Legislation

The Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study into potential anti-competitive practices within the oil and gas industry. This investigation will analyze how company conduct, including stock buybacks, affects consumer prices and fuel supply. The FTC must report its findings and recommend legislative or administrative actions to ensure fair and transparent gas markets.

The Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2025 (EQUALS Act) significantly extends probationary periods for new federal employees in the competitive and excepted services to two years (one year for veterans). This legislation also establishes new agency certification requirements before appointments become final and extends the service time needed before non-veteran employees can face certain adverse performance actions. The Act mandates that the Office of Personnel Management issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment.

This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to enhance the sharing of information between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and intellectual property rights holders regarding suspected counterfeit or infringing goods. It lowers the threshold for sharing information and expands the types of data CBP can provide, including images and certain nonpublic third-party data. The legislation also broadens the range of interested parties who can receive this crucial information.

The FIRE Act reforms how the EPA handles air quality data affected by wildfires and prescribed burns under the Clean Air Act. It establishes clearer standards for states to exclude wildfire-related air quality data from regulatory decisions, focusing on causality rather than event predictability. The bill also updates regulations regarding air quality data influenced by actions taken to mitigate wildfire risk, such as prescribed fires.

The Save Willy Act of 2026 establishes a four-year pilot program to reduce vessel strikes on large whales in the San Francisco Bay region. This program mandates the creation of a dedicated Cetacean Desk within the Vessel Traffic Service to coordinate real-time data sharing and communication with vessel operators. The goal is to enhance compliance with protective measures through improved technology, training, and engagement with maritime and local stakeholders. Annual reports will track the program's effectiveness, including quantifiable reductions in vessel strikes.

The Millionaires Surtax Act establishes an additional 10% tax on high-income individuals. This surcharge applies to modified adjusted gross income exceeding \$1 million for most filers, or \$2 million for married couples filing jointly, beginning in tax years after December 31, 2026. The calculation specifically excludes investment interest deductions and includes special rules for nonresident aliens and U.S. citizens living abroad.

This bill establishes the Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2026 to explore the use of nonlethal drones by law enforcement during active shooter events. The program directs the FAA to develop protocols for testing and training on drones equipped only with nonlethal devices. Ultimately, the Act aims to create a formal approval process allowing law enforcement to operate these drones to improve officer safety and response effectiveness.

The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act aims to strengthen federal disaster recovery efforts, primarily through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It establishes a new Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund and a dedicated HUD office to coordinate housing, infrastructure, and mitigation assistance following major disasters. The bill creates a new CDBG Disaster Recovery Program to provide formula-based grants prioritizing aid for low- and moderate-income households in the most impacted areas. Finally, it mandates improved data sharing across federal agencies to prevent duplication of benefits and enhance overall recovery efficiency.

This bill combines two major components: the **Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act**, which reforms and extends key surveillance authorities like Section 702 of FISA with new privacy protections and criminal penalties for misuse, and the **Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act**, which explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from creating or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to the public. In essence, the legislation tightens oversight on foreign intelligence gathering while blocking the creation of a government-controlled digital currency.

This bill, the Eliminating Nefarious Distribution of Smuggled Chinese Vapes Act of 2026, establishes significant new civil penalties for illegally bringing unauthorized electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) into the U.S. Penalties are tiered based on the violator's intent—ranging from negligence to fraud—and can be drastically increased for repeat offenses or evasion schemes. The legislation aims to deter the smuggling of unapproved vapes by imposing severe financial consequences per unit.

The For the Fans Act aims to eliminate geographic blackouts on professional sports league streaming services, ensuring all customers can watch live games. It also mandates that leagues provide local fans with free, ad-supported access to their local team's games. The FTC will enforce the no-blackout rule, while the FCC and state attorneys general will handle enforcement of the free local access requirement.

This bill mandates a comprehensive report to Congress detailing Russia's systematic persecution of religious groups in occupied Ukrainian territories. It requires the administration to identify responsible individuals and entities involved in suppressing religious freedom, including the destruction of houses of worship. Following the report, the President must impose sanctions on those found responsible for this religious persecution.

The Stop CHEATERS Act aims to prevent tax avoidance by large corporations and high-income individuals. It provides significant, multi-year appropriations to the IRS for increased enforcement, improved taxpayer services, and technology modernization. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular reporting from the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General to Congress detailing efforts to audit high-earners and large businesses.

The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act revises federal energy efficiency standards for government buildings. This bill ensures that the use of fossil fuels will not automatically disqualify a federal building from receiving a green building certification. It also repeals outdated energy efficiency regulations and sets a deadline for the Secretary of Energy to issue updated rules.

The Hemp Safety Enforcement Act allows states and Indian tribes to self-regulate their hemp production and derived products by submitting a simple notice to the Secretary of Agriculture, rather than adhering to the full federal plan. This grants them primary regulatory authority, provided they enforce a minimum purchase age. The bill also clarifies that self-regulating jurisdictions are not barred from interstate commerce, though products crossing between them must meet both sets of local laws.

The Safer Prisons Act of 2026 focuses on increasing the safety of correctional officers by significantly enhancing penalties for assaulting Bureau of Prisons staff. This legislation doubles the maximum prison sentence and adjusts fines for individuals convicted of such assaults.

The Consumer Protection Remedies Act of 2026 significantly expands the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) power to protect consumers. This legislation authorizes the FTC to seek court orders against companies that have violated consumer protection laws, not just those currently violating them. Crucially, it grants the FTC new equitable remedies, including the ability to demand restitution, contract changes, and disgorgement of ill-gotten profits from violators. These new enforcement tools apply to legal actions initiated after the bill is enacted.

The YouthBuild for the Future Act reauthorizes and updates the existing YouthBuild program to better prepare low-income young people (ages 16-24) for postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and careers in high-demand fields like clean energy. The bill expands authorized activities to include comprehensive support services and requires stronger performance accountability measures. Additionally, it establishes a new grant program to foster employer partnerships specifically designed to create employment and training opportunities for YouthBuild participants.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2026 amends existing law to formally recognize the installation of high-efficiency mechanical insulation as a required energy and water efficiency measure in all federal buildings. This ensures that federal energy evaluations specifically identify and prioritize the installation of mechanical insulation that meets or exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements.

The FLEX Act revises federal funding distribution for charter schools under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It expands allowable uses for grant funds to support new programs within high-quality charter schools and increases minimum funding reservations for development, replication, and facilities assistance. The bill also streamlines application requirements and clarifies rules regarding advance payments and technical assistance for charter school grantees.