Legislative Activity

The Rural Water Security Act expands access to federal water infrastructure programs for Colorado. This legislation specifically amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to include Colorado in the eligibility criteria for Western Rural Water projects, including water storage and groundwater recharge initiatives.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

This bill establishes a national resource center to provide training and technical assistance for implementing lethality assessment programs across states and tribal communities. These programs aim to help first responders identify high-risk domestic violence situations and connect victims with essential services. The legislation authorizes $5 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026 to support this effort in reducing domestic violence homicides.

The Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026 establishes national standards for making recycled content claims in commerce. This bill recognizes mass balance accounting as an acceptable method for substantiating these claims, provided it adheres to a third-party certification system. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with updating its Green Guides to reflect these standards and will enforce prohibitions against misleading recycled content claims. Furthermore, the Act preempts state and local regulations concerning the enforcement of these federal standards.

The Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Support Act 2.0 (CMMSA 2.0) modifies the advanced manufacturing production tax credit for battery components, significantly increasing the credit for electrode active materials. It also introduces new restrictions on using critical minerals sourced from "prohibited foreign entities" after 2026. Furthermore, the bill expands the definition of electrode active materials and extends the phase-out timeline for the associated tax credit until after 2041.

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 FRAMER Act establishes a program requiring states to reimburse builders for the added cost of meeting state energy codes that exceed federal standards when constructing homes in designated Opportunity Zones. To maintain eligibility for federal community development funds, states must make this payment within 30 days of occupancy. Builders receiving this reimbursement must disclose the cost difference and the reimbursement amount to the home's first buyer. This program is set to expire seven years after enactment.

The Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 officially delists the Mexican wolf from the list of threatened and endangered species. This legislation voids previous management rules and mandates that future recovery plans for the species in the U.S. must exclude consideration of the wolf population in Mexico. The bill also addresses concerns regarding compensation standards for ranchers suffering livestock losses due to wolf predation.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.

This bill proposes to eliminate the current dollar limitations on the amount of profit excluded from taxes when selling a principal residence. It removes the existing caps of \$250,000 for individuals and \$500,000 for married couples. The change applies to all sales occurring after the law is enacted.

This bill, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, seeks to amend the Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2026. Specifically, it delays the implementation of recent amendments affecting hemp production under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The delay for these changes is extended from one year to three years.

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.

This bill proposes to delay the implementation of recent amendments affecting hemp production under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. Specifically, it extends the current delay period for these changes from one year to three years.

The Duty Status Reform Act aims to modernize and streamline the process for determining and managing duty status for federal employees. This legislation seeks to clarify existing regulations and ensure fair and consistent application of duty status rules across government agencies.

This bill establishes the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025 to fund career pathway programs utilizing immersive technologies like VR and AR. It authorizes $50 million annually for ten years to award competitive grants for creating and implementing these training services. Priority will be given to programs that align with employer needs, involve community colleges, or target in-demand sectors and underserved populations.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act officially removes the gray wolf from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. This legislation mandates the reissuance of the November 3, 2020, final rule concerning the gray wolf's delisting within 60 days of enactment. Furthermore, the reissuance of this rule is explicitly barred from judicial review.

The SPEED Act aims to streamline and expedite federal project reviews by reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It clarifies NEPA as a procedural statute, narrows the scope of environmental effects agencies must consider, and establishes strict timelines for agency decisions. Furthermore, the bill imposes significant limitations on judicial review, requiring courts to defer to agency judgment and limiting remedies to remanding the action for correction rather than vacating permits.

The Protecting Students on Campus Act of 2025 aims to increase awareness of civil rights protections for students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The bill mandates a public awareness campaign and requires colleges receiving federal aid to prominently display links and materials related to filing discrimination complaints. Furthermore, it establishes regular congressional briefings and requires annual reporting and targeted audits on how institutions handle complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

The Respect State Housing Laws Act aims to clarify federal housing regulations by amending the CARES Act. Specifically, this legislation removes Section 4024(c) from the CARES Act.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.