Legislation

The LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 expands exemptions under the Federal Meat Inspection Act for small-scale, personal meat processing. This allows individuals who partially own livestock to process the resulting meat for their household, guests, or employees without federal inspection. The bill requires owners to maintain strict control and identification of the meat, even when using agents for slaughtering or transport, to prevent it from entering commercial channels.

The Financial Freedom Act of 2025 revises fiduciary duties for retirement plan managers, particularly those offering participant-directed investment options like 401(k)s. This bill clarifies that fiduciaries are not required to select specific investment types for the menu, provided a broad range of suitable options is offered. Furthermore, it prevents the Secretary of Labor from limiting investment choices within self-directed brokerage windows.

The SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how the U.S. measures poverty by incorporating the value of non-cash federal benefits into a new, more comprehensive calculation. Additionally, the bill significantly tightens work requirements for SNAP recipients, increases the financial responsibility of states for program administration, and imposes stricter penalties for retailer fraud. These combined measures seek to promote self-sufficiency while providing a clearer picture of economic need across the country.

The Lower Drug Costs for Families Act updates how prescription drug inflation rebates are calculated to ensure they apply more broadly to drugs on the commercial market. This bill modifies the rules for both Medicare Part B and Part D to adjust the unit counting methods used in rebate calculations. Key changes include excluding certain units, such as those covered by Medicaid, and shifting the base reference years for these calculations.

The Hot Foods Act of 2025 amends the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to generally allow beneficiaries to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. This legislation removes the previous general ban on buying such items with SNAP benefits. However, retailers participating in SNAP will now face a limit, as hot, ready-to-eat food sales cannot exceed 50% of their total gross sales.

The Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act addresses three main areas: resolving complex federal/private land checkerboard patterns in Pershing County to potentially increase local tax revenue, designating over 130,000 acres of BLM land as protected wilderness areas, and transferring 10 acres of federal land into trust status for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe while prohibiting gaming on that parcel. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline land management, expand conservation, and support tribal interests in the region.

The American Prairie Conservation Act establishes new certification requirements for producers who convert native sod (untouched grassland) into cropland to receive federal crop insurance or disaster assistance. Farmers must now formally certify any newly tilled native sod acreage to the Secretary of Agriculture using specific forms and maps. Furthermore, the Secretary is required to report annually on the total amount of certified tilled native sod acreage by county and state through 2030.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act establishes a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan designed to lower monthly payments based on family size and income relative to the poverty line. This plan offers loan forgiveness after 10 years for undergraduate-only debt or 15 years for debt including graduate loans. Furthermore, the bill eliminates interest accrual that exceeds the borrower's calculated monthly payment.

The Transportation Asset Management Simplification Act revises federal requirements for how states manage their transportation assets, such as roads and bridges. This legislation changes the mandatory compliance review schedule from annual to once every four years, aligning it with existing recertification processes. Furthermore, the bill establishes a clear process allowing states a minimum of 90 days to correct any identified compliance issues before penalties are enforced.

The Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025 updates the tax deduction available for volunteer driving. This bill requires the charitable mileage rate to be set at a minimum equal to the standard business mileage rate, ensuring volunteer drivers receive fair compensation for vehicle use. This change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to combat dangerous urban heat islands, which disproportionately affect low-income communities. This program will fund eligible entities for projects such as planting trees, installing cool roofs, and creating cooling centers. A minimum of 75% of the funds must be directed toward designated high-need census tracts, emphasizing community engagement and environmental justice in project selection.

This Act establishes an integrated, joint aerial law enforcement program between the U.S. and Canada to operate within 50 miles of the northern border. The program requires strict protection of U.S. civil rights and privacy, with participating officers from both nations receiving specialized training. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive report on the current and potential use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) along the border. This legislation is designed to be enacted without authorizing any new appropriations of funds.

The GAZA Act proposes to amend immigration law to make individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority inadmissible to the United States. This means they would be barred from receiving visas, admission, or parole into the country.

The No Dollars for Dictators Act of 2025 prohibits the U.S. from supporting the allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through the IMF to any member country that has committed genocide in the last decade or is currently designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. This restriction remains in place unless Congress explicitly authorizes the vote through new legislation. The bill ensures that U.S. financial influence is not used to benefit regimes engaged in genocide or terrorism.

The Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act of 2025 officially adds Rhode Island as a member state to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This legislative change expands the council's representation and increases its total membership from 21 to 23 seats. The Act ensures Rhode Island fishermen have a voice in regional fishery management decisions.

The Scarper Ridge Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act officially modifies the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This legislation specifically adds land surrounding Scarper Ridge to the recreation area's official designation. The change is defined by referencing a specific map dated July 2024.

The Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025 updates how hospitals calculate reimbursable costs for running nursing and allied health education programs. This bill expands the types of direct and indirect expenses hospitals can count toward Medicare payments, including costs from related entities and contracted faculty. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the recoupment of payments for costs that will be allowable under the new rules, and mandates refunds for certain past recoupments.

Ethan's Law establishes federal requirements for the secure storage of firearms to prevent unauthorized access by minors and prohibited persons, making improper storage a civil violation with escalating penalties if injury or death results. The bill also creates a federal grant program to incentivize states and Tribes to adopt matching safe storage laws. Furthermore, Congress declares that failing to comply with these storage requirements constitutes negligence and may be considered the direct cause of resulting firearm injuries.

The Stop CARB Act of 2025 aims to centralize federal control over emission standards for off-road engines and vehicles by immediately repealing all state authority to set or enforce their own rules in this area. This legislation also eliminates the ability for other states to adopt California's stricter new motor vehicle emission standards. In essence, the bill strips states of their power to create pollution regulations that exceed federal requirements for specific engine types and vehicles.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) significantly amends federal law to require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This legislation mandates that states actively clean their voter rolls and cooperate with federal agencies to verify citizenship status. It establishes new criminal penalties for officials who fail to enforce these documentation requirements.