Legislation

The Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act modifies how certain investment companies report their fees to the SEC. Specifically, it allows registered investment companies to exclude indirect fees and expenses paid through investments in business development companies from their "acquired fund fees and expenses" disclosure. This change aims to streamline the reporting process for funds investing in these specific entities.

The No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act disallows federal income tax deductions for direct-to-consumer advertising expenses related to certain prescription drugs and compounded medications. This change specifically targets promotional costs aimed at the general public, excluding advertisements in professional medical journals. The legislation aims to alter the financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies regarding broad public marketing.

This bill establishes the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area to protect the river's ecological, cultural, and recreational values, including native fish and whitewater boating. It mandates the creation of comprehensive management plans developed with significant public input while explicitly protecting existing water rights, tribal agreements, and private property. Furthermore, the legislation removes certain river segments from future consideration under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The Universal School Choice Act establishes new federal tax credits for individuals and corporations who donate to organizations providing K-12 education scholarships. These scholarships, which cover expenses like tuition and tutoring, are explicitly made tax-free income for recipients starting in 2026. The bill imposes a national $10 billion annual cap on these credits, allocated by state based on student population and poverty levels. Furthermore, the Act strictly prohibits government entities from influencing the operations of participating scholarship organizations or private/religious schools.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Parity Act officially extends the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to the tribe, treating them as if they were under federal jurisdiction since that date. This legislation also confirms the status of all land previously taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the tribe. In essence, the Act ensures parity and validates past federal actions regarding the tribe's land status.

This Act mandates that the U.S. government actively oppose restrictions imposed by major international financial institutions on financing for fossil fuel and civil nuclear energy projects. The Treasury Secretary must direct U.S. representatives to reverse current policies blocking these energy sources and promote financing for reliable, affordable power in developing nations. Furthermore, U.S. funding to the World Bank's lending arm may be significantly reduced until it certifies the removal of these financing bans and adopts policies promoting these energy projects.

The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends child labor laws to significantly restrict the employment of minors in tobacco agriculture. This legislation prohibits individuals under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves while working on farms. The goal is to strengthen child labor protections specifically within the tobacco industry.

The EDUCATE Act conditions federal funding for graduate medical schools on certifying they do not mandate agreement with specific divisive tenets regarding race or sex. This legislation prohibits medical schools from requiring diversity statements or establishing DEI offices as a condition for admission or employment. Furthermore, it requires accrediting agencies to ensure they do not mandate policies contrary to these provisions for medical education programs. The Act includes provisions to protect existing First Amendment rights and academic freedom.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding California's stringent motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards, known as the "Omnibus Low NOX Regulation." By exercising disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, this measure prevents the EPA's decision on waiving federal preemption for these California standards from taking legal effect. If passed, the EPA's rule will be entirely canceled.

The Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act amends the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program to prohibit coverage for gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 18. This restriction defines gender-affirming care broadly to include hormones and surgeries related to gender transition. The bill includes several specific medical exceptions to this prohibition, such as for disorders of sexual development or life-saving procedures. Any existing hormone therapy for minors must be phased out within one year of the Act's effective date.

The SNAP Next Step Act of 2025 aims to connect SNAP recipients with job training opportunities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It defines specific criteria for SNAP participants to qualify as "covered individuals" eligible for these training programs. Additionally, the bill allows states to develop a public employment calculator to help SNAP recipients easily determine the financial impact of accepting new employment on their total benefits.

This resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a recent rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning California's motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards. Specifically, it rejects the EPA's proposed regulations covering heavy-duty vehicle emissions, warranties, maintenance, and zero-emission vehicle provisions. By disapproving the rule under the Congressional Review Act, Congress effectively nullifies the EPA's action.

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act aims to provide financial relief by modifying tax rules for personal losses. This bill removes previous limitations on deducting personal casualty losses for disasters occurring after 2017. Additionally, it extends the deadline for taxpayers to file for refunds related to these previously suspended casualty loss deductions.

The Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act of 2025 establishes new competitive procurement rules for the Department of Defense's acquisition of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data infrastructure services. It mandates competitive bidding, prioritizes multi-cloud technology, and strictly protects government data used by vendors to train commercial AI models. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on market competition, innovation barriers, and the use of any granted exemptions.

The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act revises federal grant management for high-quality charter schools to enhance technical assistance and oversight for authorizing agencies. The bill establishes new experience and planning requirements for educator-led groups applying for pre-charter planning grants. It also adjusts the required percentages for how states must allocate these federal grant funds across various authorized activities.

The Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act aims to improve mental health care for seniors in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This bill revises Medicare payment rules to allow clinical social workers to provide and bill for a broader range of diagnostic and treatment services for mental illnesses within these facilities. These changes will take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

The Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025 mandates that U.S. military service academies must accept the Classical Learning Test (CLT) for admissions alongside the SAT and ACT. Furthermore, the bill requires schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to administer the CLT to all eleventh-grade students. This legislation aims to integrate the CLT into both federal secondary education and military academy application processes.

The Extreme Heat Economic Study Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive economic study, led by the head of NOAA, to quantify the financial costs associated with extreme heat events. This study must calculate losses across health, property damage, lost productivity, and infrastructure disruption, including the cost of human life. The resulting report will offer recommendations for a national system to track these heat-related economic impacts and must be published within four years.

The Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act limits the coinsurance amount Medicare beneficiaries must pay for certain outpatient surgery center services. If the standard coinsurance exceeds the annual inpatient hospital deductible, this bill caps the beneficiary's out-of-pocket cost at that deductible amount. This change aims to reduce unexpected out-of-pocket expenses for patients receiving outpatient care.

The No Resettlement Without Representation Act shifts authority over the annual refugee cap from the President to Congress, requiring a joint resolution to set the number before any refugees can be admitted. Furthermore, this bill grants state governors the final authority to reject the resettlement of refugees within their state borders, overriding federal placement plans. This legislation ensures that both the overall number of refugees and their specific placement locations require explicit approval.