Legislative Activity

The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 amends the Internal Revenue Code to clarify how the IRS determines the tax-exempt status of religious organizations. It ensures that religious beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, and gender identity are not considered inconsistent with public policy. Additionally, the bill establishes that a belief qualifies as religious regardless of whether it is considered central to a specific system of faith.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act authorizes $6 million in annual federal grants over seven years to support the National Law Enforcement Museum. This funding will enhance public education, community outreach, and critical officer safety and wellness programs. By fostering greater understanding between law enforcement and the public, the bill aims to support the profession and improve safety for officers nationwide.

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 "ALERT Communities Act" aims to combat the opioid crisis by increasing access to and training on fentanyl and xylazine test strips for first responders and community members. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish research and marketing guidelines for test strip technology and to study the impact of drug checking supplies on overdose rates and treatment participation. The Act defines "test strip" as a tool to detect dangerous substances in drugs, helping to prevent overdoses and reduce the risk of harm.

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 Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Congressional Records Protection Act restricts government entities from obtaining official records of Members of Congress and their staff through warrants or subpoenas, with exceptions for criminal investigations. If such records are sought, the Member or employee must be notified before or at the time of execution. Furthermore, the government generally cannot review the seized materials for 30 days following notification.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from assigning specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers. This legislation aims to protect consumer privacy by preventing the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases through specialized financial classification. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions and reporting annually on compliance.

The Wildfire Response Modernization Act authorizes the Department of Defense to procure commercial space-based data to enhance wildfire detection and response capabilities. This initiative aims to improve military support for civilian firefighting efforts while protecting military installations. Additionally, the bill enables the sharing of this critical data with state, local, and tribal partners to strengthen collective wildfire resilience.

The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act significantly expands legal immunity for firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations by redefining terms within existing federal law. It mandates the immediate dismissal of pending lawsuits against these entities and establishes strict new standards for any exceptions that might apply. Furthermore, the bill preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability based on the criminal misuse of qualified products.

The Jewish American Security Act addresses the rising threat of antisemitism across the nation. This bill mandates new protections for Jewish students in educational settings and significantly increases funding and administrative support for securing Jewish community institutions. Furthermore, it requires increased transparency from large online platforms regarding their moderation of antisemitic content and mandates federal assessments of domestic and transnational antisemitic threats.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative gold and silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and survivors, with designs selected in consultation with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges from the sale of these coins will be paid directly to the Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 aims to combat sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional organized retail and supply chain theft. It achieves this by strengthening federal laws regarding money laundering and stolen property offenses, including lowering monetary thresholds for prosecution. Furthermore, the bill establishes a dedicated Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal, state, and local enforcement efforts against these criminal organizations.

The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the sale or importation of connected vehicles, hardware, or software originating from or controlled by designated "covered countries" (North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). This measure aims to safeguard U.S. economic and national security against risks like espionage and cyber intrusion posed by foreign adversaries exploiting vehicle connectivity technology. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with issuing regulations to enforce these bans, which begin phasing in starting in 2027, though waivers may be granted under specific national security conditions.

The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026 establishes a federal ban on performing dismemberment abortions, carrying criminal penalties for physicians who knowingly violate the law. This ban includes exceptions only when necessary to save the life of the mother. The Act also allows for civil lawsuits by the woman or her parents against violators, while explicitly stating that other abortion methods remain unaffected.

This bill, known as TREY's Law, bans the use of nondisclosure clauses in any contract related to claims of sexual abuse against a minor. It renders such clauses void and unenforceable, even in agreements signed previously, to prevent silencing survivors. The law ensures victims and others can freely disclose information about child sexual abuse without fear of civil liability.

The Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026 mandates new safety and employment requirements for freight trains crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. This bill requires all cross-border freight trains to stop at the border for crew interchange and safety testing. Furthermore, it stipulates that only U.S. nationals or lawfully authorized resident aliens whose primary reporting point is in the U.S. may operate the train after the interchange.

The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act significantly narrows the federal beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. This legislation limits reporting obligations exclusively to foreign individuals and foreign-connected companies. Furthermore, it mandates the deletion of all previously collected data pertaining to domestic persons and entities.

The Consumer Protection and Corporate Accountability in Bankruptcy Act of 2026 overhauls Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules by imposing strict deadlines for conversion to Chapter 7 and establishing new grounds, including "bad faith" and "objective futility," for case dismissal. It also limits the court's power to halt certain government actions and creates a significant new exception to the automatic stay for specific mass tort or liability claims against nondebtor entities following corporate restructuring. These changes aim to prevent debtors from abusing the bankruptcy process for tactical advantage or to shield related parties from liability.

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 mandates significant safety upgrades across both civilian and military aviation to prevent midair collisions. It requires the FAA to implement advanced collision avoidance systems and new air traffic controller training, while also compelling the Department of Defense to equip most military helicopters with transponders for increased visibility. The bill establishes new transparency measures, including public tracking of safety rule implementation and enhanced reporting on near-miss incidents, particularly around major airports like Reagan National.