Legislation

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The BOOST Act of 2025 establishes a universal adult assistance program providing qualifying U.S. residents aged 19 to 67 with a monthly cash payment of $250, administered by the Social Security Administration. To fund this, the bill simultaneously imposes a new federal income tax of 2.5% on adjusted gross income exceeding $30,000 for individuals or $60,000 for joint filers. These assistance payments are explicitly excluded from being counted as income for federal benefit or tax purposes.

This Act establishes at least eight regional wildland fire research centers across the U.S. to improve understanding, prediction, and mitigation of wildland fire risks. These centers will coordinate research, develop new technologies, and focus on regional needs, overseen by a National Center Coordination Board. The legislation authorizes specific funding levels for the centers and the Board through Fiscal Year 2030.

This act amends the Defense Production Act to prevent the President from using authority over domestic energy supplies for environmental protection purposes. Furthermore, it prohibits denying financial support under specific DPA sections to entities engaged in the fossil fuel energy sector.

The Remote Access Security Act amends existing law to give the President authority to restrict foreign persons of concern from remotely accessing sensitive U.S. technology via cloud services when it poses a national security risk. This new control treats the provision of remote access the same as traditional exports, applying existing licensing, penalty, and enforcement rules. The bill also mandates consultations with Congress and requires the Commerce Secretary to report on implementation, including minimizing compliance costs for U.S. businesses.

The No Free Pass for Felons Act of 2025 ties federal justice and policing grants to state and local pretrial release policies. To receive full funding, jurisdictions must certify they require a "dangerousness hearing" before releasing certain violent defendants on unsecured bonds. The bill also mandates increased data collection on pretrial release decisions and subsequent rearrests for violent offenders. Failure to comply with these public safety certifications may result in a reduction of Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funding by up to 15 percent.

The Working for Tips Tax Relief Act of 2025 creates a temporary federal income tax deduction for properly reported tips received by workers in certain tipped occupations. This deduction is capped at \$35,000 annually and phases out completely for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes over \$75,000. The law aims to provide tax relief for service workers while establishing new reporting requirements and administrative oversight.

The Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025 mandates that the Supreme Court provide written explanations and disclose the votes of participating justices for emergency orders concerning preliminary injunctive relief or stays thereof. These explanations must address key legal standards, such as the likelihood of success on the merits and irreparable harm. The bill also establishes a reporting requirement for the Federal Judicial Center to assess compliance with these new transparency measures.

This bill reauthorizes and amends key grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program, extending funding through 2035 and increasing federal cost-sharing for interpretation and restoration projects. It also mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct comprehensive studies on nationally significant sites related to the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War. The legislation aims to enhance the preservation and interpretation of these historic battlefields through updated grant structures and new site assessments.

The PEERS Act of 2025 aims to expand Medicare coverage for essential peer support services. This legislation mandates that Medicare begin covering services provided by certified peer support specialists at community mental health centers, rural health clinics, and Federally qualified health centers starting January 1, 2027. The bill defines these services and specialists, focusing on supporting recovery and self-empowerment for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders.

The Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act releases three specific Wilderness Study Areas in Montana—Middle Fork Judith, Hoodoo Mountain, and Wales Creek—from further wilderness consideration. This action aligns land management with existing, recently updated resource management plans developed through collaborative processes. The bill allows for improved management of these lands, supporting sportsmen opportunities, public access, and conservation projects.

This act streamlines federal oversight by automatically deeming State Veterans Homes certified by the VA as meeting Medicare and Medicaid nursing facility requirements. This automatic qualification is contingent upon the VA sharing inspection data and aligning its standards with federal requirements. The bill also mandates that VA inspection data for these homes be publicly reported to ensure transparency and accountability.

This bill aims to reform high-skilled immigration by significantly increasing the annual H-1B visa cap. It also establishes the Promoting American Ingenuity Grant Program to strengthen STEM education and teacher retention in the U.S. Furthermore, the legislation adjusts the criteria used to define H-1B-dependent employers.

This bill aims to boost the U.S. bioeconomy and food security by investing in innovative protein production, such as biomanufacturing using under-utilized biomass. It establishes new research centers, grant programs for production and workforce development, and a national strategy focused on alternative proteins. The legislation specifically excludes the promotion of insect-based food or feed.

The Put American Students First Act aims to enforce a federal prohibition against public colleges and universities offering in-state tuition rates or other financial benefits to aliens not lawfully admitted for permanent residence. This legislation mandates that such individuals must be charged the higher out-of-state tuition rate. Furthermore, it requires colleges to verify the immigration status of students receiving benefits and imposes penalties on states and institutions that fail to comply with these new requirements.

The Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act of 2025 aims to curb violence in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean fueled by U.S. firearms trafficking. This bill transfers regulatory control of certain munitions exports from the Commerce Department back to the State Department. It mandates comprehensive reporting and strategy development to disrupt illegal trafficking networks and tightens restrictions on future arms exports to designated "covered countries."

The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act establishes strict rules for vehicle manufacturers regarding the collection, use, and sharing of data generated by covered vehicles. It mandates that manufacturers must obtain explicit, purpose-specific consent from owners or users before accessing or sharing this data. Furthermore, the Act grants owners the right to access, delete, and correct their vehicle data, while empowering the FTC to enforce these privacy protections.

The American Franchise Act aims to clarify the legal relationship between franchisors and franchisees by defining when a franchisor can be considered a joint employer of a franchisee's staff. This legislation specifies that joint employer status only applies if the franchisor exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential terms of employment, such as wages, hours, and discipline. The Act provides detailed examples of what actions do and do not constitute this level of direct control over the franchisee's employees. This clarification is intended to stabilize the franchising business model against inconsistent legal interpretations.

The CLEAR Act of 2025 invalidates a specific Forest Service rule concerning criminal prohibitions. This legislation strips the rule of all legal force and explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from enforcing it or any substantially similar future rule.

This Act prohibits Medicare-approved medical residency programs from requiring participation in abortion-related training. Programs that offer abortion training must ensure it is strictly voluntary, allowing residents to opt-in without facing discrimination. This ensures medical residents are not compelled to participate in abortion procedures, assistance, or referrals against their conscience.