Legislation

The Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act introduces a new federal income tax deduction of up to $\$10,000$ for qualifying overtime compensation earned by workers. This deduction is available to both itemizers and non-itemizers, though it phases out for taxpayers with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeding $\$100,000$. The changes, which require updates to tax forms and withholding procedures, will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025 expands the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children program to cover periods when schools are closed for five or more consecutive weekdays. This ensures children receive benefits equivalent to free breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every day of the closure. The bill also establishes a phased reduction in federal administrative cost coverage for states, starting at 100% in FY 2026, and provides initial grant funding to help states update their data systems for implementation.

The International Competition for American Jobs Act makes significant changes to U.S. international tax rules, primarily affecting how multinational corporations are taxed on foreign earnings starting in 2026. Key provisions include permanently extending the look-thru rule for controlled foreign corporations and modifying deductions related to foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) and Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI). The bill also overhauls the Base Erosion and Minimum Tax (BEAT) structure and eliminates the 20% haircut on foreign tax credits associated with GILTI income. Finally, it adjusts rules regarding constructive ownership, foreign tax credit limitations, and the exclusion of certain Virgin Islands service income from GILTI calculations.

The Restoring Fair Housing Protections Eliminated by Trump Act of 2025 aims to reverse recent administrative actions that weakened fair housing enforcement. This bill reestablishes robust requirements for recipients of federal housing funds to actively promote fair housing and combats discrimination in federally supported housing programs. Furthermore, it mandates a review of online discrimination, including the use of artificial intelligence, and establishes a public database for tracking fair housing complaints.

The Sovereign States Education Restoration Act abolishes the Department of Education and transfers its major programs, such as Pell Grants and IDEA, to other federal agencies like the Treasury and HHS. The bill then establishes new K-12 and postsecondary block grants administered by the Treasury Department, distributed to states based on student enrollment. Finally, the Department of Justice is tasked with enforcing applicable federal civil rights laws concerning these new grant programs.

The Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act mandates the creation of a centralized, publicly accessible online section dedicated to tracking federal disaster assistance spending. Federal agencies must report detailed information quarterly on all disaster aid distributed to eligible recipients, excluding individual aid. This ensures transparency by requiring machine-readable data on project locations, obligations, and status following a specified natural disaster.

The LAST ACRE Act of 2025 establishes the "Last Acre Program" to bring high-speed internet (at least 100/20 Mbps) to unserved and underserved agricultural lands for precision agriculture use. This program offers competitive grants and loans to providers, prioritizing the most remote and unserved farms. Additionally, the bill mandates updated federal surveys to collect detailed data on current farm broadband adoption and usage speeds.

The MEME Act, or Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement Act, prohibits federal officials and their close associates from promoting or profiting from the sale of specific financial assets, including cryptocurrencies, while in office or shortly thereafter. This legislation aims to prevent public officials from using their positions for private financial gain by banning these "prohibited financial transactions." Violations carry significant civil penalties, including fines up to $250,000 and disgorgement of profits, with severe criminal penalties for corruption or insider trading.

The Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act aims to modernize K-12 math and science education to meet the demands of modern data-driven careers. It authorizes the NSF to fund research and development for improving instruction in mathematical and statistical modeling, focusing on real-world data and career transitions. The bill also mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies on effective modeling education pathways from pre-K through 12th grade. This authority to award new grants will sunset on September 30, 2029.

The United States Automobile Consumer Assistance and Relief Act (USA CAR Act) allows taxpayers to deduct interest paid on loans taken out after January 1, 2025, for vehicles assembled in the United States. This new "qualified automobile interest" deduction can be taken "above-the-line," meaning it reduces gross income even if the taxpayer claims the standard deduction. This provision aims to provide direct financial relief to consumers purchasing domestically assembled vehicles.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

The OATH Act of 2025 establishes new requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs to proactively notify veterans released from secrecy oath programs about their full range of benefits. This legislation specifically mandates outreach to veterans who participated in programs like those at Edgewood Arsenal. Furthermore, it adjusts the effective date for disability compensation awards for these veterans to begin the day following their discharge.

The Appraisal Industry Improvement Act updates federal standards for real estate appraisers, particularly those working on FHA-insured mortgages, by establishing new certification and competency requirements. It also modifies fees for Appraisal Management Companies and formally recognizes state-credentialed trainee appraisers on the national registry. Furthermore, the bill authorizes new grants for appraiser workforce training and expands the membership of the Appraisal Subcommittee to include key federal housing agencies.

The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act modifies the maximum funding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide for necessary home improvements and structural alterations for disabled veterans receiving home health services. This bill increases the maximum benefit amount to $\$10,000$ for new applicants and establishes an automatic annual adjustment based on construction cost inflation. The law also limits any single veteran to a total of three such structural alterations under this specific benefit.

The Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2025 aims to enhance border security by mandating the annual hiring of new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, contingent upon funding, until staffing needs are met. The bill also requires a comprehensive report detailing necessary infrastructure and technology upgrades at ports of entry to combat drug smuggling. Furthermore, it establishes stricter quarterly reporting requirements for CBP regarding temporary staff assignments and service agreements to ensure operational transparency.

The Regular Order for Investments of the Federal Reserve Act mandates new annual reports from the Federal Reserve detailing the impact of its policies on the middle class and small business lending. This bill also imposes new restrictions on what Federal Reserve banks can purchase, specifically limiting the maturity of Treasury bills and prohibiting the purchase of mortgage-backed securities or common stock. Furthermore, it requires the Federal Reserve to adopt consistent GAAP accounting standards and use mark-to-market valuations for financial reporting.

The Rein in the Federal Reserve Act mandates increased transparency and accountability for the Federal Reserve's major monetary policy operations, such as quantitative easing and emergency lending. This bill requires the Fed to submit detailed, public reports to Congress explaining the necessity, financial impact, and exit strategy for any new large-scale program. Furthermore, these major programs are automatically subject to Congressional review and are limited to one year unless explicitly extended by Congress.

The Safe and Private Rides Act establishes clear rules for ride-sharing companies regarding cameras in drivers' vehicles. This legislation mandates that drivers must register cameras, and companies must notify passengers and provide an easy in-app option to opt out of riding in vehicles equipped with recording devices. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits how long ride-sharing companies can retain passenger video recordings. Violations of these new requirements will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 aims to combat rising food insecurity by eliminating the work requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This legislation recognizes the critical role SNAP plays in supporting vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. By removing bureaucratic barriers, the Act intends to ensure consistent access to vital food assistance. All provisions of the Act will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

The Countering Corrupt Political (CCP) Influence Act requires foreign missions from designated adversarial nations to report advance notice of meetings with U.S. state and local officials, as well as visits to educational or research institutions. This measure aims to increase transparency regarding diplomatic activities within the United States. The Secretary of State must compile and report this information monthly to Congress. The requirements are set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.