Legislation

The Early Participation in Regulations Act of 2025 amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to require agencies to publish advance notice of proposed rulemaking for major rules, providing the public with an opportunity to comment on potential regulations before they are formally proposed. This advance notice must include details about the problem the agency aims to address, regulatory alternatives under consideration, and the legal basis for the proposed rule. Exceptions are provided for situations where advance notice is unnecessary, not in the public interest, or impractical due to deadlines, as determined by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA's decisions on these exceptions are not subject to judicial review, nor are differences between the initial statement and the proposed rule.

The "Protecting Arizona from Federal Land Grabs Act" limits the President's authority to establish or expand national monuments in Arizona. This bill puts restrictions on the executive branch's ability to designate federal lands in Arizona as national monuments. These limitations mirror existing regulations in Wyoming, aiming to give the state more control over land use decisions.

This resolution authorizes the Special Committee on Aging to spend money from the Senate's contingent fund, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government departments or agencies from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It sets specific expense limits for the committee during different periods and outlines which expenses can be paid without vouchers. The resolution also authorizes payments from the Senate's Inquiries and Investigations expense account for agency contributions related to committee employee compensation during the specified time frames.

The FinCEN Oversight and Accountability Act of 2025 increases congressional oversight of FinCEN, mandates transparency of FinCEN's controlling documents, requires the FinCEN director to testify before Congress every 10 years, and requires FinCEN to hold a yearly small business working group.

The "BROADBAND Leadership Act" aims to accelerate broadband deployment by removing state and local barriers that hinder the provision and improvement of telecommunications services. It establishes strict time limits for local governments to approve or deny requests for telecommunications facilities, prohibits discriminatory practices, and allows legal recourse for those harmed by non-compliant regulations. The bill also clarifies the authority of state and local governments to manage public rights-of-way and charge reasonable fees, while preserving their rights to regulate in a competitively neutral and non-discriminatory manner. Finally, the FCC is empowered to override conflicting state or local laws.

The "Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act" increases penalties for obstructing immigration, border, and customs enforcement. It establishes penalties for sharing information about law enforcement activities with the intent to further a federal crime, damaging border control devices, or attempting to bypass them. The act also increases penalties for using a firearm during an alien smuggling crime and extends the statute of limitations for related offenses.

The Landlord Accountability Act of 2025 aims to prevent housing discrimination based on income source, penalize landlords for intentionally making units unfit for federal housing programs or keeping units vacant, and improve the complaint resolution process for tenants in multifamily housing. It also provides a tax credit for landlords who maintain housing for voucher users and requires public display of tenant rights and complaint line information. Additionally, the act establishes grants for tenant harassment prevention programs and defines key terms related to multifamily housing and rental assistance.

The Small Business Child Care Investment Act amends the Small Business Act to include nonprofit child care providers in certain loan programs, defining eligibility criteria and ensuring access to financial support through guaranteed loans in cooperation with financial institutions. It also requires an annual report to Congress on the number and amount of loans made to these providers.

The "Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2025" prevents class action lawsuits that allege companies have misclassified employees as independent contractors. This change applies to Rule 23(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically targeting the gig economy.

This bill urges the NCAA to reverse its current transgender athlete policy, arguing it discriminates against female athletes. It advocates for policies that ensure biological females compete against biological females in collegiate sports. The bill also calls on all sports governing bodies in the U.S. to protect women's sports.

The TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act improves the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program by formally recognizing caregivers in veterans' health records and requiring standardized notifications to veterans and caregivers regarding program eligibility changes. It also extends caregiver benefits for at least 90 days following a veteran's ineligibility determination, with certain exceptions.

The "Inaction Has Consequences Act" mandates that if Congress fails to pass all regular appropriation bills by the start of a fiscal year, their salaries will be held in escrow. These salaries will be held until all appropriation bills are passed or until the end of that Congress, at which point the funds will be released to the Members. The Secretary of the Treasury will assist in the implementation of this act. This act defines who is considered a member of congress, and who the payroll administrators are for the purposes of this act.

The Federal Employee Student Debt Transparency Act mandates that Senior Executive Service and Schedule C employees in the executive branch disclose their federal student loan debt annually. The Office of Government Ethics must then report the total debt and any non-compliance to Congress each year. This aims to provide transparency regarding the student loan obligations of high-level government officials.

The PRINTS Act aims to prevent child trafficking by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to collect fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 entering the U.S. when trafficking is suspected. It criminalizes adults who exploit minors to gain entry into the U.S. and mandates information sharing between Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. The Act also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide annual reports to Congress and publish monthly data on apprehensions of child traffickers.

This bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to allow Congress to consider multiple resolutions of disapproval for "midnight rules" (regulations finalized near the end of a presidential administration) in a single vote. It streamlines the process for Congress to review and potentially overturn regulations issued in the final days of a presidential term. The resolution sets the procedures for debating and voting on the bill, limiting debate time and restricting amendments.

This bill disapproves of and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's updated rule concerning lead and copper levels in national drinking water regulations. By disapproving the rule, the existing regulations regarding lead and copper in drinking water will remain in effect.

This bill designates February 2025 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month to raise awareness about the various forms and impacts of teen dating violence. It encourages communities to empower teens to develop healthy relationships and recognizes the significant public health impact of teen dating violence, particularly on young women. The bill calls for nationwide participation in programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention.

This bill allocates $18,617,085 from the House of Representatives' funds to cover the expenses of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for the 119th Congress, including staff salaries. It sets spending limits for two separate sessions and mandates that all payments be made through vouchers approved by the House Administration Committee. The funds provided must be spent in accordance with the regulations set by the House Administration Committee.

This bill addresses public safety concerns regarding recent unidentified drone activity in New Jersey and New York. It calls for federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and FAA, to publicly brief citizens on the situation, collaborate with state and local law enforcement to reduce unauthorized drone activity, and assess the need for enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure.

This resolution condemns President Biden's commutation of Marvin Charles Gabrion II's death sentence, asserting it undermines the rule of law and insults Gabrion's victims. Gabrion was convicted of murdering Rachel Timmerman, a witness against him, and was suspected in other disappearances and murders. The resolution suggests the commutation was politically motivated, given Biden's inconsistent stance on the death penalty. The Senate unequivocally condemns this commutation.