Legislation

The Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025 updates federal law to expand the definition of "restricted personal information." This expansion adds several new categories of sensitive data requiring enhanced privacy protection. Specifically, the bill now includes items like license plate numbers, biometric information, workplace/school addresses, and GPS coordinates.

The Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025 immediately enacts the final rule on gas pipeline leak detection and repair issued by PHMSA in January 2025. This legislation fast-tracks these new federal safety standards into effect upon signing. Furthermore, it preserves the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to implement even stricter future safety regulations for gas pipelines.

The Cutting Paperwork for Taxpayers Act aims to simplify tax filing by making interest received on tax overpayments non-taxable income for individual taxpayers and eligible small businesses. This change means that any interest the government pays back to you when refunding an overpayment will no longer be subject to federal income tax. The provision applies to all tax years beginning after the date of enactment.

The Protect Our Hospitals Act aims to restore previous regulations concerning Medicaid provider taxes by repealing a specific section of Public Law 11921. This action effectively nullifies recent changes, returning the rules governing how states tax Medicaid providers to their original status.

The BUILD Housing Act streamlines environmental reviews for certain HUD housing assistance programs by allowing the Secretary to designate them as "special projects." This change enables the use of specific, established review procedures under the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority for environmental review responsibilities to include federally recognized Indian Tribes alongside states and local governments.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct or support research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This dedicated funding is authorized for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031. This new allocation is separate from and in addition to any existing CDC research funding.

The One Stop Shop for Small Business Licensing Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a centralized, publicly accessible website within one year of enactment. This online resource will consolidate and clearly organize all federal, state, and local permit and licensing requirements for small businesses. The goal is to simplify compliance by allowing users to easily find necessary information based on their location and industry.

The Freedom from Government Surveys Act officially declares participation in the American Community Survey (ACS) entirely voluntary. This bill removes all penalties for individuals who refuse or neglect to answer any part of the survey. Furthermore, it mandates that the voluntary nature of the ACS must be clearly stated directly on the survey form itself.

The Click to Cancel Act of 2025 officially codifies the Federal Trade Commission's "click-to-cancel" rule into federal law. This mandates that businesses provide consumers with a simple, online method to cancel subscriptions. Violations of this new law will be enforced by the FTC using its existing authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

The Critical Businesses Preparedness Act establishes a new 30% tax credit for critical businesses, such as hospitals and grocery stores, that install new electric generators in high-risk flood or hurricane areas. This credit is designed to incentivize essential operations to maintain power during major weather events. Taxpayers claiming this credit cannot also deduct the same generator expenses.

The Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act establishes a new federal bankruptcy exemption allowing individuals filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 to keep their firearms. Specifically, debtors can now exempt their aggregate interest in a single firearm or collection of firearms up to a total value of \$3,000. This change applies only to bankruptcy cases filed on or after the date the Act is enacted into law.

The College for All Act of 2025 establishes a Federal-State partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees at public and Tribal colleges for eligible students, while significantly increasing Federal Pell Grant maximum awards and expanding eligibility to include many "Dreamer students." The bill also creates new grant programs to cover tuition at private non-profit HBCUs and MSIs, and funds initiatives to improve student success and support for low-income and first-generation students. Finally, it increases overall appropriations for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

The Parity in Diplomatic Security Investigations Act aims to streamline official recording practices for Diplomatic Security (DS) special agents, aligning them with other federal law enforcement agencies. This bill delegates the authority to pre-approve recordings of official activities from the Secretary of State to the Assistant Secretary or Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security. This change is intended to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and enhance accountability in their investigations.

The FORKS Made in America Permanency Act of 2025 makes permanent a previous federal requirement concerning kitchenware. This legislation removes the scheduled expiration date from an existing law, ensuring the mandate for American-made kitchenware remains in effect indefinitely.

The When Minutes Count for Emergency Medical Patients Act establishes a demonstration project to provide supplemental Medicare payments to ambulance services for stocking and using critical life-saving medications and blood products during severe emergencies. The bill also mandates a comprehensive report from MedPAC analyzing Medicare payments for EMS professionals and medical directors, alongside requiring HHS to issue guidance aimed at reducing excessive wait times for EMS crews handing off patients at hospitals. Overall, the legislation seeks to improve emergency care quality and supply chain reliability for essential medical resources.

The Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act of 2025 aims to significantly restrict the involvement of federal agencies in voter registration and mobilization activities. This bill prioritizes the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 over conflicting Executive Orders, particularly limiting partnerships with non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, it imposes new reporting requirements on agencies and prohibits voter registration activities within Federal Work-Study programs.

The Creating Opportunities to Thrive and Advance (COTA) Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enhance career guidance services. This legislation mandates that states actively promote high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand career paths, particularly those involving skilled trades. Furthermore, it requires increased public awareness campaigns for relevant Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

The DEAL Act of 2025 mandates the Comptroller General to investigate specific large-value settlements or agreements between the Executive Branch and certain law firms occurring between February 1 and April 30, 2025. This report will determine if these arrangements—where legal services were provided concerning Executive Branch priorities—violated existing federal financial rules. The focus is on high-value legal engagements potentially linked to the government easing enforcement actions against those firms.

The Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act mandates that candidates' leftover campaign funds must be spent down within two years after an election, unless the candidate immediately runs again. Remaining funds must be used to pay debts or donated to specific political or charitable organizations. Furthermore, former candidates who become registered lobbyists or foreign agents must certify that their past campaign committees complied with these new disbursement rules. These provisions take effect starting with the general federal elections in November 2026.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.