Legislative Activity

The "Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2025" amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to include prohibitions on the unpermitted incidental taking of migratory birds, establishes a permit program for such taking, and creates a fund for migratory bird recovery and conservation efforts. It authorizes civil penalties for violations, directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a research program, and requires regular reports to Congress on the conservation status of migratory birds.

This bill implements the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels by authorizing conservation measures such as habitat restoration, invasive species management, and regulation of human activities that impact these birds. It prohibits unauthorized harm to albatrosses and petrels, establishes a permitting process for certain activities, and outlines penalties for violations, while also promoting international cooperation and aligning U.S. law with global conservation efforts. The legislation designates specific federal offices to oversee conservation efforts, mandates regular reporting to Congress, and ensures collaboration among federal agencies. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect albatross and petrel populations and their habitats through coordinated domestic and international actions.

The Health Share Transparency Act of 2025 increases transparency in health care sharing ministries by requiring them to disclose detailed financial and operational information to the government and to prospective and current enrollees. This includes data on financial reserves, claims payment rates, enrollment numbers, and limitations on coverage. Entities enrolling individuals in these ministries must also provide clear explanations about potential tax credits for qualified health plans, eligibility for state or federal healthcare programs, and the differences between health care sharing ministries and traditional insurance. The goal of the act is to ensure consumers have sufficient information to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage options.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the specified planning areas. This prohibition aims to protect the marine environment and coastal economies of the West Coast from the risks associated with offshore drilling. The Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025" prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing or extending leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration and development in the Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to prevent any further drilling in the Arctic region.

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The "Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act" modifies the income exclusion for conservation subsidies, applying to amounts received after December 31, 2021. It includes subsidies from public utilities, state or local governments for water conservation, storm water management, or wastewater management measures for a taxpayer's primary residence. The act defines key terms such as "water conservation or efficiency measure," "storm water management measure," "wastewater management measure," and "public utility".

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to support the San Francisco Bay Restoration Program. It enables the Director to fund restoration projects through agreements with various entities, setting a federal funding limit of 75% for non-federal projects. The bill also restricts funding to entities connected to foreign countries of concern and allows federal agencies to utilize interagency agreements for project activities.

The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within NOAA to support the conservation, restoration, and management of kelp forest ecosystems, prioritizing native wild kelp. Grants will be awarded to various entities, including the fishing industry, educational institutions, and tribal organizations, for projects that enhance ecosystem resilience, restore natural food chains, and integrate Indigenous knowledge. The federal share of funding for a project cannot exceed 85% of the total project cost, and a minimum of $750,000 per year is reserved for grants to Indian Tribes. The act authorizes $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2030 for these initiatives.

The Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation Federal Recognition Act extends federal recognition to the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, making the Tribe and its members eligible for all federal services and benefits provided to federally recognized Indian Tribes. The Tribe must submit a membership roll to the Secretary of the Interior within 18 months of the Act's enactment. This act does not change any existing treaty rights or reserved rights of the Tribe.

The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act establishes a grant program to fund community-developed plans for wildfire resilience, prioritizing high-risk areas and incorporating strategies for early detection, vulnerable population support, infrastructure strengthening, and defensible space projects. It authorizes \$1 billion annually from 2025-2029 for these grants, and requires reports and studies on federal programs, community certifications for wildfire survivability, and radio communication interoperability during wildfires. The Act also updates the definition of at-risk communities and allows for structure hardening projects under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.