Legislative Activity

The Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026 increases the debt limits for individuals and small businesses seeking bankruptcy protection. By raising these caps, the legislation expands eligibility for streamlined reorganization under Chapter 11 and debt repayment plans under Chapter 13. These changes apply to all bankruptcy cases filed on or after the date of enactment.

The 287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026 mandates that state and local law enforcement agencies participate in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program to remain eligible for Department of Justice COPS grants. Agencies that fail to enter into a 287(g) agreement within 180 days of the bill's enactment will be disqualified from receiving this federal funding. This requirement applies to all COPS grant applications beginning in fiscal year 2027.

The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act mandates that the Treasury Department, in coordination with the OMB, include a new analysis of potential financial risks from major "fiscal shocks" in its annual report. This analysis must assess the short-term and long-term financial impacts of events like recessions, natural disasters, or cyber attacks on the federal government. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will subsequently review the methodology and findings of this new fiscal assessment.

The Protecting Access to American Products Act allows for temporary waivers of U.S.-flagged shipping requirements when no suitable domestic vessel is available to transport specific goods. This legislation establishes a streamlined approval process for these waivers, ensuring that supply chain needs are met while maintaining transparency through mandatory Congressional reporting.

The "No Tax on Takings Act" provides property owners with a federal tax exclusion on gains realized from property taken through eminent domain. This legislation ensures that individuals are not penalized by the IRS when their property is involuntarily converted for public use. Taxpayers maintain the flexibility to opt out of this exclusion if they prefer to follow standard tax reporting rules.

The Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2025 establishes new transparency and public participation requirements for lawsuits that seek to compel or challenge federal agency regulatory actions. It mandates extensive public notice, comment periods, and high-level internal approval for significant settlement agreements and consent decrees. Furthermore, the Act creates easier intervention standards for affected parties and requires courts to ensure agreements allow agencies time to follow proper rulemaking procedures.

This act explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or donations intended to influence state or local ballot initiatives and referenda. It amends existing federal election law to extend the current ban on foreign political spending to cover ballot measures.

The Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act establishes a legal safe harbor protecting generic drug and biosimilar manufacturers from patent infringement lawsuits related to specific "method of use" patents. This protection applies when these manufacturers comply with FDA approval processes and limit their labeling and marketing to approved uses, excluding patented methods. The goal is to facilitate the entry of lower-cost generic and biosimilar alternatives into the market.

This bill authorizes the use of the U.S. Capitol rotunda for the Congressional National Prayer Breakfast scheduled for February 5, 2026. The authorization specifically permits the serving of food and beverages during the event. The Architect of the Capitol will oversee the necessary physical preparations for the event.

The Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025 mandates strict transparency regarding foreign funding in U.S. civil litigation. It requires parties to disclose any foreign entity that has a contingent financial stake in a lawsuit's outcome. Furthermore, the Act explicitly bans agreements where payment contingent on a case's success comes from a foreign state or its sovereign wealth fund. The Attorney General must also submit an annual report to Congress detailing foreign litigation funding activities in federal courts.

The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act ensures that essential firearm-related government operations continue without interruption during a federal shutdown. This legislation specifically mandates the continuation of the FBI's NICS background check system and related processing at the ATF, Department of Commerce, and Department of State. By deeming these functions essential for protecting life and property, the bill prevents delays in firearm transfers and export licensing during lapses in appropriations.

The "Don't Sell My DNA Act" amends bankruptcy law to provide robust protection for genetic information during bankruptcy proceedings. This bill prohibits the sale or lease of genetic data from the bankruptcy estate without the explicit written consent of every affected individual. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of any unsold genetic information according to court-approved security standards.

The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act aims to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses by clarifying and expanding the scope of rules covered under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, requiring more detailed analyses of the impact of regulations on small entities, and enhancing the role and powers of the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel for Advocacy. It also includes provisions for periodic review of rules, judicial review of compliance, and waiving fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses. Additionally, the Act mandates agencies to prepare plain language guides for small businesses to understand regulations and requires a Comptroller General report on the capacity of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy.

The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 addresses the funding and administration of the federal bankruptcy system. This bill primarily increases the compensation for Chapter 7 trustees to address decades of stagnant pay while adjusting various bankruptcy fees to ensure the U.S. Trustee System remains self-funded. Additionally, it extends the term limits for certain temporary bankruptcy judge offices.

The Foreign Agents Transparency Act clarifies the registration timeframes under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to ensure coverage of recent activity. It also empowers the Attorney General to seek compliance orders against former agents that remain in effect after their agency relationship ends. Finally, the bill mandates annual public reports from the Attorney General detailing FARA enforcement actions taken against covered individuals.

The No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act eliminates the practice of "official time" for federal employees engaged in union business. This means that any work performed for a labor organization must now be conducted while the employee is in a non-duty status, not while being paid by the government. The bill updates federal law to ensure union activities are not subsidized by taxpayer funds.

The "Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act" mandates that all federal agency rules must be issued and signed by a Senate-confirmed appointee. It requires that the rulemaking process be initiated by a senior appointee. The head of each agency is responsible for ensuring rules comply with the Act, while the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will offer guidance and monitor compliance. This act aims to increase accountability in federal agency rulemaking.

The "No Welfare for the Wealthy Act of 2025" amends eligibility requirements for food and nutrition benefits. To qualify, households must meet specific income and resource criteria outlined in the bill. The act takes effect one year after enactment and applies to certification periods beginning after that date.

The "Protecting America From Spies Act" expands the reasons for denying entry into the United States, including involvement in espionage, sabotage, illegal export of goods/technology, unlawful activities, or attempts to overthrow the U.S. government. It also makes the spouse or child of someone inadmissible due to the above activities inadmissible themselves, if those activities occurred within the past 5 years. The bill also amends Section 212(d)(3)(A) to update the specific inadmissibility reasons that cannot be waived.

The "No Subsidies for Wealthy Universities Act" aims to limit federal research funding to higher education institutions based on the size of their endowment funds. It prohibits the use of federal research award funds to cover indirect costs for institutions with over $5 billion in endowment funds and sets caps on indirect cost rates for institutions with endowments between $2 billion and $5 billion, as well as for all other higher education institutions. The Act also mandates annual reporting on endowment funds and requires the Comptroller General to submit annual reports to Congress on indirect costs reimbursed to higher education institutions for federal research awards.