Legislation

The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes an Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to provide grants and support restoration projects on federal and non-federal lands, with the goal of improving forest health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat. It creates a Restoration Fund Advisory Council to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on fund distribution and project prioritization. The act also establishes a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program to implement restoration projects in designated areas, and it allocates significant funding for these initiatives, emphasizing job creation, community involvement, and ecological integrity.

The Justice for Murder Victims Act amends Title 18 of the United States Code to allow prosecution for homicide regardless of the time between the act/omission and the victim's death, while maintaining the standard statute of limitations. It prohibits the death penalty if the death occurs more than 1 year and 1 day after the act/omission, and specifies that first-degree murder in such cases will be punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life. This amendment applies to acts or omissions occurring after the enactment of this law.

The Secure Storage Information Act of 2025 mandates that licensed gun dealers provide information on secure firearm storage to purchasers, and that they offer a variety of gun safety devices for sale. It also establishes a tax credit of up to $500 for individuals who purchase a qualified gun safe.

The OPIOIDS Act aims to improve data collection and monitoring of opioid-related overdoses by providing grants to states and localities for enhanced toxicology testing, data sharing, and training for law enforcement. It also supports local law enforcement and forensic labs in high-overdose areas with training and resources for identifying overdoses, tracing drugs, and investigating overdose deaths. Additionally, the act seeks to standardize drug data reporting and ensure dedicated funding for fentanyl profiling within the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The "Unearth Innovation Act" establishes a Department of Energy initiative to advance technologies and practices for responsible mineral handling across U.S. industries. It aims to enhance domestic mineral resources, economic growth, national security, and circularity through research, development, and commercialization. The initiative focuses on minimizing environmental impact, increasing productivity, and promoting community engagement, requiring coordination with other federal agencies and stakeholders. It authorizes \$100 million annually from 2026 to 2035 for these efforts and requires a report to Congress within three years.

The "Forest Data Modernization Act of 2025" aims to modernize forest inventory and analysis through updated methods, improved carbon data collection, and national consistency in standards. It mandates a strategic plan focusing on data integration, transparency, and expanded data collection using advanced technologies. The bill also ensures data accessibility while protecting confidentiality, requires regular statistical compilations, and establishes a data platform for external requests, along with annual progress reports. It also specifies remote sensing technologies and machine learning for improved data collection and modeling.

The "Improving Contractor Cybersecurity Act" mandates that IT contractors working with executive agencies establish vulnerability disclosure policies that detail reporting processes, protect good-faith researchers, and set timelines for addressing vulnerabilities. Contractors must report new vulnerabilities in commercial software to CISA within 7 days of publishing their vulnerability disclosure policy, and CISA will then communicate these vulnerabilities to relevant databases. These requirements apply to contracts entered into after the enactment of the Act.

The "Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025" amends the Animal Health Protection Act to provide compensation to poultry growers and layers who are prohibited from raising flocks due to being located in a control area designated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Compensation will be based on the facility's average income from its five most recent flocks, and must be paid within 60 days of a request. The Secretary of Agriculture's decision on compensation is final and not subject to judicial review. This compensation aims to offset losses incurred during the control period, ensuring financial stability for affected poultry farmers.

The "Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act" updates the definition of "customs waters" to align with international law, Presidential Proclamation 5928, and Presidential Proclamation 7219. It extends U.S. customs authority to include the territorial sea and contiguous zone, as permitted by international law. These changes will take effect the day after the Act is enacted.

The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to improve falls prevention among veterans by establishing an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration. This office will monitor and improve falls prevention healthcare services, develop standards of care, and promote education and research in falls prevention. The Act also mandates training for healthcare providers, requires falls risk assessments for veterans in nursing homes and those receiving extended care services, and explores the feasibility of a home improvement pilot program to prevent falls. Finally, the Act expands the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities to include the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The "Safe Home Act of 2025" aims to protect children by addressing unregulated custody transfers, which are defined as the abandonment of a child without ensuring their safety or transferring legal rights. It directs the Secretary to improve public awareness to prevent adoption disruption and dissolution, including unregulated custody transfers of adopted children, by updating federal resources and websites to educate state, local, and tribal child welfare employees and prospective adoptive families on preventing and addressing these transfers, and on accessing adoption support services. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the causes, methods, and effects of unregulated custody transfers, along with recommended policies for prevention and response.

The Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2025 amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to ensure payment and performance security for construction projects receiving federal assistance. It allows the Secretary of Transportation or the Administrator to consider state or local laws mandating payment and performance security as fulfilling this requirement if they cover at least 50% of the construction contract. If state or local laws don't apply or meet the 50% threshold, adherence to federal bond requirements under 40 U.S.C. 3131(b)(1) and (2) is required.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to increase the maximum additional loan amount for certain disaster loans from 20% to 30%, providing additional financial assistance to small businesses recovering from disasters.

The "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025" increases penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws, including banning violators and their affiliates from importing goods. It also allows private parties harmed by customs fraud to sue for damages and injunctive relief. The Act excludes those who commit fraud from participating in the importer of record program.

The "Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act" establishes a commission to study and recommend the relocation of certain federal agencies from the Washington, D.C., area to other parts of the United States. The commission will evaluate potential relocation sites based on factors such as financial efficiency, existing infrastructure, and community input, with the goal of transferring at least 100,000 employees of covered agencies. A report of the commission's findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress within one year.

This joint resolution seeks to block the proposed sale of specific defense articles and services to the Israeli government. The resolution specifically targets the sale of thousands of 1,000-pound bomb bodies, as well as Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits designed for use with these bombs. It also halts related support services from both the U.S. government and contractors. Effectively, the resolution disapproves of the U.S. proceeding with the Transmittal No. 2526 sale of these items to Israel.

The "Flood Insurance Affordability Tax Credit Act" creates a refundable tax credit for 33% of flood insurance premiums paid by eligible taxpayers for their primary residence, with income limitations. It also establishes a program for advance payments of the tax credit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on behalf of eligible individuals. This credit aims to make flood insurance more affordable for homeowners.

This resolution establishes a bipartisan Senate Human Rights Commission to monitor international human rights issues, raise awareness of violations, and promote human rights initiatives. The commission will consist of 10 senators and operate with a budget of $200,000 per fiscal year, ceasing to exist on January 1, 2029.

The "Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act" amends existing legislation to allow research and extension grants for land-grant institutions to study and promote ungulate grazing land management techniques for wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery on both public and private lands. This includes researching the economic benefits and increasing social support for these activities while ensuring compatibility with practices that protect against adverse environmental effects and improve soil health. The act also focuses on sharing this information through educational materials and outreach programs for landowners, land managers, and livestock owners.

The "Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2025" establishes an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Justice, led by a Director, to coordinate and improve gun violence prevention programs and policies. The Director will evaluate and modernize laws, recommend evidence-based strategies to Congress and the President, improve data collection and research, educate the public, assist affected communities, and coordinate with other agencies. An advisory council will be convened, including a diverse group of experts and individuals affected by gun violence, to advise the Director. The Act authorizes necessary appropriations to support these activities.