Legislation

The No Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026 amends existing law to prohibit state and local governments from restricting cooperation or information sharing with federal immigration authorities. This legislation mandates that local entities must provide notice of criminal alien releases to DHS and requires DHS to respond to status inquiries from other government agencies. Violations can result in civil enforcement actions and penalties affecting eligibility for certain federal law enforcement grants.

The First-Time Home Buyer Empowerment Act amends tax law to allow first-time homebuyers to take tax-free distributions from a 529 college savings plan for a home purchase. This special provision is subject to conditions, including a $35,000 lifetime limit per beneficiary. If the home is sold within five years, a recapture tax applies to recover the avoided income tax.

The Miranda Vargas School Bus Driver Red Flag Act establishes a national employer notification service to alert employers when a school bus driver's commercial driving status changes due to violations or suspensions. This law mandates that states implement this service to monitor drivers with school bus endorsements. The goal is to enhance student safety by ensuring employers are immediately aware of critical changes in their school transportation employees' driving records.

The CHEERS Act of 2026 creates a new tax incentive for hospitality businesses by classifying energy-efficient draft alcohol dispensing equipment as 15-year property for depreciation purposes. This allows restaurants and bars to recover the cost of installing qualifying stainless steel or aluminum draft systems more quickly. The provision aims to encourage upgrades to energy-efficient equipment in the alcohol service industry.

The Put America on Commission Act of 2026 establishes an Office of Whistleblower Awards within the SBA to reward individuals who report original information leading to the recovery of funds from COVID loan fraud. This office will pay awards ranging from 10% to 15% of collected funds, sourced from a new Whistleblower Award Fund. The bill also imposes a new civil monetary penalty on those convicted of COVID loan fraud and includes anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers.

The Rural Water Security Act expands access to federal water infrastructure programs for Colorado. This legislation specifically amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to include Colorado in the eligibility criteria for Western Rural Water projects, including water storage and groundwater recharge initiatives.

This bill, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2026, extends the operating authority of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for an additional ten years, through 2036. It specifically renews the Bank's general authority, its total financing limit, and the authorization for its Program on China and Transformational Exports.

The ICE Out of Our Faces Act prohibits immigration officers from using biometric surveillance systems, such as facial recognition or voice analysis, for identifying or tracking individuals. This ban covers acquiring, possessing, accessing, or using such technology or any information derived from it. The bill mandates the deletion of existing biometric surveillance data and establishes penalties, including civil fines and private rights of action, for violations.

The Regional Ocean Partnerships Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends and updates funding for existing regional ocean partnerships through fiscal year 2031. This legislation amends previous law to ensure continued support for these vital ocean management initiatives. It also adjusts reporting requirements to assess the ongoing effectiveness of the partnerships.

The Powering Productivity Act establishes a national program to significantly improve how efficiently the U.S. economy uses energy. It sets a goal to double national energy productivity by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. The bill creates an interagency Energy Productivity Task Force responsible for developing and implementing the national strategy to meet this goal. Furthermore, it mandates the creation of new baseline assessments and quarterly reports to track progress and inform policy decisions.

The Carbon Resource Innovation Act expands the existing tax credit for carbon capture to include facilities that capture carbon in solid or liquid form. This legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow facilities capturing carbon in solid or liquid states to qualify for the carbon oxide sequestration credit. To be eligible, facilities must capture a minimum of 1,000 metric tons of qualified carbon annually.

This bill establishes the **USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act** to support the recovery and growth of the North American travel and tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. It authorizes funding to promote regional travel and directs the U.S. Trade Representative to advocate for a **Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group** under the USMCA. This new group, composed of U.S., Canadian, and Mexican officials, will collaborate to enhance regional competitiveness and increase tourism exports.

The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act aims to integrate accounting education into the K-12 curriculum, recognizing it as a vital component of a well-rounded education. This bill amends existing education law to support accounting career awareness and strengthen accounting programs. It specifically directs funding to increase access to high-quality accounting courses for underrepresented students.

This bill, the "Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act," conditions federal highway funding on state compliance with specific federal immigration enforcement policies. States will face escalating penalties, starting at a 5% reduction in federal highway funds, if they fail to verify lawful presence for driver's licenses or restrict information sharing with federal immigration authorities. The legislation aims to improve transportation safety and national security by ensuring drivers are properly vetted.

This bill grants Roberto Carlos Lopez a path to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) by allowing him to adjust his status, notwithstanding standard visa limits. It waives certain past immigration violations against him, provided he applies within two years of the law's enactment. The bill specifies that this special relief does not extend any immigration benefits to his immediate family members.

The Modern Worker Empowerment Act establishes a new, two-part test under federal law to determine if a worker is an independent contractor rather than an employee. This test focuses on the degree of control exercised over the work's details and whether the worker has the risks and opportunities of entrepreneurship. The Act applies this updated classification standard to both the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act.

This Act allocates \$75 million for forest management and restoration activities in areas of the Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest damaged by the recent Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires. It also establishes streamlined emergency contracting authority to expedite recovery efforts. Furthermore, the bill mandates the inclusion of Indian Tribes and local stakeholders in the planning and reconstruction process.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick time, accruing at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. This protected leave can be used for the employee's or a family member's illness, medical care, or for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act strictly prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for using or requesting this time and mandates clear notice requirements regarding these new rights.

This bill establishes special, expedited procedures for the House of Representatives to immediately consider and vote on a specific joint resolution, H.J. Res. 143. It waives certain procedural objections and sets specific conditions for the automatic adoption of an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by the ranking minority member of the Rules Committee. The measure also mandates the swift transmittal of the House-passed resolution to the Senate.

The Kids Need Lunch Act establishes universal free school lunches for all students in participating schools and creates a federal program to reimburse schools for existing unpaid meal debt. The bill also permanently prohibits schools from collecting any future unpaid lunch charges from students or families. These provisions will take effect one year after the Act is signed into law.