Legislation

The Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act mandates new, detailed financial reporting requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) serving group health plans. This legislation requires PBMs to provide comprehensive, bi-annual reports to employers detailing drug pricing, rebates, and net costs. The goal is to increase transparency so employers can better understand and manage the true cost of prescription drug benefits for their participants. Failure to comply with these reporting mandates will result in significant daily civil penalties.

The No Tax on Bonuses Act of 2025 makes certain enlistment and reenlistment bonuses paid to members of the Armed Forces exempt from federal income tax. This exclusion applies to bonuses received for extending service, accepting commissions, or enlisting/reenlisting in active duty or reserve components. This change ensures that specific military incentive pay is not counted as gross income for federal tax purposes.

The EASE Act of 2025 mandates that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) test a new model to improve access to specialty health services. This "Specialty Health Care Services Access Model" will utilize digital tools, like telehealth, to connect eligible Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries in rural or underserved areas with necessary specialty care. The model must be tested through a network of qualified, experienced, and primarily rural-based nonprofit providers.

The Comprehensive Offshore Resource Enhancement Act of 2025 (CORE Act) mandates comprehensive federal assessments of U.S. offshore energy resources, including those shared with neighboring countries. It requires detailed reports on resource locations, international agreements, and the economic and environmental impacts of development. Furthermore, the bill establishes a requirement for regular comparative analyses detailing how U.S. offshore production practices stack up against those of major global producers.

The Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act amends federal law to officially recognize harmful algal blooms as a qualifying disaster event. This change ensures that communities affected by severe algal blooms can access federal emergency assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, similar to aid provided for droughts.

The Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act (RIFLE Act) eliminates the existing federal tax on firearm transfers. This legislation strikes the relevant section from the Internal Revenue Code and makes necessary technical updates to related statutes. Importantly, this Act does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any new authority over regulated firearms.

The Aviation Education Remaining Operational (AERO) Act ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy in Oklahoma City remains fully operational, including critical air traffic controller training, even during a government shutdown or funding lapse. This measure exempts essential Academy staff and currently enrolled students from furloughs to maintain continuous training operations.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act focuses on streamlining U.S. trade law by eliminating outdated presidential authority. Specifically, this bill repeals Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which granted the President powers related to balancing international payments. This action reclaims and modernizes existing trade statutes.

The Eliminating the RFS and Its Destructive Outcomes Act completely repeals the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program established under Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act. This legislation removes all references to the repealed standard throughout related environmental and petroleum marketing laws. In essence, the bill eliminates the federal renewable fuel mandate.

The No Iranian Energy Act aims to strengthen U.S. policy by explicitly targeting Iran's growing natural gas industry with sanctions. This bill amends existing law to ensure that sanctions apply to the sale, supply, or transfer of Iranian natural gas. The legislation reflects Congress's intent to restrict Iran's energy sector activities.

The "No Citizenship for Alien Invaders Act of 2025" amends naturalization requirements to explicitly bar any individual who entered the United States unlawfully from becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. This new restriction overrides any other provision of immigration law that might otherwise allow for naturalization. In short, unlawful entry permanently disqualifies a person from becoming a citizen.

The Mining Schools Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program, administered by the Secretary of Energy, to strengthen domestic mining education at specialized institutions. These grants aim to train the next generation of professionals needed for the nation's energy and mineral supply by focusing on modern extraction, critical minerals, and environmental responsibility. The Act also creates the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to guide the grant selection process and repeals the older Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Act of 1984.

The Convenient Contraception Act amends current law to require group health plans and individual health insurance coverage to allow individuals to obtain a full 365-day supply of covered contraceptives at one time. This upfront, year-long supply must be provided without any cost-sharing requirements like copays or deductibles. This provision takes effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill, the "No In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Act," penalizes states that offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented students. If a state provides these lower rates, it risks losing all federal student financial assistance, such as Pell Grants, in the following fiscal year. The legislation ties state tuition policies directly to the receipt of federal education funding.

The Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2025 establishes a new tax credit for businesses covering 10% of the labor costs associated with installing qualifying mechanical insulation property. This credit aims to encourage energy efficiency improvements on existing mechanical systems by rewarding the labor investment in proper insulation. The incentive is available for labor costs paid or incurred after December 31, 2025, and expires for costs paid after December 31, 2028.

The INFANTS Act of 2025 significantly strengthens safety standards for food intended for infants and toddlers up to 24 months old. It mandates that manufacturers implement rigorous, written testing plans to screen for toxic elements like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in their products quarterly. Furthermore, the bill grants the Secretary mandatory recall authority for contaminated infant food and requires manufacturers of powdered infant formula to establish environmental monitoring programs to test for pathogens like *Cronobacter* and *Salmonella*.

The Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act mandates clearer caffeine labeling for restaurant chains and packaged foods, requiring warnings for items exceeding 150mg of caffeine. It also directs the FDA and NIH to conduct urgent safety reviews concerning caffeine consumption in the general population and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the bill establishes a public education campaign on safe caffeine use and requires a GAO study on the marketing of caffeinated beverages, particularly toward youth.

The College Employment Accountability Act ties federal student aid eligibility to institutional hiring practices. This bill mandates that all institutions receiving federal student aid must participate in the E-Verify program. Furthermore, colleges found employing unauthorized aliens will immediately lose access to federal student assistance and institutional aid. The Department of Homeland Security is required to monitor compliance and report non-participating or non-compliant schools to the Department of Education.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to significantly expand and modernize energy assistance for low-income families facing high utility costs and extreme weather. It increases funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), streamlines eligibility requirements, and mandates that energy suppliers take steps to prevent shutoffs and eliminate late fees for recipients. Furthermore, the bill prioritizes using funds for weatherization and home retrofitting to reduce fossil fuel dependence and improve climate resilience for vulnerable households.

The Save Our Small Farms Act of 2025 aims to strengthen support for small, diverse, and underserved farmers by streamlining disaster assistance and insurance programs. It simplifies participation in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and creates new incentives for transitioning to Whole Farm Revenue Protection. Furthermore, the bill mandates the research and development of a new, streamlined "single index insurance policy" to protect against losses caused by specific severe weather events.