with civilian licensing requirements. It also establishes a pilot grant program to fund eligible healthcare organizations that hire, train, and retain separating service members in medically underserved areas. The goal is to reduce barriers and ensure medics can quickly utilize their valuable experience in the civilian workforce.

The Skilled Workforce Act establishes a new federal tax credit for non-foreign entities investing in projects that expand job training for high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing and high-tech. This credit equals 30% of the qualified investment in eligible property used to upgrade career and technical education institutions. The program is capped at $500 million in total credits and requires the Secretary to establish a certification process within 180 days.

The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act aims to streamline and enhance support for Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. mission. It establishes new processes for remote refugee processing, creates a pathway to conditional permanent resident status for eligible allies already in the U.S., and creates a new Special Immigrant Visa category for certain relatives of U.S. service members. The bill also mandates increased reporting and interagency coordination to improve efficiency and transparency in these resettlement efforts.

The Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act amends existing law to allow the President to authorize the construction of certain Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards under specific national security circumstances. This exception requires the foreign shipyard to be located in a NATO or mutual defense treaty country and mandates that the foreign construction cost be lower than domestic costs. Furthermore, the President must certify to Congress that the shipyard is not controlled by entities based in the People's Republic of China.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 aims to combat the nation's leading weather-related killer by establishing a coordinated federal strategy to address extreme heat. The bill creates an Interagency Committee and a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to improve data sharing, research, and response planning. Furthermore, it authorizes a new Community Heat Resilience Program to provide financial assistance for local projects focused on reducing heat-related health risks, prioritizing vulnerable communities.

The Marijuana 1-to-3 Act of 2025 mandates the Attorney General to reschedule marijuana under federal law. Specifically, this bill requires the immediate transfer of marijuana from its current Schedule I classification to Schedule III. This change in legal status must be finalized within 60 days of the Act's enactment.

The High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Exemption Reauthorization Act extends the federal regulations governing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facilities. Specifically, this bill pushes back the expiration date for these existing HOV facility rules from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2031. This ensures the current federal guidelines remain in effect for an additional six years.

This Act prohibits "covered foreign entities," primarily defined as those connected to the People's Republic of China, from acquiring or leasing U.S. agricultural land. Covered entities currently owning such land must divest within one year or face severe daily fines and potential criminal forfeiture. Additionally, the bill imposes a temporary two-year ban on these same entities purchasing residential real estate, with separate penalties for non-compliance. The legislation mandates the creation of new enforcement offices within the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee compliance.

The Data BRIDGE Act mandates that the FCC update its national broadband map to specifically include the locations of agricultural areas. This update must be completed within 180 days of the bill's enactment. To ensure accuracy, the FCC is required to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders during this process. This action aims to better identify broadband coverage gaps affecting farms.

The Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act makes a key change to federal criminal law by permanently extending the \$5,000 special assessment fee charged to non-indigent individuals convicted of certain offenses. This fee, which was previously set to expire in 2025, will now continue indefinitely. The revenue generated supports victims of trafficking.

The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act amends existing law to allow the Navy to construct certain naval vessels or major components in shipyards located in NATO or Indo-Pacific treaty partner nations. This exception is permitted only if the foreign construction cost is lower than the domestic cost. Furthermore, the Navy must certify to Congress that the foreign shipyard is not owned or controlled by any entity based in the People's Republic of China.

The Stop Foreign Propaganda Act codifies existing sanctions against Iran and establishes new penalties for U.S. persons who knowingly provide paid media services to sanctioned foreign media entities. These sanctions include asset freezes and visa denials for violators. The bill also mandates an annual Treasury Department report detailing enforcement actions and foreign government payments to media outlets spreading propaganda.

The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 aims to shield consumers from the negative impact of medical bills on their financial standing. This legislation prohibits the reporting of any adverse information related to medical debt on consumer credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Furthermore, it bans lenders from using a consumer's medical debt history when making decisions about granting credit.

The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to expand partnerships for ecosystem restoration activities. This allows the Forest Service to fund a broader range of groups, including universities and tribal organizations, for crucial work. The bill specifically enables the use of funds for collecting native seeds and growing seedlings necessary for habitat replanting efforts.