Legislation

The Marianas Air Service Improvement Act amends existing federal aviation law to specifically exempt locations in the Northern Mariana Islands from certain air service requirements. This change aligns the Northern Mariana Islands with Alaska and Hawaii, which already benefit from this exemption. Essentially, the bill adjusts federal regulations concerning air service for the territory.

This bill extends combat zone tax benefits to members of the Armed Forces serving in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. It treats these locations as "qualified hazardous duty areas" for tax purposes, applying the same favorable rules used for official combat zones. This change impacts filing deadlines, income exclusions, and tax liability for service members in these specific regions.

The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025 restricts the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing tailpipe emission regulations that mandate specific vehicle technologies or limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type. This ensures manufacturers maintain flexibility in meeting performance standards set by the EPA. The Act requires the EPA to update existing rules within two years to comply with these new limitations.

The AI PLAN Act mandates the creation of a unified federal strategy to defend against financial crimes and threats posed by artificial intelligence. Key agencies must annually report to Congress on current defenses, available tools, and necessary resources to combat AI-driven risks like deepfakes and fraud. Following this report, the agencies must provide specific legislative recommendations and best practices for businesses and government entities.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

The American Cybersecurity Literacy Act establishes a national campaign to significantly boost the general public's understanding of cybersecurity best practices. This effort will focus on educating Americans on how to spot scams, use strong security tools like multi-factor authentication, and safely manage connected devices and apps. The goal is to strengthen national security and the economy by making everyday citizens more resilient against cyber threats.

This bill requires institutions of higher education to immediately report to SEVIS if they become aware that an F-1 or J-1 visa student has endorsed or supported a designated foreign terrorist organization. Upon confirmation, the Secretary of State must revoke the student's visa, and the Secretary of Homeland Security must initiate deportation proceedings. This measure aims to swiftly address national security risks posed by international students supporting terrorism.

The Honey Integrity Act establishes a clear standard of identity for honey based on existing quality benchmarks. It mandates that commercial honey packers implement rigorous, scientifically advanced testing protocols to detect fraud and adulteration. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary to report on enforcement actions against mislabeled honey and establishes a new program funded by packer fees to ensure honey sold in the U.S. is authentic.

The Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states support students with epilepsy or seizure disorders in schools. States will award subgrants to local districts to fund mandatory training for all school personnel on seizure response and the use of individualized health care plans. This funding aims to improve preparedness and ensure consistent, safe care for students managing seizure disorders while at school.

The Fight for Families Act of 2025 makes a portion of the federal tax credit for adopting children with special needs refundable. This means eligible families can receive money back as a refund, even if they owe no taxes. The refundability applies specifically to the amount of the credit tied to their special needs adoption expenses.

The Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to reimburse state and local governments for providing personnel, equipment, or facilities to support specific presidential security functions. This reimbursement authority is retroactive, covering assistance provided since July 12, 2024. The Act establishes a mechanism for the federal government to cover the costs incurred by local partners assisting with these federal duties.

The No Penalties for Victims of Fraud Act allows individuals who have been victims of fraud to withdraw funds from most retirement accounts without incurring the standard 10% early withdrawal penalty. To qualify, victims must provide documentation from law enforcement or a court proving the fraud led to the withdrawal. The Act also mandates that the Treasury Department issue clear instructions and launch a public awareness campaign about this new penalty waiver.

The Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2025 establishes federal criminal penalties for knowingly creating, transferring, or possessing specific types of human-animal chimeras, including embryos mixing human and nonhuman cells or animals engineered to develop human-like brains or reproductive cells. This legislation broadly bans the mixing of human and nonhuman life forms in defined ways, while explicitly excluding certain research involving the transplantation of human cells or the addition of human genes to animal models. Violations of this Act could result in up to ten years in prison and significant fines.

The Nuclear Ecosystem Drone Defense (NEDD) Act grants the Secretary of Energy specific authority to procure and operate certain foreign-sourced drones otherwise restricted for federal use. This legislation carves out exceptions for the Department of Energy from existing prohibitions on acquiring or using covered unmanned aircraft systems from flagged foreign entities. Additionally, the bill expands the Secretary of Energy's power to protect sensitive nuclear assets and related facilities from drone threats.

The No Foreign Election Interference Act establishes significant penalties for certain tax-exempt organizations that accept funds from foreign nationals and subsequently contribute to political committees. If an organization takes foreign money and makes a "disqualified political committee contribution," it faces a penalty equal to twice the amount of that donation. Furthermore, an organization that makes more than two such prohibited contributions will permanently lose its tax-exempt status. These provisions apply to contributions made on or after January 1, 2026.

The Putting Veterans First Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to support military-affiliated federal employees by reversing past unfair employment actions and establishing new procedural safeguards against future disciplinary actions. It also imposes significant limitations, increased transparency, and accountability measures across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding personnel actions, office closures, and contracting. Furthermore, the Act strengthens protections, mental health support, and employment assistance for civil servants while mandating extensive public reporting on VA operations and staffing.

The UPRISERS Act mandates the revocation of student and exchange visitor visas for individuals convicted of assaulting a police officer or engaging in riot-related offenses. Furthermore, this bill makes conviction for these specific crimes grounds for deportation for those holding F, J, or M visas. This legislation targets non-immigrant visa holders involved in violent civil unrest or attacks on law enforcement.

The Innovative FEED Act of 2025 establishes a new regulatory category for "zootechnical animal food substances" intended to modify animal digestive byproducts or reduce foodborne pathogens without treating disease. This bill mandates that these new substances must undergo the standard food additive approval process with the FDA, requiring petitioners to provide extensive data on their intended effects. Approval is contingent upon proving the substance achieves its claimed function under proposed use conditions, and all resulting animal food must carry a specific disclaimer stating it is not for disease treatment.

The Court Shopping Deterrence Act mandates that any appeal of a federal district court order granting a nationwide injunction must go directly to the Supreme Court. This process bypasses the standard circuit court of appeals for rulings that halt the enforcement of federal laws or regulations across the entire country. The Act aims to centralize review for these significant, broad-reaching judicial decisions.

The Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act aims to expedite the Department of Education's review of college ownership changes by implementing application and monitoring fees. This legislation establishes a guaranteed review timeline, introduces pre-transaction approval, and sets strict rules to prevent self-dealing when for-profit institutions convert to non-profit status. The Act also mandates post-conversion monitoring and requires a comprehensive GAO review five years after enactment.