Legislative Activity

The Medicare Protection Act of 2025 excludes income from the sale of a primary residence when determining Medicare Part B and D premiums, starting January 1, 2025. This exclusion applies unless the sale had been previously excluded under existing regulations. This change aims to protect seniors from increased Medicare costs due to one-time income from home sales.

The "Free Speech On Campus Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, requiring public institutions to affirm their commitment to freedom of expression. This includes providing students with written statements of their First Amendment rights, assurances against freedom of expression violations, and educational programming that promotes respectful expression of diverse views. Institutions must also post these statements on their website.

This bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act, establishing a "conclusive presumption" of state agreement for certain federal activities within coastal zones, preventing delays or blocks. This presumption applies to national security, critical infrastructure, disaster recovery, and projects with significant economic impact in disadvantaged areas. The Secretary has 30 days to review and nullify the presumption if the activity doesn't qualify. If the Secretary does not act within 30 days, the presumption becomes final.

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act to establish a clear standard for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. It specifies that a worker is an independent contractor if the hiring entity does not have significant control over the work and the worker has entrepreneurial opportunities and risks. Certain factors, such as legal compliance or carrying insurance, are excluded from consideration of employee status.

This bill ensures that offering portable benefits, like health insurance or retirement savings that workers can take with them between jobs, will not be used to classify them as employees under federal law. The bill defines portable benefits as work-related benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings, or paid leave, that an individual can retain even when they change jobs. This clarification aims to encourage the provision of such benefits without affecting worker classification status.

The SAFE HOME Act introduces a tax credit for individuals who invest in wildfire mitigation measures for their primary residence, such as improving roof fire resistance, installing sprinkler systems, and creating defensible space. This credit covers 25% of qualified expenditures, up to a maximum of $25,000, for homeowners in areas at high risk of wildfires. The credit is subject to income limitations and will be available for expenditures made before January 1, 2033.

The "Freedom to Cooperate Act" seeks to reinforce federal authority over immigration law by preventing states from obstructing federal immigration enforcement and clarifying the use of ICE detainers. It ensures that states cannot prohibit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, protects state and local entities from liability when complying with detainers, and defines the probable cause and procedures for issuing detainers. This act aims to streamline immigration enforcement by fostering cooperation between federal and state entities, while also outlining protections and exceptions related to detainers.

The "National Human Trafficking Database Act" aims to combat human trafficking by establishing a national database within the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime. It incentivizes state agencies through grants to collect and report comprehensive data on human trafficking cases, prosecutions, and victim services, while ensuring survivor confidentiality. This data will be used to create a public database and inform Congress, enhancing awareness and strategies to combat human trafficking. The act authorizes specific appropriations for both state grants and the maintenance of the national database.

The "No Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to prohibit states from using Medicaid funds to provide medical assistance to aliens not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. This restriction does not apply to assistance already covered under section 1903(v)(2) of the Social Security Act.

This bill stops the federal government from providing financial assistance to California's high-speed rail project, specifically the one outlined in the Cooperative Agreement No. FRHSR0118120101. This prevents federal funds from being used for this particular high-speed rail development in California.