Legislation

The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act aims to provide permanent and expanded tax relief for individuals suffering losses in federally declared major disasters. It makes qualified disaster-related personal casualty losses fully deductible, even for those taking the standard deduction. Additionally, the bill creates a new tax exclusion for compensation received for losses resulting from certain major wildfires. These provisions apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, or after December 31, 2025, for wildfire relief.

The BARCODE Efficiency Act mandates that the IRS modernize its processing by using scanning and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to digitize paper tax returns and correspondence. This aims to enhance efficiency by converting paper documents into electronic formats for better organization and disbursement. The implementation of these scanning requirements will occur on a staggered schedule based on the type of tax document.

This resolution designates April 2026 as "Financial Literacy Month." The designation aims to raise public awareness about the critical importance of personal financial education. It calls upon various sectors of society to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities promoting financial well-being.

This resolution supports the designation of April 2026 as the "Month of the Military Child." It recognizes the more than 1.6 million children connected to the military across the United States. The bill encourages the public to observe this month with appropriate activities to honor the commitment, struggles, and support provided by military children.

This resolution supports designating April 2026 as "National Native Plant Month." It recognizes the critical role native plants play in supporting healthy ecosystems, wildlife, and environmental resilience across the United States. The designation aims to highlight the importance of these vital natural resources.

This act expands opportunities for unemployed individuals to start their own businesses while receiving benefits. It modifies state self-employment assistance programs by removing previous eligibility hurdles and requiring participation in approved entrepreneurial training or business plan development. The legislation also increases the maximum number of participants allowed in these state programs.

This joint resolution disapproves the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule regarding "Pay-to-Pay Fees" in debt collection practices. By disapproving the rule under the Congressional Review Act, it is nullified and has no legal effect.

This act amends the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to significantly restrict how bankruptcy proceedings handle debts arising from child sexual abuse. It establishes new requirements for victim impact statements, limits the sealing of court records, and imposes strict new standards for releasing third parties from liability in reorganization plans. Crucially, the bill prohibits the discharge of debts resulting from abuse if the debtor was directly responsible or grossly negligent.

This bill establishes the Southeast New England Program within the EPA to protect, enhance, and restore coastal watersheds in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The program authorizes the EPA Administrator to award grants for projects focused on pollution reduction, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. It also mandates federal agency coordination to improve resource management in the region, authorizing $30 million annually from 2027 through 2031.

This concurrent resolution sets the proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2026 and outlines spending targets through 2035, projecting continued annual deficits and growth in the national debt. It directs committees to propose legislation affecting homeland security and the judiciary via a reconciliation process, while establishing flexible, deficit-neutral reserve funds for future policy adjustments. Finally, it solidifies the procedural rules for enforcing these budget allocations across both chambers of Congress.

The Saving Transit Art Resources (STAR) Act amends federal transit law to explicitly allow for art in transit projects. This legislation removes a previous restriction that prohibited transit agencies from using certain federal funds for art installations. By eliminating this specific prohibition and an outdated special rule, the bill streamlines funding for incorporating art into public transportation systems.

The Drug Deal Disclosure Act mandates the public release of all federal government agreements with drug manufacturers concerning pricing, sales, and import conditions. This transparency requirement applies to specific existing deals and any future agreements made after enactment. The law strictly limits what information can be withheld, preventing redactions based on political embarrassment. Finally, it requires analyses from the CBO and GAO on the economic and budgetary effects of these disclosed deals.

The WATCH Personnel Act of 2026 aims to increase compensation for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel. It mandates a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for Transportation Security Officers starting in fiscal year 2026, with future inflation adjustments. The bill also provides continuing appropriations to ensure TSA personnel receive pay and grants a one-time $10,000 bonus to officers employed as of February 14, 2026.

This resolution commemorates the successful Artemis II mission and honors its crew for achieving historic milestones in deep space exploration. It specifically recognizes April 6, 2026, as the day the crew surpassed the Apollo 13 record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth. The bill celebrates the mission's technological achievements, international partnerships, and the safe return of the astronauts.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and void the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule concerning revocations or unfavorable changes to existing credit arrangements. If enacted, this measure would prevent the CFPB's specified regulation from taking effect or being enforced.

The Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act aims to modernize and enhance interactions between taxpayers and the IRS. It mandates the creation of a public dashboard showing real-time IRS phone wait times and processing backlogs. The bill also requires expanding electronic access to tax return and refund information through online accounts and mobile apps. Furthermore, it encourages the expansion of callback technology for taxpayers waiting on hold.

The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act enhances taxpayer rights by requiring the IRS to provide more specific details when notifying taxpayers about contacts with third parties for information gathering. This legislation mandates that taxpayers receive notice identifying the specific information sought from third parties and grants them at least 45 days to respond before the IRS proceeds with the third-party contact. These new specificity and notification requirements aim to increase transparency in IRS information requests.

The Special Election Timeliness (SET) Act mandates that states hold special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives within 180 days of the vacancy occurring, unless a general election is already scheduled during that period. This ensures timely representation for affected districts. The bill provides enforcement mechanisms, allowing the Attorney General or affected parties to sue to compel compliance.

This resolution formally welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States for His Majesty's address to a joint meeting of Congress. It recognizes the deep, historic partnership between the U.S. and U.K. across security, innovation, and shared democratic values. The bill reaffirms the enduring friendship and encourages deeper cooperation on strategic global issues.

This resolution designates April 22, 2026, as "National Assistive Technology Awareness Day." It recognizes the critical role assistive technology plays in enabling millions of Americans with disabilities and older adults to participate fully in education, employment, and community life. The day aims to highlight the necessity of these devices and services, which are vital for independence and economic self-sufficiency.