Legislation

The "House Expansion Commission Act" establishes a commission to study the potential expansion of the U.S. House of Representatives, which has been capped at 435 members since 1929, despite significant population growth. The commission will assess the impact of the current House size on representation and effectiveness, explore different methods for expansion, and consider the logistical and financial implications. It will then submit a report to the President and Congress with proposals for expanding the House and enhancing its representational role. The commission will consist of 13 members appointed by House and Senate leaders, and will terminate 90 days after submitting its report.

The California Clean Coast Act of 2025 permanently prohibits any new oil and gas leasing activities in federal waters off the coast of California. This amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act aims to protect California's coastal environment and economy. Existing leases issued before the enactment of this law are not affected.

The "Targeting Child Predators Act of 2025" enhances law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute child predators by modifying the rules around administrative subpoenas. It extends nondisclosure requirements for certain subpoenas issued by the Department of Homeland Security to protect victims and investigations, while also establishing a process for judicial review of these nondisclosure requirements to ensure transparency and protect the rights of subpoena recipients. This judicial review process allows recipients to challenge nondisclosure requirements, balancing the need for secrecy in investigations with the principles of due process. The bill aims to prevent child predators from evading justice by ensuring investigations are not compromised through premature disclosure of subpoenas.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy" by designating and supporting Ocean Innovation Clusters. These clusters, composed of diverse stakeholders, will promote collaboration, innovation, and economic development related to oceans and Great Lakes resources. The Act directs federal agencies to support these clusters through partnership managers, technical knowledge exchange, and measurement of their economic impact. Additionally, it establishes a grant program to fund the operation and administration of Ocean Innovation Clusters, with the goal of creating self-sustaining entities that drive regional economic benefits.

The "Small Modular Reactor Commercialization Act of 2025" aims to promote the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) by updating electrical output thresholds, directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Secretary of Energy to update their guidelines, and enabling financial assistance for efficient SMR projects. It establishes a working group to enhance the commercialization and industrialization competitiveness of SMR technologies in the U.S., and requires annual reports to Congress on the working group's findings and recommendations. The Act defines key terms such as "advanced nuclear reactor," "microreactor," and "small modular reactor" to provide clarity and consistency in its application.

The "Health Tech Investment Act" aims to improve Medicare payments for algorithm-based healthcare services by creating a new technology payment classification. Starting in 2026, these services will have payment rates based on manufacturer cost submissions, with the Secretary adjusting the classification as needed. The act defines "algorithm-based healthcare service" and codifies the hospital outpatient prospective payment system for "software as a service" as of January 1, 2023.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) financing authority and program expiration date to December 31, 2026. It ensures the continuation of the NFIP, allowing it to continue providing flood insurance coverage to communities.

The "Abortion Funding Awareness Act of 2025" requires states to report annually all Medicaid payments made to abortion providers, including payment details, abortion statistics, and methods used. These state reports will then be compiled into a comprehensive report by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and submitted to Congress and made public. This aims to increase transparency regarding the use of federal funds for abortions. The act amends the Social Security Act to ensure state compliance with these reporting requirements.

The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands programs aimed at protecting and restoring coastal and estuarine areas. It prioritizes projects that enhance ecological function, mitigate climate change impacts, and benefit underserved communities. The act also directs the establishment of new National Estuarine Research Reserves and promotes research and monitoring of climate change impacts on these vital ecosystems. Finally, it increases funding authorizations for coastal and estuarine conservation efforts.

The "International Quantum Research Exchange Act" establishes a program within the Department of State to promote international collaboration in quantum information science through grants and exchange programs. The program will support research with countries that have signed quantum cooperation agreements with the U.S. It requires alignment with the National Quantum Information Science Strategy and compliance with research security standards. The Act authorizes \$20,000,000 for the program in fiscal year 2026 and mandates annual reports to Congress.

The "Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act" modifies the clean fuel production credit to only include fuel derived from feedstocks grown in the United States. It also excludes indirect land use emissions from lifecycle greenhouse gas emission calculations, extends the clean fuel production credit through 2034, and refines emissions factor calculations for greater precision.

This bill seeks to strengthen adult education by amending the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It aims to modernize workforce development by integrating adult education, public libraries, and career navigation services, and it expands the goals of adult education to include full participation in all aspects of adult life while enhancing digital literacy skills. The bill also increases funding and support for state and local programs, with a focus on accountability and serving specific groups of adult learners. Ultimately, this bill strives to create a more skilled and engaged adult population ready to participate in the workforce and civic life.

The REPAIR Act ensures vehicle owners and independent repair shops have access to necessary data, tools, and parts to repair vehicles, promoting competition in the repair market. It prohibits manufacturers from limiting access to vehicle-generated data and critical repair information and establishes a committee to assess barriers to competitive vehicle repair. The Act directs the FTC and NHTSA to create regulations protecting consumer access to data and informing owners of their rights. It also establishes a complaint system and requires regular reports to Congress on enforcement and adaptation to technological changes.

The Foreign Pollution Fee Act of 2025 introduces a fee on certain imported products based on their pollution intensity, incentivizing cleaner global production. It authorizes international agreements to reduce pollution, offering fee adjustments for participating countries and support for developing nations. The Act also mandates annual reports to Congress on efforts to support U.S. manufacturers, assess competitive advantages, and evaluate the law's economic and environmental impacts.

The Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2025 aims to enhance taxpayer rights and protections by modifying standards for awarding costs and fees, increasing civil damages for certain IRS misconduct, and introducing measures such as banning ex parte discussions and limiting lien enforcement on primary residences. The bill also focuses on improving alternative dispute resolution procedures, increasing penalties for unauthorized disclosures, and ensuring fair treatment by the IRS through measures like mandatory termination for misconduct and reviews by the Treasury Inspector General. Additionally, it includes provisions for deductions for audit expenses, term limits for the National Taxpayer Advocate, IRS levy releases due to economic hardship, and the repeal of partial payment requirements for offers-in-compromise. This act seeks to create a fairer and more transparent system for small businesses and individual taxpayers interacting with the IRS.

The "High-Quality Charter Schools Act" introduces a tax credit for individual contributions to eligible charter school organizations, capped at 75% of the contribution or \$5,000, to support the creation or expansion of charter schools. It establishes expenditure requirements for these organizations, ensuring funds are used effectively, and sets a \$5 billion volume cap on the total tax credits available nationwide, allocated to states and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The Act also protects the autonomy of charter schools, ensuring they maintain freedom in meeting student needs without government intervention. These provisions will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Shell Company Abuse Act makes it a federal crime to create or use shell companies to conceal illegal campaign contributions or donations from foreign nationals. Violators may face imprisonment, fines, or both. This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to include this prohibition.

The "Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025" codifies the "Rule of Two," ensuring contracts over the simplified acquisition threshold are reserved for small businesses. This applies when at least two responsible small businesses are expected to offer services at a fair market price. This change is made by amending section 15(j) of the Small Business Act.

The SAFE Supply Chains Act restricts the Department of Defense from procuring IT products from unauthorized sources, requiring purchases to be made directly from original equipment manufacturers or authorized resellers. Waivers are permitted under specific conditions, such as for research or to avoid jeopardizing critical missions, with congressional notification required. The Act aims to secure federal equipment supply chains by ensuring the integrity and security of IT products used by the Department of Defense.

The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.