Legislative Activity

The TCJA Permanency Act makes permanent several tax provisions that were enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and were set to expire. These provisions include modifications to individual income tax rates and brackets, the standard deduction, the child tax credit, and the estate and gift tax exemption. The act also increases the exemption for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and adjusts the phase-out thresholds. Additionally, it includes various changes affecting deductions, credits, and exclusions for individuals, families, businesses, and estates.

The "Sunshine Protection Act of 2025" aims to establish permanent daylight saving time across the United States, effectively eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year. This bill repeals the provision allowing for standard time and adjusts time zone calculations accordingly. States that previously opted out of daylight saving time are given the option to choose between the new permanent daylight saving time or the previous standard time. The act also updates cross-references to ensure legal consistency with these changes.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to mandate a balanced federal budget, limit government spending to 18% of GDP, and require supermajority votes to raise taxes or increase the debt limit. It includes exceptions for declared wars or serious military threats and prevents courts from ordering tax increases to enforce the amendment. The amendment would take effect five years after ratification, giving congress time to create legislation to enforce the amendment.

The "Protecting our Communities from Sexual Predators Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the scope of individuals who can be detained and deported. It includes those who have committed sexual assault offenses, making them inadmissible to the U.S. and subject to deportation. This expansion applies to individuals who have been charged with, arrested for, or convicted of sexual assault, as well as those who admit to committing such acts.

The "Manatee Protection Act of 2025" designates the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, requiring its inclusion on the endangered species list. This action provides increased protections and conservation efforts for the manatee population.