Legislation

The Self-Insurance Protection Act clarifies that stop-loss insurance, purchased by self-insured employers to protect against large health claims, is not "health insurance coverage" under federal law. It ensures employers can continue to use stop-loss insurance to protect themselves against unexpected health plan claims losses. The bill also preempts state laws that hinder group health plans from insuring against excess or unexpected health plan claims losses.

The Worker Relief and Credit Reform Act of 2025 expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include qualifying students, lowers the minimum age to claim the credit to 18, and broadens the definition of qualifying dependents. It also establishes a program for advance monthly payments of the EITC and mandates an outreach program to educate taxpayers about the EITC and advance payments. Furthermore, the bill increases the credit for certain unmarried individuals with two or more qualifying children.

The "Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes and amends rural health programs under the Public Health Service Act. The act ensures that grants for rural health care service outreach and network development prioritize the needs and involvement of underserved populations. It also extends funding for these vital rural health programs through 2030.

The "Respect Parents’ Childcare Choices Act" amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, reauthorizing funding and prioritizing parental choice in childcare through child care certificates, particularly for relative caregivers. It also removes barriers for married parents and religious childcare providers, while increasing funding for direct services and quality improvements. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 21 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, eliminating the credit for household and dependent care expenses and makes corresponding updates to other sections of the tax code. Finally, the bill establishes pilot programs to prevent fraud and promote child care provided by relative caregivers.

The "PROTECT Kids Act" mandates that public schools obtain parental consent before altering a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, as well as before changing their access to sex-based accommodations. This requirement applies to elementary and middle school students in schools receiving federal education funds.

This bill directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to submit an annual report to Congress analyzing state and local strategies for promoting affordable housing. The report will include analysis of regulatory barriers and policy recommendations to support successful strategies. This aims to inform Congress and support a federal response to the affordable housing crisis.

The "Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act" or "SHORT Act" modifies firearm regulations by redefining "firearm" under the National Firearms Act, removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from certain restrictions, and preempting state laws that tax, mark, record, or register these weapons. The Act also mandates the destruction of records related to these specific weapons held by the Attorney General.

The "Targeting TANF to Families in Need Act" amends existing law to restrict Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to only support families with incomes less than twice the poverty level. This change ensures that TANF grants are focused on the neediest families. The new restrictions will take effect beginning October 1, 2026.

The "No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act of 2025" eliminates the use of tax-exempt bonds to finance professional sports stadiums and arenas. This prohibition applies to bonds issued after the law is enacted, ensuring that public funds are not used to subsidize these private ventures.

The Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act extends the Adams Memorial Commission's authority to 2032 and authorizes $50,000,000 for the memorial, requiring a matching non-federal contribution. The Act modifies location restrictions, allowing the memorial to be built within a specified area. It also limits administrative costs to 4% of federal funds.

The Arts Education for All Act enhances arts education by expanding early childhood education programs, integrating arts into the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, incorporating creative programs into juvenile justice, and mandating research and assessment of arts education strategies. This bill supports training for child care providers, ensures equitable access to arts programs for disadvantaged students, and promotes rehabilitation through arts-based approaches in juvenile justice. By integrating arts into core subjects and supporting teacher development, the act aims to improve student achievement and provide a comprehensive, creative education for all students. Ultimately, this will lead to more effective rehabilitation and reduced recidivism rates among juvenile and adult offenders, offering new pathways for education and employment.

The AERO Act ensures the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City continues operating during government shutdowns or emergency furloughs, maintaining critical air traffic controller training and support services. FAA employees providing services at the Academy and students employed by the FAA are exempt from furlough during funding lapses, ensuring uninterrupted training.

The DEVICE Act of 2025 mandates medical device manufacturers to report design and reprocessing instruction changes to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and also requires them to report communications with foreign health providers regarding device changes or safety concerns. It also expands the definition of medical devices to include rapid assessment tests for proper reprocessing, and sets requirements for these tests. Non-compliance with reporting requirements can result in a device being deemed adulterated.

The Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group, a board representing diverse stakeholders in the Deschutes River Basin, until 2032. The working group consists of no less than 10 and no more than 15 members. The act also increases the limit on administrative costs from 5% to 10%.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act repeals Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, thus eliminating the president's authority to address balance of payments issues through trade restrictions.

The "Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights Act of 2025" establishes minimum consumer protections for tenants in manufactured home communities receiving loans through specific federal programs, including one-year lease terms, advance notice for rent increases, and protections against eviction and restrictions on the sale of their homes. It incentivizes additional protections through pricing discounts on loans and mandates transparency by requiring a public list of properties covered under these protections. The Act also establishes a commission to propose enhanced consumer protection standards and directs the creation of a standard lease agreement to ensure mortgage eligibility for homes in these communities. Penalties are outlined for violations of the Act, and implementation relies on existing funds.

The "Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act" aims to combat food deserts by incentivizing the establishment and improvement of grocery stores and food banks in underserved areas through tax credits and grants for certified Special Access Food Providers. These incentives support both permanent establishments and temporary solutions like mobile markets, ensuring communities have access to fresh and healthy food options. The bill also requires annual updates to the Food Access Research Atlas to reflect changes in food retail and access.

The Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Defense from entering into or renewing long-term concession agreements with retailers controlled by countries that pose a national security risk, with a waiver option if essential goods or services are not otherwise available. It mandates retailers to disclose relationships with these countries and requires review and potential termination of existing agreements. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is directed to investigate and provide determinations on national security implications. The Act defines key terms to clarify the scope and enforcement of these provisions.

The "Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act" amends campaign finance laws to treat certain expenditures as coordinated, and therefore regulated, if they align with guidance from a candidate, their committee, or a political party, regardless of whether the guidance is public or directly communicated. Factors determining alignment include whether the guidance suggests communicating information about a candidate or party, specifies a target audience or communication method, or includes content used in the expenditure. The amendments apply to expenditures made after the Act's enactment.

The "Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act" introduces the Affordable Housing Conversion Credit, a tax incentive for converting non-residential buildings into affordable housing units. This credit covers 20% to 35% of qualified conversion costs, depending on the location and project type, with a national cap of $12 billion allocated to states based on population and economic need. To qualify, conversions must meet specific criteria, including affordability requirements and building age, aimed at boosting affordable housing options and revitalizing communities. The credit is transferable and applies to buildings placed in service after the Act's enactment.