Legislative Activity

The Farm Credit Adjustment Act grants the Farm Credit Administration the option to extend mandatory examination cycles for low-risk Farm Credit System institutions from the current frequency to once every 24 months. This change provides regulatory flexibility for institutions deemed stable by the FCA. This new examination option will take effect starting October 1, 2026.

The Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (Connected MOM) Act aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women on Medicaid by examining and addressing barriers to state coverage for remote physiologic monitoring devices. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on current state coverage rules and suggest improvements for utilizing these monitoring tools. Following the report, federal resources provided to states must be updated to reflect the recommended best practices for covering remote maternal health monitoring.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual grants to states for improving election administration, security, and accessibility, managed by a newly created Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation. This funding is supported by a dedicated ten-year Trust Fund to ensure stable resources for election infrastructure upgrades. The bill imposes strict rules on how states can use the money, including prohibitions against purchasing insecure voting machines or restricting basic voter support. If states fail to comply, the federal Director can bypass state government to fund local election subdivisions directly.

The CHALLENGES Act aims to protect election integrity by establishing strict new requirements to prevent dishonest or bad-faith challenges to registered voters' eligibility. It mandates that individuals challenging a voter's status must provide specific, firsthand evidence and swear under oath, while also imposing criminal penalties for knowingly submitting false challenges. Furthermore, the bill requires online challenge systems to reject anonymous submissions and clearly state the prohibition against bad-faith filings.

The Voters on the Move Registration Act of 2025 mandates that standardized, multilingual voter registration information be provided to individuals applying for certain federally assisted rental housing or residential mortgages. This ensures that tenants and mortgage applicants receive clear instructions on how to register to vote. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is tasked with creating this uniform voter information statement. This requirement focuses solely on providing information, not compelling voter registration.

The Help America Run Act aims to make it easier for everyday Americans to run for office by allowing campaign funds to cover essential living expenses. Specifically, the bill permits campaign committees to use funds for necessary personal services like childcare and elder care, which helps candidates who are not independently wealthy. This change is intended to increase the diversity of candidates and ensure elected officials better reflect the general population.

The Youth Voting Rights Act aims to strengthen voting access for young Americans by enforcing the 26th Amendment. This bill mandates that public colleges facilitate voter registration, allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register for federal elections, and requires on-campus polling locations. It also establishes grants to encourage youth civic engagement and strengthens protections against age-based barriers in voting, including ID rules and absentee voting.

The Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act aims to secure and expand the right to vote for citizens experiencing homelessness by prohibiting residency-based disenfranchisement. It mandates accessible registration methods, requires outreach from service providers, and establishes federal grants to help local governments implement these protections. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure that where a person sleeps cannot be a barrier to their participation in federal elections.

The Election Mail Act aims to ensure the timely and secure delivery of federal election mail through the U.S. Postal Service. It mandates same-day processing of received absentee ballots and requires the use of intelligent mail barcodes for tracking mailed ballots starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill establishes protections against operational changes that would slow election mail delivery and sets a national standard to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within seven days after the election.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions and penalties against knowingly spreading materially false information intended to suppress voting in federal elections, including the use of AI-generated content within 60 days of an election. The bill also criminalizes intimidating election workers involved in ballot tabulation and certification processes. Furthermore, it authorizes the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false voting information and requires detailed reporting on election interference allegations.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over when this paid leave is taken, which can include early voting periods if permitted by state law. This Act prohibits employers from penalizing employees for utilizing this required voting leave.

The Expanding the VOTE Act updates language assistance requirements under the Voting Rights Act by modernizing the definition of "voting materials" to include digital information. It also establishes new state responsibilities for providing language assistance and creates a grant program to incentivize voluntary language support beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill includes special provisions for unwritten American Indian and Alaska Native languages and mandates a study on lowering thresholds for language assistance coverage.

The People Over Long Lines Act (POLL Act) aims to protect the fundamental right to vote by establishing a national standard that no eligible citizen should wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot in a federal election. To achieve this, the bill mandates that states submit plans detailing how they will ensure fair wait times and requires the Attorney General to set minimum standards for voting resources like poll workers and equipment. Furthermore, the Act authorizes federal funding to help states comply and creates a private right of action allowing citizens to sue over excessive wait times.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct or support research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This dedicated funding is authorized for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031. This new allocation is separate from and in addition to any existing CDC research funding.

The Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund community-based organizations that provide structured, long-term mentoring for children and young adults who are currently or formerly in foster care. These grants aim to expand high-quality mentoring relationships, requiring rigorous mentor training, thorough background screening, and significant input from youth with lived experience. The goal is to improve outcomes for foster youth in areas like education, mental health, and successful transition to adulthood.

The Fix Our Flooded Basements Act of 2025 significantly expands FEMA disaster assistance for flood-damaged basements, covering mold and moisture damage beyond just habitable areas. It mandates increased personal property aid for basement contents, aligning it with Standard Flood Insurance Policy levels. Furthermore, the bill updates the Group Flood Insurance Policy to offer broader eligibility and comprehensive coverage for real and personal property within basements.

The Baby Food Tax Relief Act explicitly prohibits the President from imposing new or existing tariffs or duties on essential baby items like bottles, formula, and breast pumps using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) or similar authorities. This legislation ensures that these necessary goods remain free from such taxation.

The Stop Troubling Retroactive Invoices for Veteran Expenses Act of 2025 (STRIVE Act) prevents the VA from collecting health care copayments if the veteran was not properly notified within two years of receiving care, or if the total owed exceeds an inflation-adjusted threshold (starting at \$2,000). The bill also grants the Secretary of Veterans Affairs broad authority to waive any veteran copayment deemed appropriate. Finally, it extends the date for certain pension payment limits.

The Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act expands Medicare coverage for individuals with a family or personal history suggestive of hereditary cancer. This legislation mandates Medicare coverage for appropriate genetic testing and risk-reducing preventive surgeries. Furthermore, it allows for expanded, evidence-based cancer screenings for individuals already diagnosed with a hereditary cancer gene mutation.