Legislation

This bill amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to mandate criminal background checks conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police for all House employees. Additionally, it requires current and new House employees to publicly disclose any prior payments or contracts received from foreign governments within the last three years. Employees must also report any current foreign citizenship status. These new requirements apply starting with the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress.

The SBIR/STTR Pilot Extension Act extends and broadens the "direct to Phase II" authority for federal agencies running SBIR programs through 2030, while also expanding which agencies can utilize it. This legislation further extends the authorization for the commercialization readiness program for civilian agencies and several key SBIR/STTR pilot programs until fiscal year 2030. Overall, the bill ensures the continuation and expansion of critical federal support mechanisms for small business innovation and research commercialization.

The Stop Poisoning Florida Act mandates that the Secretary of the Army must halt water discharges from Lake Okeechobee through the S308 and S80 structures if testing reveals toxin levels (microcystins) exceed EPA recreational safety guidelines. This measure aims to prevent the release of toxic water into surrounding areas.

The Kids Information Data Security (KIDS) Act prohibits healthcare providers participating in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP from asking minors (under 18) about their gender identity or sexual preference on intake forms. Providers may only collect information strictly necessary for diagnosing, treating, or preventing the specific condition for which the minor is seeking care. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system for reporting violations of this restriction.

This resolution formally removes Representative LaMonica McIver from her positions on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Small Business. The action is taken following her indictment on federal charges related to interfering with federal officers. This measure adjusts committee assignments within the House of Representatives.

The EO 14190 Act of 2025 seeks to permanently establish the policies outlined in Executive Order 14190 as federal law. This legislation codifies the executive order's directives aimed at regulating or restricting content related to "Radical Indoctrination" within K-12 schooling. By turning the order into statute, these guidelines become permanent requirements for educational institutions.

The Safety from Aerial Technology (SAT) Act permits pipeline owners and operators to utilize drones and satellites for required surface condition inspections along pipeline rights-of-way. This modernizes inspection methods by allowing aerial technology instead of relying solely on ground crews. However, the use of these aerial systems must still comply with all existing drone and satellite operation regulations.

This bill, the Improving Water Quality Certifications and American Energy Infrastructure Act, reforms the process for state and EPA water quality certifications required for federal permits. It clarifies that decisions must directly relate to discharges and strictly limit the criteria used for granting or denying certification to specific sections of the Clean Water Act. Furthermore, it mandates the prompt publication of certification requirements and establishes strict timelines for agencies to request necessary information from applicants.

The Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive, independent audit of all U.S. gold reserves, including purity testing and inventory. This review must also analyze past financial dealings and report findings publicly within a strict timeline. The goal is to ensure full accountability and public knowledge regarding the nation's gold assets.

The Texas is the New Hollywood Act of 2025 extends a significant 100% bonus depreciation tax break for qualified film and television productions. To qualify, productions must meet minimum in-state spending thresholds of either \$100,000 or \$500,000, depending on the project type. This extension ensures the favorable tax treatment remains available for property placed in service through the end of 2035.

The Kerrie Orozco First Responders Family Support Act expedites the U.S. citizenship process for immediate relatives of public safety officers who died in the line of duty. This legislation allows surviving spouses, children, or parents to skip standard residency requirements when applying for naturalization. The goal is to provide a pathway to citizenship for the families of fallen heroes.

The Judicial Review Timeline Clarity Act establishes strict new rules for challenging water pollution permits issued under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. This legislation mandates that lawsuits challenging permits must be filed within 60 days of issuance and limits standing to those who raised specific objections during the public comment period. If a court finds an error, it will generally remand the issue for agency correction, only halting the permit if the activity poses an immediate and serious danger to health or the environment.

The Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act aims to streamline and accelerate the issuance of nationwide general permits for certain activities involving the discharge of material into U.S. waters under Section 404(e). This bill extends the term of these general permits to ten years and narrows the scope of environmental review, particularly for discharges affecting less than three acres. It also establishes specific streamlined processes for reissuing permits and mandates regulatory updates to improve efficiency.

The Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act of 2025 prohibits immigration officers from the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE and CBP, from wearing any item bearing the word "police" while performing their duties. This measure aims to prevent confusion and deceptive practices related to immigration enforcement.

The EMS Counts Act addresses the critical undercounting of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This bill mandates that the Secretary of Labor update occupational classifications to explicitly recognize dual-role firefighter-EMTs and firefighter-paramedics. By accurately counting all EMS practitioners, this legislation aims to improve federal planning for emergency response and disaster preparedness.

The District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025 seeks to assert local control over non-discrimination policies within the District. This is primarily achieved by removing the applicability of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to the District of Columbia. This action ensures that D.C. laws and regulations are not automatically superseded by the federal RFRA standard.

The Freedom to Frack Act ties federal grant eligibility to a state's stance on hydraulic fracturing. This legislation stipulates that any state enacting or maintaining a ban on fracking will lose its eligibility to receive funding from a specific federal grant program. Essentially, the bill uses federal funding as an incentive to prevent states from banning hydraulic fracturing.

The Flexible Acquisition of Software Technology (FAST) Act grants the Secretary of Defense new authority to streamline how the Department of Defense (DoD) purchases and modifies software and data to support its artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This allows the DoD to acquire necessary technology through flexible methods, such as Software as a Service (SaaS) and Data as a Service. The Secretary must establish new regulations to govern these modernized procurement practices for AI technology.

The EO 14285 Act of 2025 officially codifies Executive Order 14285 into federal law. This action elevates the directives and requirements of the Executive Order to the full standing of a statute. Consequently, the provisions of EO 14285 must now be followed as binding federal law.

The Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution amends House rules to allow public bills and resolutions to have two primary sponsors, provided one is from the majority party and the other from the minority party. This formalizes bipartisan introduction of legislation from the outset. The resolution also adjusts related rules concerning cosponsorship and required submission statements for these jointly sponsored measures.