Legislative Activity

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue healthcare professionals and institutions for damages related to gender-transition medical interventions performed on them as minors. The bill permits lawsuits regardless of when the intervention occurred and sets a statute of limitations extending 25 years past the individual's 18th birthday. Additionally, it mandates strict liability for such interventions performed after the Act's enactment.

The Incentivize Savings Act mandates how federal agencies must handle unspent appropriations by dedicating the majority to debt reduction and allowing a portion for employee retention bonuses. This legislation also restricts future budget requests to only account for inflation unless the agency fully spends its prior allocation. Ultimately, the bill aims to encourage fiscal responsibility by linking unspent funds to debt reduction and limiting budget growth.

The Make Elections Great Again Act establishes new federal standards for voter identification, citizenship verification for registration, and statewide voter list maintenance for federal elections. It also standardizes election administration by mandating paper ballots, banning ranked-choice voting, and implementing strict new rules for requesting and returning mail-in ballots. The bill aims to increase election integrity through enhanced documentation and procedural uniformity across states.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) mandates that individuals must provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also establishes a federal requirement for voters to present a photo ID indicating U.S. citizenship when casting a ballot in federal elections. The bill outlines specific acceptable forms of proof and requires states to implement verification programs to ensure only citizens are registered and voting.

The Gerald's Law Act expands eligibility for a veteran's burial allowance. It now covers survivors whose veteran died at home while receiving VA hospice care, provided that care immediately followed a stay in a VA hospital or nursing home. This change ensures benefits for veterans transitioning from facility care to end-of-life care at home.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 300 Macedonia Lane in Knoxville, Tennessee. The facility will now be known as the Reverend Harold Middlebrook Post Office Building. This designation will be used in all future federal references to the building.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

This act establishes a permanent, fixed Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding allocation for Tennessee beginning in fiscal year 2026, based on its 2015 allotment. The funding amount will increase annually based on the consumer price index. Furthermore, the bill designates Tennessee as a "low DSH state" for all fiscal years after 2026.

This act, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule regarding heat injury and illness prevention published in August 2024. This restriction extends to any future standard substantially similar to the one proposed.

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 Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Modernization Act of 2025 mandates that group health plans and issuers provide comprehensive coverage for all stages of breast or chest wall reconstruction following breast cancer treatment. This coverage must include every modality, type, and procedural variation of reconstruction, as well as treatment for related complications like lymphedema. Furthermore, the bill requires plans to ensure in-network access to providers for these services and prohibits discrimination against patients seeking reconstruction.

The Judicial Accountability for Public Safety Act of 2025 establishes a new civil cause of action allowing individuals to sue judges for serious harm resulting from decisions made with intentional disregard for public safety or gross negligence during bail or sentencing hearings. This law specifically targets egregious judicial conduct and removes standard judicial immunity protections for claims brought under this new section. The Act carefully defines key terms like "judicial officer" and sets a high bar for proving liability, requiring "clear and convincing evidence" of misconduct.

The Combatting Fentanyl Poisonings Act of 2025 establishes several new grant programs managed by the Attorney General to address the fentanyl crisis. These grants will fund local law enforcement efforts to stop social media drug sales, support non-profit organizations in running public awareness campaigns, and equip officers to safely handle fentanyl exposure. The Act specifically allocates funds for enforcement, education, and officer protection related to the dangers of fentanyl.

The Uniform Standards Protection Act of 2025 prohibits states from enforcing any law that dictates the uniform requirements for federal law enforcement officers operating within their jurisdiction. This legislation ensures that federal agents are exempt from state-level dress codes, regardless of existing state regulations. Furthermore, the Act mandates the dismissal of any pending legal actions against federal officers based on prior violations of these now-preempted state uniform rules.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The SAFE Driving Laws Act aims to ensure that states only issue standard driver's licenses to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. To comply, states must prohibit issuing licenses to non-citizens and must cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement information sharing. States failing to meet these requirements starting in fiscal year 2027 will face the withholding of 50% of their federal highway funding.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The FIREARM Act aims to protect licensed firearm dealers from overly harsh penalties for minor or self-reported mistakes. It establishes new standards requiring the government to provide notice and an opportunity for dealers to correct violations before license revocation. Furthermore, the bill retroactively applies these protections to licenses previously revoked under a specific 2021 enforcement policy, allowing affected individuals a path to reapply.