Legislation

The Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act establishes a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in the Financial Services Sector to study the growing use of AI in banking. This group will analyze current security measures and potential risks, particularly those posed by deep fakes used for fraud. The Task Force is required to deliver a comprehensive report to Congress with recommendations for new laws and regulations to protect consumers.

The Safe and Open Streets Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally blocking public roads or highways in a manner that interferes with commerce. This legislation amends existing federal law to include this specific offense, punishable by fines or up to five years in prison. The Act also updates the title of the relevant statute to broadly cover "Interference with commerce."

The End the Fed’s Big Bank Bailout Act prohibits the Federal Reserve from paying any interest or earnings on the reserve balances that commercial banks hold on deposit. This measure aims to eliminate a potential subsidy for large banks by ensuring that money parked at the Fed earns nothing.

The HEMP Act of 2025 redefines legal hemp by increasing the maximum allowable delta-9 THC concentration from 0.3% to 1%. This legislation also updates transportation requirements, mandating specific licensing or lab documentation for all hemp shipments. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to swiftly update federal regulations to reflect these changes within 90 days.

The VARIANCE Act adjusts federal weight limits specifically for commercial trucks transporting unpackaged, homogeneous dry bulk goods. This allows vehicles carrying these materials to temporarily exceed standard single or tandem axle weight limits by up to 110 percent, while still adhering to the overall maximum vehicle weight.

The POST Act of 2025 updates the "85/15 rule" for private, for-profit higher education institutions receiving federal student aid. This new requirement mandates that these schools must derive at least 15 percent of their total revenue from non-federal sources to maintain eligibility. Failure to meet this threshold results in an immediate two-year suspension from federal student aid programs. The Act also establishes strict guidelines for calculating qualifying revenue and requires annual reporting to Congress on institutional funding sources.

The Budget Reform Act of 2025 mandates sweeping changes to federal fiscal policy, including making Congressional Budget Office models public, requiring executive agencies to use zero-based budgeting, and shifting the entire appropriations process to a biennial schedule. Furthermore, the bill tightens Senate procedural rules to make it harder to waive budget controls and updates the technical definition of the budget baseline. These reforms aim to increase transparency, scrutinize spending, and enforce long-term fiscal planning across the government.

The Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act significantly increases the death gratuity payment for federal employees who die in the line of duty, setting the initial amount at \$100,000 and mandating annual inflation adjustments. The bill also raises the maximum government payment for funeral expenses and clarifies the payment structure for death gratuities for federal employees working abroad with the Armed Forces. Furthermore, it establishes emergency funding procedures for agencies to cover these required payments following major disasters.

The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 expands essential healthcare coverage under both programs. This bill mandates that Medicare begin covering routine dental, vision, and hearing services, including hearing aids, through a phased-in payment schedule reaching 80% coverage by the eighth year. Additionally, it increases the federal matching rate to 90% for states covering these specific dental, vision, and hearing services for certain adults under Medicaid. These comprehensive changes aim to integrate crucial preventative and restorative care into federal health programs.

The Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act establishes a new USAID program to improve mobility in rural sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative will provide grants to NGOs to fund projects that increase access to affordable bicycles for essential services like school and healthcare. The program also supports local mechanics, spare parts availability, and community management to ensure sustainable access to transportation.

The Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax on covered financial trading transactions involving securities and derivatives. This transaction tax rate will gradually increase from 0.02 percent in 2026 to 0.1 percent by 2030. The responsibility for paying the tax falls on exchanges, brokers, or the involved parties, depending on how the trade is executed. The bill also includes specific rules for foreign corporations and provides detailed definitions and exceptions for what constitutes a taxable security or derivative.

The Expedited Delivery Act revises federal procurement rules to allow the government to bypass competitive bidding for certain purchases. This is achieved by adding a new exception based on market research indicating special features or faster delivery. Furthermore, the bill significantly raises the dollar thresholds that permit these non-competitive contract awards.

The Dads Matter Act of 2025 aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by promoting the active inclusion and engagement of fathers throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The bill mandates a national awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of paternal involvement and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on encouraging providers to educate and support new fathers. Finally, the Government Accountability Office will study and report on the effectiveness of these measures within six years of enactment.

The PRIME Act streamlines the Department of Defense's procurement process for experimental defense articles. It broadens the types of items the military can purchase for testing and allows for direct transition to production contracts for successful experimental items. This change aims to accelerate the fielding of new technology if a combatant command certifies the item's utility.

The Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act of 2025 aims to support intelligence community personnel by simplifying the tax treatment of required relocations. This bill allows intelligence community employees and appointees to utilize specific moving expense deductions when changing duty stations. Furthermore, it ensures that reimbursements for qualified moving expenses related to these official relocations are excluded from taxable income.

The Smart Pricing Practices Permanence Act modifies an existing pilot program aimed at accelerating defense contracting and pricing processes. This legislation streamlines participation by eliminating requirements for unique reporting by program participants. It also removes an entire subsection from the original authorizing law, further adjusting the structure of the pilot program.

The Buy-to-Budget Flexibility Act streamlines the Department of Defense's procurement process by eliminating outdated and specific requirements for purchasing "end items." This legislation strikes out old statutory language related to end-item purchases and removes several detailed subsections from existing law. The goal is to provide greater flexibility in how the DoD manages its budget for these acquisitions.

The MONARCH Act of 2025 addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population, which faces imminent extinction due to habitat loss and climate change. This bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to provide dedicated grants for conservation projects focused on restoring milkweed and protecting overwintering sites. Furthermore, it mandates the annual updating and implementation of the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan. Ultimately, the Act aims to rapidly deploy resources to ensure the recovery and survival of this vital pollinator.

The Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates existing law to broaden the system's scope to explicitly include meteorological observations and strengthen data management infrastructure. The bill renames the primary advisory body from the "Council" to the "Committee" throughout the relevant statutes. It also authorizes $56 million annually from 2026 through 2030 and mandates a new post-storm evaluation in the annual report to Congress.

The Broadcast VOICES Act aims to increase ownership diversity in the broadcasting industry by incentivizing sales to socially disadvantaged individuals through a temporary tax certificate program. It also requires the FCC to report on current ownership statistics and recommend future growth strategies. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new tax credit for donating broadcast stations to qualified training organizations.