Legislative Activity

This resolution formally honors the life and dedicated service of fallen Kansas Deputy Elijah Ming. It expresses the deepest condolences of the Senate to his family and loved ones. The measure further calls upon all levels of government to support the family following his tragic sacrifice in the line of duty.

The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act significantly increases financial penalties for group health plans and insurers that violate surprise billing protections. It establishes much harsher penalties, including triple the owed amount plus interest, for late payments following independent dispute resolution determinations. Furthermore, the bill mandates more frequent and detailed transparency reports to Congress regarding enforcement activities and violations found.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to drastically increase healthcare price transparency across the board. It mandates that hospitals, diagnostic labs, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly disclose detailed negotiated rates, cash prices, and gross charges in standardized formats. Furthermore, the bill strengthens requirements for health plans to provide consumers with real-time cost estimates and mandates itemized billing for patients after receiving care. These measures are backed by new compliance checks and significant daily penalties for non-compliance.

The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act mandates that electronic communication and remote computing service providers must report confirmed or reasonably suspected illegal activity involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, or counterfeit prescription drugs to the Attorney General. Providers must submit identifying account information, though they are not required to actively monitor content or break encryption. The law establishes penalties for non-compliance and requires the Attorney General to issue an annual public report on the enforcement of these provisions.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the Parliamentarian should serve a maximum term of six years. The proposal aims to limit the tenure of the official who advises on Senate rules and procedures to ensure accountability and fresh perspectives. This action acknowledges the current appointment structure while advocating for a fixed term limit.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act mandates that all commercial motor vehicle operators must demonstrate proficiency in basic English to obtain or maintain their commercial driver's license (CDL). This ensures drivers can read traffic signs and effectively communicate with law enforcement and safety officials. Furthermore, the CDL knowledge test will only be administered in English two years after the law's enactment.

The Budget Reform Act of 2025 mandates sweeping changes to federal fiscal policy, including making Congressional Budget Office models public, requiring executive agencies to use zero-based budgeting, and shifting the entire appropriations process to a biennial schedule. Furthermore, the bill tightens Senate procedural rules to make it harder to waive budget controls and updates the technical definition of the budget baseline. These reforms aim to increase transparency, scrutinize spending, and enforce long-term fiscal planning across the government.

This resolution celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States Army, honoring its long history of defending freedom since 1775. It specifically recognizes the vital contributions of soldiers and veterans from key Kansas installations, Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley. The Senate expresses deep gratitude for the bravery and patriotism of all Army personnel.

This resolution commends federal, state, and local law enforcement for their dedicated efforts in combating dangerous drug trafficking and agroterrorism threats across the nation. It specifically recognizes recent major operations in Kansas and elsewhere that successfully seized illicit narcotics and thwarted attempts to introduce harmful agricultural pathogens. The bill serves as a formal expression of gratitude for the bravery and tireless work of these agencies in protecting American communities and the nation's food supply.

The USDA Communication Regarding Oversight of Pesticides Act of 2025 (USDA CROP Act) mandates increased coordination between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding pesticide regulation. This legislation requires the EPA to conduct economic analyses before implementing new pesticide risk measures and to consider USDA agronomic data during registration reviews. Furthermore, the Act ensures that EPA decisions involving endangered species protections are coordinated with the relevant agencies to balance ecological concerns with practical agricultural realities.

This resolution formally honors the life and tragic death of Sarah Lynn Milgrim, recognizing her significant academic and professional contributions. It also condemns the recent extremist attack that resulted in the deaths of Ms. Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. Furthermore, the resolution denounces violence targeting religious groups and supports the full prosecution of those responsible for this hate crime.

The Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025 updates federal law to specifically define "plant biostimulant," separating it from other regulated agricultural products. This legislation requires the EPA to update its regulations to reflect these new definitions within 120 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on how various biostimulants can improve soil health and sustainability outcomes.

The Innovative FEED Act of 2025 establishes a new regulatory category for "zootechnical animal food substances" intended to modify digestion or reduce foodborne pathogens in food animals, while explicitly excluding substances intended to treat disease. These substances are still regulated as food additives requiring FDA approval based on demonstrated efficacy and safety. The bill mandates specific labeling requirements to clarify that these products are not intended as animal drugs.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to modernize and increase transparency in the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and requires plans to publicly report detailed data on their approval, denial, and appeal rates. Furthermore, it establishes new standards to protect enrollees and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timelines for care requests.

The Physician and Patient Safety Act mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to establish regulations ensuring physicians receive due process, including a fair hearing and appeal, before a hospital can restrict or terminate their privileges. These rules prevent hospitals from forcing doctors to waive their right to this internal review process. The regulations aim to protect doctors' rights while maintaining patient safety standards.

The Justice for Angel Families Act expands crime victim compensation funds to support immediate family members of individuals murdered by unlawfully present aliens or international drug cartel members. It also establishes a new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within DHS to proactively assist victims of crimes committed by non-citizens. This new office will provide support services, information regarding immigration proceedings, and custody updates to victims and their families. The Director must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing the impact on these crime victims.

The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to support physicians and other practitioners facing Medicare payment adjustments. This bill extends the period for existing payment support through 2025 and introduces a new 8.51% payment increase for services provided from June 1, 2025, through the end of that year. Ultimately, it seeks to stabilize provider practices by modifying Medicare payment schedules.

The Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act introduces a new federal income tax deduction of up to $\$10,000$ for qualifying overtime compensation earned by workers. This deduction is available to both itemizers and non-itemizers, though it phases out for taxpayers with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeding $\$100,000$. The changes, which require updates to tax forms and withholding procedures, will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This Act prohibits the use of federal funds for gender transition procedures across several major programs. It specifically denies federal Medicaid, CHIP for minors, and Medicare funding for these procedures. Furthermore, the bill prevents individuals from claiming medical expense tax deductions for gender transition procedures.

The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act modifies the clean fuel production tax credit by requiring that qualifying fuel be made from feedstocks grown in the United States starting in 2025. The bill also extends the availability of this credit until 2034 and adjusts how emissions rates are calculated by excluding indirect land use changes for future tax years. These changes aim to incentivize domestic production and alter the environmental metrics used for the tax incentive.