Legislation

The Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on recreational vessel operator education and training programs. This report will analyze existing state and federal training standards, course materials, and testing procedures. The goal is to evaluate current reciprocity among states and recommend minimum federal education standards to enhance boater safety.

The Landowner Easement Rights Act limits new federal conservation easements to a maximum term of 30 years. It grants landowners the option to renegotiate existing easements for a new 30-year term, receiving payment for the current fair market value minus the original payment, or to buy back the easement. The Act also establishes new notification requirements for the Secretary of the Interior regarding landowner rights for eligible easements.

The American Gas for Allies Act aims to bolster the security of NATO allies and Ukraine by streamlining the approval process for U.S. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports to these nations. This legislation temporarily mandates the expedited authorization of natural gas export applications to NATO members and Ukraine for a three-year period. By prioritizing these exports, the bill supports U.S. national security interests and strengthens energy independence for key partners against adversarial nations.

The S-CAP Act of 2025 significantly increases the maximum number of shareholders a business can have while qualifying for S corporation tax status, raising the limit from 100 to 250. This change is designed to allow more small businesses to benefit from pass-through taxation. This new 250-shareholder limit will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for audiology services, beginning in 2027. This legislation allows qualified audiologists to provide diagnostic and treatment services without physician referral or supervision, as permitted by state law. The bill also specifies payment rates and includes audiologists in coverage for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act grants states the authority to allow qualified conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This allows states to partner with accredited, conservation-focused groups to enhance forest protection efforts. The bill establishes clear criteria for these organizations and outlines conditions under which easement rights would revert to the state if management responsibilities are not met.

The Lowboy Auto Hauler Fairness Act of 2025 officially defines lowboy trailers and establishes new, more flexible length limitations for truck-lowboy combinations hauling vehicles. This allows these specialized carriers to operate up to 80 feet in total length if specific overhang requirements are met. Furthermore, the bill exempts these lowboy trailers from standard rear warning flag requirements.

The Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act ensures that specialized local government entities, known as special districts, are explicitly recognized as eligible recipients for federal financial assistance. This legislation mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue clear guidance on recognizing these districts for grants and loans. The goal is to standardize how federal agencies distribute financial aid to these essential local service providers.

The Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025 prevents Congress from using the budget reconciliation process to cut funding or eligibility for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This protection establishes a significant procedural roadblock against reducing benefits for these essential social programs. However, this restriction is temporary and is set to expire on January 20, 2029.

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act establishes a dedicated Title X Clinic Fund managed by HHS to ensure stable, increased national funding for family planning services. This legislation allocates \$512 million annually for ten years toward services and an additional \$50 million yearly for facility improvements. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any clinic receiving this funding must provide neutral, non-directive counseling on all pregnancy options—prenatal care, infant care/adoption, and termination—if the patient requests information.

The Safeguarding Our Levees Act mandates a strict 180-day deadline for the government to begin emergency repairs on flood control projects following a natural disaster, upon request from local sponsors. This legislation also modifies the cost-sharing formula for these emergency restoration efforts between federal and local entities. The goal is to significantly speed up the restoration of vital flood defenses.

The Fair Accounting for Condominium Construction Act updates tax accounting rules by replacing the term "home construction contract" with "residential construction contract" within the Internal Revenue Code. This change modifies the requirements for using the percentage of completion accounting method for certain residential construction projects. The bill also updates related references in the Alternative Minimum Tax provisions. These new rules apply only to contracts entered into after the date of enactment.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025 updates the CREP to offer farmers more flexibility in how they receive annual contract payments. It establishes new payment formulas for agreements involving the retirement of water rights or dryland farming practices, potentially increasing payments for some existing contracts. Additionally, the bill mandates certain water conservation agreements and exempts CREP rental payments from federal payment limitations.

The Coastal Drone Surveillance and Interdiction Assessment Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive review of utilizing drones to enhance border security and combat maritime and low-altitude drug smuggling along the U.S. coastline. This assessment must analyze the effectiveness and risks associated with drone deployment, focusing particularly on major trafficking routes and remote areas. The resulting report detailing these findings will be submitted to key Congressional committees.

The Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act tightens reporting requirements for colleges and universities regarding gifts and contracts from foreign sources, especially those linked to "covered nations." This legislation lowers the reporting threshold significantly, mandating disclosure for even nominal amounts from certain foreign entities. Furthermore, the Secretary of Education must now rapidly share all received disclosure information with the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence.

The Setting the Table for Transition Act temporarily adjusts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility rules for households that include recently separated veterans. For 100 days following the issuance of a veteran's Report of Separation, SNAP will only consider that veteran's income when determining household eligibility. This aims to provide quicker access to food assistance during the critical transition period out of military service.

The ENLIST Act mandates that secondary schools receiving federal funding must prominently display and ensure student access to military recruiting information during school hours. This ensures that information about military service and training opportunities is readily available to students.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study on designating the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail as an official National Scenic Trail. The study must assess the trail's suitability for national recognition, considering its scenic value and existing management. The results of this study must be submitted to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Abortion Funding Awareness Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving federal Medicaid funds must publicly report detailed information regarding payments made to abortion providers. This includes the amount paid, the purpose of the funds, and the number and type of abortions performed by those providers. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will then compile these state reports into a summary for Congress and public posting.

The TICKER Act aims to protect U.S. investors by increasing transparency regarding the risks associated with investing in certain foreign entities, particularly those structured as Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). The bill mandates that stock exchanges clearly flag securities from these "covered entities" with a visible designation next to their ticker symbol. Furthermore, brokers and dealers must provide explicit warnings to investors about the lack of traditional legal recourse when investing in these specific foreign structures.