Legislative Activity

The DETERRENT Act significantly increases transparency requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts, contracts, and investments, especially those involving "countries or entities of concern." It mandates detailed public disclosure reports, establishes strict prohibitions and waiver processes for contracts with risky foreign entities, and imposes severe financial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires specified large private institutions to report their holdings in concerning foreign assets annually.

The CAPE Canaveral Act mandates the relocation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters to Brevard County, Florida. This transfer must be completed within one year of the Act becoming law. The legislation aims to consolidate aerospace programs efficiently at the Canaveral location.

The Unfair Tax Prevention Act amends the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) rules to specifically target certain U.S. companies connected to foreign tax systems operating outside their direct jurisdiction. These "foreign-owned extraterritorial tax regime entities" will now be automatically subject to BEAT, with specific exceptions removed and a portion of their cost of goods sold automatically treated as a base erosion benefit. This legislation aims to close loopholes related to complex, indirect foreign ownership structures.

The Firearm Due Process Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen due process rights for individuals challenging denials in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It mandates expedited court hearings for record correction lawsuits and shifts the burden of proof onto the government to demonstrate why a person should be ineligible to own a firearm. Additionally, the bill requires the FBI to submit annual reports detailing the outcomes and timelines of all NICS record challenges.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2025 makes permanent a significant tax benefit for motorsports entertainment complexes. This legislation ensures these large venues can continue to use an accelerated 7-year recovery period for depreciating their building costs. By removing the previous expiration date, the Act provides long-term financial certainty for the industry.

The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act aims to prevent private health insurance plans from discriminating against patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). This legislation clarifies that plans cannot offer worse benefits or unfairly limit coverage for dialysis treatments compared to other medical services. Furthermore, it stops these plans from shifting the primary financial responsibility for ESRD care onto Medicare. The bill maintains existing rules ensuring fair treatment while preserving a health plan's ability to select its network of dialysis providers.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

The "Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act" extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for prosecuting fraud related to specific pandemic unemployment programs. It applies to violations or conspiracies under Title 18 and Title 31 of the U.S. Code and rescinds $5,000,000 from previously allocated funds to offset the budget. The changes made by this law will begin on the date of enactment.

The Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025 establishes new federal protections for free speech and association at federally funded public colleges and universities. This bill sets clear, objective standards for student group recognition, the allocation of student activity funds, and the assessment of security fees for events. It grants students the right to sue institutions that violate these rights and outlines penalties, including the potential loss of federal funding, for non-compliance.

The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025 revises how businesses treat research and experimental (R&E) expenditures for tax purposes. Taxpayers can now choose between immediately deducting R&E costs or amortizing them over a period of at least 60 months. This legislation also makes technical adjustments to ensure consistency between immediate deductions and claiming the research tax credit.

The Department of Government Efficiency Act, or DOGE Act, codifies Executive Order 14210 into permanent law. This action elevates the directives and rules established in the Executive Order to the full authority of a statute passed by Congress. Essentially, the provisions of the order are now legally binding requirements.

The James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to James Earl Jones, honoring his contributions to the United States and his work promoting inclusion in film and theatre. The Secretary of the Treasury will create the gold medal, and bronze duplicates will be made available for sale to the public.

The Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act seeks to reinstate the previous, higher reporting thresholds for third-party payment processors issuing Form 1099-K. This means payment networks will only be required to report earnings to the IRS if a user exceeds both a \$20,000 total payment amount and 200 separate transactions in a calendar year. Furthermore, the bill applies this "de minimis" standard to backup withholding rules for these network payments starting in 2025.

The Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act (SPARE Act) aims to reduce and eventually eliminate animal testing in federally funded research by promoting alternative methods. It prohibits the use of federal funds for animal research with some exceptions, and establishes a fund to support the transition to non-animal testing methods. The act also requires research facilities to establish programs for releasing research animals to adoption or sanctuary and mandates public reporting and annual audits to ensure compliance. Violators may face civil penalties.

The "Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025" increases penalties for stealing firearms from licensed dealers. It sets stricter punishments, including up to 20 years in prison, for violating laws related to firearm theft. The act also mandates minimum prison sentences of 3 years for burglaries and 5 years for robberies targeting licensed firearm businesses.

The "Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act" extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities for hospice care through December 31, 2027, with certain limitations after January 1, 2026, based on location, provider oversight, and proper enrollment. It also mandates the use of specific modifiers or codes on hospice claims to identify when recertifications of hospice care eligibility are conducted via telehealth starting January 1, 2026.

The "Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act" amends the Social Security Act's definition of "qualifying single source drug" to include advanced drugs using genetically targeted technology. This update applies to drugs that can modify gene function, potentially impacting drug pricing and access regulations under the Act.

This bill nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The rule targeted new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. It also set emission guidelines and repealed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule.

The Rural Small Business Resilience Act ensures individuals in rural areas have full access to disaster assistance provided by the Small Business Administration. It requires the SBA to provide targeted outreach and marketing to individuals in rural areas to increase awareness of available disaster assistance. The SBA must complete these actions within one year. The bill also makes a technical correction to the Small Business Act.