Legislation

Hammers' Law amends title 46 of the United States Code to redefine limitations in certain maritime and aviation accident cases. It defines "cruise ship" and "nonpecuniary damages" within the context of maritime law. The law expands the scope of existing limitations to include cruise ship voyages, affecting damage claims. It updates the relevant section heading in the U.S. Code to reflect these changes.

This bill amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to officially recognize Alexander Creek, Incorporated, as a Village Corporation and Alexander Creek village as a Native village. It directs the Secretary to negotiate an agreement with Alexander Creek, Incorporated, to settle aboriginal land claims and achieve parity with similar Village Corporations. Additionally, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, will be considered a State agency for federal property purposes and will retain future resource payments, while members will no longer receive benefits from the Region as at-large shareholders. The bill clarifies that existing land conveyance entitlements or agreements are not modified.

This bill extends the Defense Production Act of 1950, which authorizes the President to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the industrial base to support national defense, homeland security, and emergency preparedness, for one additional year. The expiration date is changed from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

The PREPARE Act of 2025 establishes a commission to prepare the federal government for the end of marijuana prohibition. This commission, led by the Attorney General, will develop a regulatory framework for cannabis, modeled after alcohol regulations, while considering the impact on communities, agencies, and industries. The commission will gather input from various stakeholders, conduct public hearings, and issue reports with recommendations for federal cannabis regulation. Ultimately, the goal is to create a system that addresses the consequences of cannabis criminalization, promotes research, ensures product safety, and streamlines revenue collection.

The Veterans First Act of 2025 redirects $2 billion from international development to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This funding will provide grants to states for constructing, acquiring, or remodeling state veterans' homes and domiciliary facilities. The goal is to improve care and housing infrastructure for veterans.

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act withdraws approximately 4,288 acres of Federal land in Placitas, New Mexico from mining, mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to convey the surface estate of the land while the mineral estate remains with the United States.

The "LOCAL Infrastructure Act" reinstates advance refunding bonds, reversing changes made by Public Law 115-97. This allows state and local governments to refinance municipal bonds at lower interest rates, reducing borrowing costs. The change is effective immediately upon the Act's enactment.

The Drone Espionage Act amends existing law to prohibit the recording and transmission of video of defense information, enhancing protections against espionage. This update to 18 U.S.C. § 793 broadens the definition of prohibited materials to include video, addressing modern methods of information gathering.

The "Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025" simplifies state income tax for employees working in multiple states by limiting taxation and withholding to the employee's state of residence and states where they work for more than 30 days per year. Employers can generally rely on employee estimates of time spent in different states, with exceptions for time and attendance systems. Certain categories of employees, such as professional athletes and entertainers, are excluded from these rules. The act takes effect on January 1 of the second year following enactment and applies to tax obligations accruing on or after that date.

The American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for state and local governments that issue "American infrastructure bonds" to fund infrastructure projects. The federal government will pay the bond issuer 28% of the interest payable on each interest payment date. This aims to lower the cost of borrowing for infrastructure projects, but the interest on these bonds is taxable at the federal level. This act applies to bonds issued after the enactment date of this law.

The "University of Utah Research Park Act" confirms that the University of Utah's use of approximately 593.54 acres of land for a research park and related activities constitutes a valid public purpose under the Act of June 14, 1926. This validation applies to the land described in a 1970 letter from the Secretary of the Interior and any subsequent modifications approved by the Department of the Interior. The land was originally conveyed to the University of Utah under patent numbered 43990012, dated October 18, 1968.

The "Engine Testing for Exploration Act" ensures NASA maintains robust rocket propulsion system testing capabilities, particularly at the Stennis Space Center, to support human spaceflight programs. It directs NASA to retain internal expertise for testing and evaluating rocket propulsion systems, potentially through private sector partnerships. The Act also requires NASA to brief Congress on its plans for rocket propulsion system testing for both low-Earth orbit and deep space missions, including those using vehicles certified for government astronauts.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025" prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing or extending leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration and development in the Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf.

The "Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act" aims to finish the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail within 10 years through a joint effort by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. This includes forming a Trail Completion Team to coordinate trail improvements, create a comprehensive development plan, and collaborate with various stakeholders. The Act emphasizes using voluntary easements to address trail gaps and partnering with volunteer groups, while ensuring no new land acquisition authorities are created.

The POWER Act of 2025 amends the Stafford Act to allow electric utilities to use disaster relief funds for cost-effective hazard mitigation activities alongside power restoration. Receiving power restoration assistance will not disqualify utilities from receiving hazard mitigation assistance, as long as they meet the requirements. This change applies to funds allocated after the Act's enactment.

The "Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act of 2025" amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to include comprehensive food allergy training for local food service personnel. This training will equip them with the knowledge to prevent, recognize, and respond effectively to allergic reactions in children. The goal is to create a safer environment for children with food allergies in schools and other settings where food is served.

The Veterans Transition to Trucking Act of 2025 allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve interstate trucking apprenticeship programs for veterans using their educational assistance benefits. This expands access to training opportunities for veterans interested in the trucking industry by enabling the VA to directly approve programs that operate across multiple states. This ensures veterans can use their benefits for high-quality, multi-state trucking apprenticeships, even if no single state approves the program.

The SEER Act of 2025 aims to strengthen ethics enforcement for special government employees (SGEs) by addressing financial conflicts of interest. It expands conflict of interest regulations to include certain SGEs, restricts their communication with agencies regarding large companies they are connected to, and mandates a public database of SGEs. The act also broadens financial disclosure requirements and online access to these disclosures for certain SGEs and applies federal ethics rules to SGEs serving beyond a certain number of days.

The "What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act" requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish standard practices for suicide prevention and mental health grant or pilot programs within the Veterans Health Administration. These practices include setting measurable objectives, creating data analysis plans for program evaluation, communicating program details with relevant entities, conducting program evaluations, and sharing results and best practices. The goal is to ensure that these programs are effective, data-driven, and transparent, ultimately improving veteran suicide prevention efforts. The regulations for these practices must be issued within 180 days of the bill's enactment and will apply retroactively to pre-existing programs.