Legislation

The Election Mail Act mandates same-day processing of incoming federal election ballots by the Postal Service and requires states to implement Intelligent Mail Barcodes for tracking outgoing ballots starting in 2026. It also ensures completed federal mail-in ballots receive free First-Class postage and sets a uniform national standard requiring states to count ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within seven days after the election. Furthermore, the bill prohibits service cuts that could impede election mail delivery in the 120 days before a federal election.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

The End Solitary Confinement Act aims to drastically limit the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities, mandating a minimum of 14 hours of daily social interaction and structured programming for all incarcerated individuals. The bill establishes strict exceptions for emergency confinement, protects vulnerable populations from restrictive housing, and creates an independent Community Monitoring Body to oversee compliance. Furthermore, it incentivizes states to adopt similar standards by tying federal funding to adherence to these new humane confinement rules.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding is specifically designated for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This appropriation is in addition to any existing funds allocated for this purpose.

This bill, the Independent BROKERS TIME Act of 2025, mandates the Secretary of HHS to establish new rules clarifying the roles of Third-Party Marketing Organizations versus independent brokers and standardizing agent registration. It immediately eliminates the mandatory 48-hour waiting period between securing an appointment and meeting with a Medicare beneficiary. Furthermore, the bill requires the Inspector General to review predatory call centers and establishes a reward system for reporting Medicare marketing scams.

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2025 establishes new specialized offices within the FBI, DOJ, and DHS to combat domestic terrorism through enhanced investigation, analysis, and coordination. The bill mandates regular, detailed joint reporting to Congress on domestic terrorism threats, including specific analysis of White supremacist and neo-Nazi activity. It also creates an interagency task force to investigate infiltration of law enforcement and the military by these extremist groups. Finally, the Act ensures that all new enforcement and training measures strictly adhere to First Amendment protections.

The CANADA Act, or Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments Act, exempts small businesses from specific additional import duties imposed due to the national emergency declared in February 2025. This provision ensures that qualifying small business concerns are not subject to these emergency-related taxes on goods imported for their operations.

This bill directs the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command to develop a comprehensive roadmap for collaborating with private industry on artificial intelligence (AI) enabled cyber capabilities. The roadmap must detail partnership strategies, identify immediate projects, address legal hurdles, and outline the necessary infrastructure. The Commander is required to brief Congress on the completed roadmap by November 1, 2026, followed by annual updates.

The TRICARE Travel Improvement Act modifies the reimbursement rules for military beneficiaries traveling for specialty medical care. Generally, the Department of Defense will now reimburse travel expenses for care received over 50 miles away. However, a specific exception maintains the 100-mile travel threshold for military retirees and their dependents seeking reimbursement.

This bill mandates the establishment of the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) Steering Committee within the Department of Defense (DoD) by April 2026. Led by the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the committee will analyze AGI technology trends and adversary progress. Its primary goal is to develop a comprehensive DoD strategy for adopting AGI, including ethical guidelines and threat countermeasures, before the committee sunsets at the end of 2027.

The Saving NIST’s Workforce Act imposes a temporary moratorium on layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This freeze prevents NIST from conducting reductions in force under specific federal regulations until Congress enacts the full-year appropriations budget for fiscal year 2026. The goal is to maintain current staffing levels at the agency until the next budget is finalized.

The Safe Transit Accountability Act clarifies that the "accountable executive" holds the final decision-making authority regarding the implementation of safety recommendations made by a transit agency's Safety Committee. This designated executive also serves as the tie-breaker in committee disputes over safety fixes. Furthermore, the bill legally defines this executive as the individual ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with both the agency's Safety Plan and its Asset Management Plan.

The Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act mandates that Medicare Part D coinsurance payments for seniors be calculated based on the drug's negotiated **net price** rather than its higher list price. This change aims to lower out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries during the cost-sharing phase of their coverage. This new calculation method will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill authorizes Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the nurses who served in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II to recognize their extraordinary service and sacrifice. The legislation highlights the dangerous conditions these nurses faced, often without full military status or benefits. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

This Act prohibits individuals or entities linked to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia ("covered persons") from purchasing agricultural land within the United States. The President is authorized to use existing emergency powers to enforce this ban on land acquisition. Furthermore, covered persons are generally barred from participating in Department of Agriculture programs, with narrow exceptions for food safety and inspection activities.

The Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025 denies U.S. entry and immigration benefits to foreign officials responsible for forcing Uyghurs or other targeted individuals back to the People's Republic of China. The Secretary of State must refer these officials to the Treasury Department for potential sanctions. The Act requires regular, public reporting to Congress regarding denials and any granted waivers.

The Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act establishes a clear, six-fiscal-year deadline for states to begin construction on federally funded emergency road repair projects following a disaster declaration. This bill provides states with greater certainty regarding federal funding obligations while allowing for necessary extensions upon gubernatorial request and justification. Additionally, the Act mandates regular updates to the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Manual.

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 officially renames the foundational Endangered Species Act of 1973 to the Endangered Species Recovery Act. This change is purely titular, meaning all existing laws and regulations will now reference the new title. The bill ensures consistency by updating all official government documents to reflect the new name immediately.

The Fresh Start Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help states upgrade their infrastructure to implement automatic expungement or sealing of criminal records. To qualify, states must have existing record-clearing laws that do not penalize applicants for unpaid fines. Grant funds must be used to build data systems that facilitate automatic processing, and recipients must annually report detailed demographic data on record relief efforts.

The HOME Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions against unconscionably excessive rental and sale prices during declared affordable housing crises. It mandates investigations into housing price manipulation and excessive purchases by large investors, while also creating a new HUD unit to monitor market fairness. Furthermore, the Act directs federal agencies to review anti-competitive behaviors and implement renter protections through new rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments.