Legislation

The Telehealth Modernization Act primarily extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities, such as geographic and audio-only options, until September 30, 2027. The bill also extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver through 2030 and mandates a comprehensive study comparing home-based and traditional hospital care. Additionally, it introduces new program integrity measures for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and requires guidance to ensure language access for Limited English Proficiency patients utilizing telehealth.

The HANDS Act mandates that life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs be provided at no cost to at-risk individuals leaving hospitals, emergency departments, or ambulatory surgical centers starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is established across major federal health programs, including Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and TRICARE, eliminating patient cost-sharing. The bill also directs federal agencies to issue guidance to help states and hospitals safely implement the distribution of these drugs.

The WIRELESS Leadership Act overhauls local zoning authority regarding the construction and modification of wireless service facilities. It establishes strict, non-extendable deadlines for local governments to approve or deny applications, leading to automatic approval if deadlines are missed. The bill mandates non-discrimination, limits local regulation of radio frequency emissions, and requires fees to be cost-based, while preserving local control over structural and aesthetic standards.

The FLIGHT Act mandates that major airlines promptly notify passengers via email or text message when a domestic or international flight faces a departure or taxi delay of 15 minutes or more. Airlines must provide updates every 15 minutes, including the new estimated departure and arrival times. This new federal requirement ensures travelers are kept informed about significant flight delays.

The Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act strengthens privacy protections for individuals receiving loans or payments from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This legislation prohibits FSA employees from sharing specific borrower data with certain government personnel unless the information is aggregated or the borrower provides voluntary consent. The Act establishes significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for intentional violations of these new privacy standards.

The CDFI Fund Transparency Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to testify before key Congressional committees regarding the operations of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. This testimony is mandated only when requested jointly by the chairs of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. This ensures regular oversight of the Fund's activities by Congress.

The Open Payments Expansion Act mandates that pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, as well as Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), must annually report all direct and indirect payments made to qualifying patient advocacy organizations. This new reporting requirement aims to increase transparency regarding financial relationships between industry and patient support groups. These reports must detail the recipient organization's name and the exact dollar amount of the payment.

The Protecting Girls’ Sports for Military Kids Act prohibits male students from participating on female sports teams at schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). This legislation establishes clear biological definitions for "male" and "female" within the context of DoDEA athletic programs. The goal is to ensure that sports designated for female students are exclusively for those who meet the defined biological criteria.

The Stop the Rate Hikes Act limits electric utilities to requesting a retail rate increase only once per year. This measure aims to provide consumers with greater stability by restricting how frequently utility companies can seek to raise electricity rates.

The Rivers Law amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to implement new mandatory safety standards for funded child care providers. This legislation prohibits the operation of swimming pools on child care premises. Furthermore, it requires all covered facilities to install alarms on all doors and windows for enhanced security.

The Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act (COUNT Act) mandates that federal agencies must assist the Department of Commerce in gathering comprehensive administrative records to accurately determine the citizenship status of the U.S. population. This data collection effort aims to provide policymakers with precise facts regarding immigration's impact. Furthermore, the bill requires the addition of a citizenship question to the 2030 decennial census and terminates the Census Bureau's use of differential privacy for data protection six months after enactment.

The Tariff Revenue Used to Secure Tomorrow (TRUST) Act establishes a dedicated Tariff Trust Fund within the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive excess tariff revenue collected in any fiscal year immediately following two consecutive years of budget deficits, starting in fiscal year 2026. All money deposited into this fund must be exclusively used for reducing the national deficit.

The Defense Contractor Competition Act mandates that the Comptroller General conduct a comprehensive assessment of the competitive effects resulting from mergers and acquisitions within the defense industry over the past decade. This report must analyze the effectiveness of post-merger remedies, information sharing between regulatory bodies, and the impact of vertical integration on competition. Ultimately, the Act aims to ensure a sustainable and competitive defense industrial base by reviewing past consolidation efforts.

The Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025 mandates that defense contractors provide the Department of Defense (DoD) fair and reasonable access to necessary repair materials, including parts, tools, and technical information, under terms equal to those offered to authorized third parties. This act requires the DoD to review existing contracts to remove intellectual property barriers preventing the military from performing its own maintenance and repairs on acquired equipment. The goal is to ensure the DoD can efficiently maintain and fix the advanced systems it purchases.

The Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act updates the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) requirement for updating its advanced manufacturing strategic plan. This bill changes the required update frequency from every three years to every four years. This adjustment aligns NIST's planning cycle directly with the established schedule for the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.

The Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 reauthorizes and significantly improves the Water Source Protection Program to better safeguard national forest watersheds. This legislation expands eligibility for water protection projects to include more local entities and private partners, while prioritizing work that builds resilience against drought and wildfire. The bill also sets stricter standards to ensure forest management activities do not degrade long-term watershed health and increases annual funding authorization for these critical restoration efforts. Importantly, the Act explicitly preserves all existing state and federal water rights and laws.

This bill exempts federal actions related to the construction of qualifying infill housing from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It defines qualifying infill housing based on location, size, and successful environmental site assessments. Additionally, the legislation accelerates the required frequency for states to update their natural hazard risk assessments from every five years to every three years.

The Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act designates specific segments of the Gallatin, Madison, Hyalite, and Cabin Creeks in Montana as components of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This designation aims to protect the ecological, recreational, and cultural values of these important rivers within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The bill ensures that existing water rights, private property rights, and the operations of the Hebgen and Madison Dams remain unaffected by the new protections. Overall, the Act secures these treasured waterways for future enjoyment while respecting current land uses.

The Foundation for Enabling Biotechnology Innovation Act establishes a new, private, non-profit organization to accelerate the transition of biotechnology products from the lab to the U.S. market. This Foundation will foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies to overcome commercialization hurdles. It is explicitly prohibited from creating or enforcing regulations and must develop a plan to become financially self-sustaining within five years.

The Protecting Older Americans Act of 2025 invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements for claims of age discrimination against individuals aged 40 and older. This legislation ensures that employees alleging age discrimination can pursue their claims in court rather than being forced into arbitration based on prior agreements. Federal courts, not arbitrators, will decide if this new rule applies to a specific dispute.