Legislative Activity

The Biomass Facility Construction Act incentivizes the development of renewable energy by reinstating and expanding investment and production tax credits for open- and closed-loop biomass facilities. By removing previous sunset dates and statutory limitations, the bill encourages new construction and long-term investment in biomass energy infrastructure.

The SAM Act of 2026 establishes a new grant program to accelerate the deployment of shared autonomous buses by providing federal funding for their purchase and related software. The bill also updates testing requirements to include these autonomous vehicles and clarifies that various federal transportation grants can be used to acquire the necessary automated driving system software. This legislation aims to support the integration of innovative, self-driving mobility solutions into public transit systems.

The Gas Tax Reduction Act significantly lowers the federal excise tax on both gasoline and diesel fuel to 4.4 cents per gallon. Additionally, the bill penalizes states by withholding a portion of federal highway funds if their state gasoline tax rate is $\$0.50$ per gallon or higher.

The Keep Jobs in California Act of 2026 prohibits states from imposing retroactive asset taxes on nonresident individuals. This legislation ensures that individuals cannot be taxed on the value of assets from periods prior to the enactment of a tax law if they were not residents of that state at the time the law was passed.

The Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026 updates existing law to better support environmental protection and cultural preservation in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This bill specifically includes the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California in land acquisition and management programs, recognizing the Basin as their homeland. It also expands the use of federal funds to cover land management activities and authorizes the Tribe to acquire culturally significant lands.

The Housing Choice Voucher Fairness Act of 2025 ensures greater portability for families using rental assistance. Starting January 1, 2026, public housing agencies must continue providing voucher payments when a family moves to a new area, provided the new rental cost does not exceed the previous payment by more than 10 percent.

This Act establishes the "SAFE AI Research Grants" program, managed by the National Academy of Sciences, to fund research focused on developing safe and ethical artificial intelligence models. The program aims to mitigate the unknown risks associated with AI development by encouraging secure and reliable advancements aligned with human values. Before implementation, guiding principles will be developed through consultation with key stakeholders.

This Act officially grants federal recognition to the Mono Lake Kootzadukaa Tribe, bringing them under the framework of federal laws governing tribal nations. The legislation makes the Tribe and its members eligible for federal services and benefits, regardless of where members reside. Furthermore, it reaffirms existing tribal rights and mandates the Secretary of the Interior to identify and place suitable land in Mono County into trust for the Tribe's use.

This act, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify employment status. Specifically, it excludes direct sellers and qualified real estate agents from the definition of "employee." This change aligns labor standards with existing IRS classifications for these professions.

The Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act of 2025 establishes a national policy prioritizing traditional and classical architectural styles for new federal public buildings to uplift civic spaces and inspire the public. It mandates community input in design decisions and requires the GSA to implement specific procedures, including hiring experts in preferred styles, to ensure compliance. The Act also requires annual reporting to Congress on the implementation of these new architectural standards.

This bill aims to establish a firm rule preventing states from conducting more than one congressional redistricting following each decennial census and apportionment. Once a state draws its federal district maps after the census, those maps must remain in place for the entire decade unless a court mandates a redraw due to constitutional or Voting Rights Act violations. This legislation specifically does not alter the process for drawing state or local election districts.

The Modern Worker Security Act prohibits federal law from considering the provision of benefits when determining an individual's employment status. This means benefits commonly associated with full-time employment can no longer be used as a factor in classifying a worker. The goal is to clarify the definition of an employee by removing benefit considerations from the determination process.

The Modern Worker Empowerment Act establishes a new, two-part test under federal law to determine if a worker is an independent contractor rather than an employee. This test focuses on the degree of control exercised over the work's details and whether the worker has the risks and opportunities of entrepreneurship. The Act applies this updated classification standard to both the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act.

This bill, officially titled the "No Tax Dollars for Riots," establishes penalties for nonprofit organizations whose leaders are convicted of specific federal crimes like bribery or illegal drug trafficking committed while in office. If an officer or board member is convicted of these offenses, the organization will immediately lose its federal funding eligibility. Furthermore, the nonprofit will also lose its tax-exempt status following the conviction.

The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025 aims to restore clarity and consistency to patent eligibility by eliminating judicial exceptions to the current law. It establishes that any useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter is eligible for patent protection unless specifically excluded. While the Act broadens eligibility, it maintains exclusions for purely abstract ideas, unmodified natural materials, and mental processes, while clarifying the role of computers in patentable inventions.

The Medicare Protection Act of 2025 amends how Medicare calculates premiums by excluding gains from the sale of a principal residence from the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) calculation. This change prevents profits from a primary home sale from triggering higher Part B and Part D premiums. This exclusion can only be applied once per individual for IRMAA purposes.

The Free Speech On Campus Act requires public colleges and universities to enhance protections for free expression as a condition of receiving federal student aid. This legislation mandates that institutions provide new students with a written statement outlining their First Amendment rights and commitment to free speech during orientation. Furthermore, schools must offer educational programming on free speech policies and respectfully engage with diverse viewpoints.

This bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act to establish a conclusive presumption that a coastal state concurs with certain federal activities under its management program. Specifically, it mandates automatic agreement for federal projects related to national security, critical infrastructure, disaster recovery, or those in economically distressed areas. This presumption can only be overturned if the Secretary issues a written decision within 30 days stating the activity is not covered.

The SAFE HOME Act establishes a refundable tax credit for homeowners to offset the costs of wildfire mitigation improvements to their primary residences. Eligible taxpayers can claim 25% of qualified expenditures—up to $25,000 annually—for projects that increase fire resistance and protect homes in high-risk areas. This incentive program is effective for tax years 2025 through 2032.

The National Human Trafficking Database Act establishes a centralized, public online database to track and report human trafficking data at the county level across the United States. Through a Department of Justice grant program, state agencies will collect and submit comprehensive statistics on trafficking prosecutions, survivor services, and related criminal activity. The bill mandates strict privacy protections to ensure all survivor data remains anonymous while providing a transparent, annually updated resource to combat human trafficking.