Legislation

The SANDBOX Act establishes the Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Sandbox Program to encourage AI innovation by allowing companies to temporarily test new AI products under modified or waived government regulations. Participants must apply by detailing their testing plan, demonstrating consumer benefits, and outlining robust risk mitigation strategies for health, economic, and deceptive practices. The program aims to gather data on which regulations are necessary, allowing the Director of OSTP to recommend permanent rule changes to Congress after a two-year testing period.

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to report on the status of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia following the 2022 invasion. If the Secretary cannot certify the safe return and reintegration of these children within 60 days, the Russian Federation must automatically be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Rescinding this designation would require Russia to meet strict conditions, including the full return and reintegration of all abducted children.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 mandates U.S. sanctions against Nigerian officials who enforce blasphemy laws or fail to curb religiously motivated violence. It also requires the Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" due to serious religious freedom violations. Furthermore, the bill specifically names Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as "Entities of Particular Concern."

The Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act of 2025 modifies how states calculate Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments under Medicaid by updating eligibility and factoring in payments received from Medicare or private health plans. This legislation also allows states the option to use unspent federal DSH funds from recent years to increase payments to hospitals retroactively. These changes aim to ensure hospitals treating vulnerable populations receive appropriate support under the Medicaid program.

The Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act expresses strong U.S. support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan, citing concerns over military influence and recent election interference. This legislation directs the President to identify and impose sanctions on Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democratic processes or committing serious human rights abuses. The Act emphasizes the need for civilian control over the military and sets an expiration date for its provisions in September 2030.

The FAIR Trucking Act expands federal court jurisdiction for lawsuits arising from accidents involving interstate commercial motor vehicles. This allows federal district courts to hear these cases if the amount in dispute exceeds \$5,000,000 and there is diversity of citizenship between the parties. The Act clarifies the rules for determining citizenship in these complex trucking accident claims.

The Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act aims to strengthen democracy, promote economic growth, and enhance security across the seven nations of the Western Balkans. The bill codifies existing sanctions, establishes initiatives for anti-corruption and regional trade, and supports cultural and educational exchanges. It also mandates reports on Russian and Chinese malign influence and prioritizes support for the region's integration with European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The AI Sovereignty Act mandates the Secretary of Commerce to report on the extent of critical artificial intelligence development and research being moved overseas. This report must identify offshoring locations, foreign partnerships, and the acquisition of U.S. AI assets by foreign entities. Based on these findings, the Act requires the Secretary to recommend strategies to strengthen domestic AI capabilities and discourage further offshoring.

The Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2025 modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimburses veterans for emergency care received outside VA facilities when they have private insurance. This bill clarifies the definition of "copayment" for reimbursement purposes, explicitly excluding deductibles and coinsurance. It also broadens what counts as a reimbursement claim to include various out-of-pocket costs, applying these changes retroactively to claims filed since February 1, 2012.

The Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act aims to streamline the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure by modifying environmental and historic preservation reviews. Specifically, it exempts certain projects involving the placement or modification of telecom facilities on existing eligible support structures from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA and standard historic preservation reviews under NHPA. This change is intended to speed up the process for upgrading and expanding broadband services.

The 5G UPGRADE Act of 2025 establishes strict, accelerated timelines for state and local governments to review requests for modifications to existing wireless facilities. If a government fails to approve or formally deny an eligible facilities request within 60 days, the request is automatically approved. This legislation aims to streamline the deployment of 5G infrastructure by limiting bureaucratic delays.

The Gateway Partnership Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation for hosting private events in designated Park buildings. These agreements must ensure the protection of Park resources, require the Foundation to carry sufficient liability insurance, and mandate that the Foundation fully reimburse the National Park Service for all associated costs. The law ensures that public access to Gateway Arch National Park and its facilities remains uninterrupted by these private functions.

The CLEAN DC Act, officially the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC Act, seeks to completely repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. This action effectively nullifies all changes made by the 2022 Act, restoring the previous legal standards regarding policing and justice in DC.

The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act strengthens oversight of animal transportation by establishing new inspection and investigation powers for federal agencies. It also strictly prohibits the interstate movement of livestock deemed unfit to travel, based on established international animal health standards. This ensures that only healthy and capable animals are shipped across state lines, with an exception made only for necessary veterinary care.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month to highlight ongoing threats to ballot access and encourage civic engagement. It urges Congress to pass legislation strengthening voting protections, like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Furthermore, the resolution encourages educational outreach to inform citizens about registration and the history of voting rights in America.

The DON-ument Act establishes the Southern Border Wall National Monument across parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. This designation aims to protect existing sections of the southern border wall and the surrounding land from alteration. The Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, will manage the monument and develop a general management plan within three years of receiving necessary funding.

This resolution officially designates September 25, 2025, as "National Lobster Day." It recognizes the lobster's significant historical, economic, and cultural importance to the United States, highlighting the industry's long-standing commitment to sustainability. The measure encourages Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities celebrating this iconic seafood.

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025 aims to provide enhanced tax relief for victims of major disasters and certain wildfires. It simplifies the deduction of casualty losses from major disasters occurring between mid-2025 and 2027 by lowering the deductible threshold and expanding what can be claimed. Additionally, the bill excludes certain compensation received for wildfire-related losses from gross income for tax years spanning from 2026 through 2030.

The Eliminate Shutdowns Act establishes an automatic, 14-day continuing funding mechanism that renews every two weeks to prevent federal government shutdowns when Congress fails to pass a full budget. This default funding keeps essential programs operational at prior-year levels until a new appropriation is enacted. The law specifies how this temporary spending is accounted for against final budgets and sets the effective date for these new rules as September 30, 2025.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to strengthen the U.S. healthcare system by recapturing unused employment-based immigrant visas from 1992 through 2024. This legislation specifically reserves up to 40,000 of these visas for professional nurses and physicians, ensuring they are not subject to annual country caps. The bill also mandates expedited processing for these healthcare professionals without imposing premium processing fees, while requiring employers to attest that hiring these workers will not displace U.S. employees.