Legislation

The SAFE Act amends the Social Security Act to include physical and occupational therapy benefits in Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams starting in 2026 for individuals determined to have fallen in the previous year. It mandates that these individuals receive falls risk assessments, fall prevention services, and outpatient therapy services. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress on falls experienced by individuals aged 65 and older.

The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes and amends the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, enhancing efforts to combat child exploitation and internet crimes against children. It updates the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention, expands the ICAC Task Force Program to include Tribal and military entities, and prioritizes investigations likely to rescue children. The act authorizes increased appropriations over the next three fiscal years and mandates that a significant portion of funds support the ICAC Task Force Program through grants. Additionally, it encourages digital forensic examinations, effective prosecutions, and the establishment of a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System.

The "Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025" temporarily waives distance requirements for certain rural hospitals seeking critical access hospital designation. This change would be in effect for one year and begins six months after the bill's enactment. The bill also clarifies the definition of a critical access hospital, referencing existing legislation.

The Black History Matters Act directs the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to study Black history education in public schools. The study will identify which states require Black history education, assess the quality of education, instructional materials, and analyze how schools assess students' knowledge. A report will then be submitted to Congress detailing the findings of the study.

The "Voter Eligibility Verification Act of 2025" aims to ensure accurate voter rolls by requiring the prompt release of immigration status information to state officials. The Attorney General or Secretary of State must receive an individual's immigration status within 15 days of requesting it, including for potential voters. This will allow states to verify the eligibility of individuals for voter registration.

The COST Act mandates that any entity using federal funds for a program, project, or activity must disclose the percentage and dollar amount of the total cost covered by these funds in all related documents and communications. Compliance will be certified through performance progress reporting. The Office of Management and Budget will conduct annual reviews and provide a public mechanism for reporting non-compliance.

The "Improving Mental Healthcare in the Re-Entry System Act of 2025" aims to improve mental healthcare for individuals re-entering society after incarceration by establishing grant programs for mental health screenings and referrals at detention centers. An Advisory Board will oversee program implementation, evaluate program effectiveness, and provide technical assistance. The act also directs the Bureau of Prisons to create a similar mental health screening program. Finally, the act allocates funding for these initiatives and defines key terms.

The JUDGES Act of 2025 aims to address the increasing caseloads in district courts by creating new judgeships in multiple states over the next decade, as well as a temporary judgeship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. It also authorizes appropriations to support these new positions and adjusts the organization of district courts in Texas and California. Additionally, the Act mandates Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports to evaluate workload measures, judicial activities, and the effectiveness of policies regarding senior judges, as well as the needs and efforts to acquire federal detention space. Finally, the Act ensures public accessibility to the Judicial Conference's recommendations for Article III judgeships by requiring the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to publish these reports on its website.

The "Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act" allows states to use Medicaid funds for direct agreements with healthcare providers, including value-based care models and direct primary care arrangements. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to gather input and issue guidance to states on implementing these arrangements. Additionally, the Act mandates a report to Congress analyzing state contracts with independent physicians and the quality/cost of care in direct primary care arrangements within Medicaid. This aims to improve primary care access and quality within the Medicaid program without altering existing cost-sharing or limiting medical assistance.

The "Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act" removes the marriage penalty for adult children with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits based on their parent's work record, ensuring equal treatment in marital relationship determinations across different titles of the Social Security Act. It also protects Medicaid eligibility for these individuals and ensures that one spouse's income or resources are not attributed to the other when determining benefit eligibility. The Act expresses Congress's intent to maintain Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits for married disabled adult children, regardless of state laws or marital status.

The "Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act" provides tax relief for victims of the Texas Panhandle fires by classifying compensation received as qualified disaster relief, ensuring it is not subject to federal income tax. Additionally, the bill amends the tax code to treat livestock sales necessitated by fire the same as those due to floods, allowing farmers and ranchers to defer taxes on profits from such sales when reinvested in similar property. It also allows for income deferral on the sale of livestock due to fire, similar to existing provisions for sales due to flood or other weather-related conditions. These provisions aim to support the recovery of those affected by wildfires by easing the tax burden associated with the loss of property and livestock.

The "Strengthening Cooperation and Security in the Middle East Act" requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to develop a report and strategy to expand membership in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA). This includes analyzing CSIPA's strategic benefits, its role in responding to regional threats, and ways to enhance cooperation in security, commerce, science, and technology. The Act aims to strengthen regional alliances and counter threats in the Middle East through increased participation in CSIPA.

The "Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, changing the calculation and wage limitations based on employee categories and hours worked. It increases wage limitations for qualified veterans and revises rules for summer youth employees and long-term family assistance recipients. Additionally, the act removes the age limit for qualified supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits recipients, with these changes taking effect for individuals starting work after December 31, 2024.

This bill proposes significant changes to the child tax credit, including raising the maximum credit amount to $5,000 and eliminating income limitations. These changes aim to make the credit more accessible to a broader range of families. The bill also simplifies certain rules and removes obsolete provisions related to previous versions of the child tax credit.

The Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2025 mandates security inspections of foreign-made cranes used at high-risk U.S. ports, assessing and mitigating cybersecurity risks associated with these cranes. The Act prohibits the operation of new foreign cranes and, within five years, foreign software on cranes at U.S. ports, particularly those connected to a "covered foreign country". These covered foreign countries are identified as foreign adversaries by the intelligence community or the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence. The goal is to enhance port security and protect against potential cyber threats.

This bill extends the temporary increase in the limitation on the cover over of distilled spirits taxes to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, pushing the expiration date from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2032. This extension applies to distilled spirits brought into the United States after December 31, 2021.

The "Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act of 2025" restricts federal funding to non-profit organizations that do not certify compliance with federal laws on human trafficking, alien smuggling, fraud, and bribery. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop strategies and best practices for non-profits to comply with federal law, detect and report violations, and improve cooperation with law enforcement. Additionally, the Comptroller General is required to report to Congress on any violations by non-profit entities.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the adoption tax credit to $25,000 and establishes a new tax credit for qualified in vitro fertilization (IVF) expenses. The increased adoption credit will be adjusted for inflation after 2025. The IVF expense credit covers medical care costs related to IVF.

The Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the imprisonment or detention of individuals based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and other categories as determined by the Attorney General. This amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to ensure that civil liberties are protected against unlawful detention based on these characteristics. The Attorney General has the authority to add characteristics to the list, but not remove any.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and make permanent the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave. It raises the minimum credit to 25% and the maximum to 50%, adjusting the incremental increase in the credit. These changes will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.