Legislative Activity

The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act aims to ease the financial burden of federal regulations on small businesses. Starting in 2026, the Small Business Administration must ensure that new rule changes do not increase costs for small businesses. The Act also requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to Congress on all federal rules impacting small businesses. No additional funds are authorized to implement the Act.

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" increases consumer protection in the household goods shipping industry by allowing the Secretary to enforce penalties for violations, enabling states to use grant money for enforcement and retain penalties, and setting requirements for registration. This includes defining "principal place of business," requiring disclosure of relationships within the transportation industry, and allowing the Secretary to withhold or revoke registration for non-compliance.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" establishes federal tax credits for individuals and corporations who contribute to scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships for eligible students to attend elementary and secondary schools. It sets a volume cap on the total amount of credits that can be claimed and prioritizes allocation on a first-come, first-served basis. The act also exempts these scholarships from gross income and protects the autonomy of scholarship organizations and non-public schools from government control.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States through charitable activities, volunteer work, and financial support for members. It expresses the sense of Congress that these societies are a valuable support system that addresses unmet needs and generates substantial returns to the U.S. through their tax-exempt status. The bill also advocates for the continued promotion of fraternal benefit societies.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospitalization and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child cannot be prosecuted. The bill also allows the woman who had the abortion to file a civil action against anyone who violated the act. It defines abortion and attempts at abortion, and renames "Partial-Birth Abortions" to "Abortions" in relevant sections of the U.S. Code.

The TABS Act of 2025 renames the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to the Consumer Financial Empowerment Agency, updating references across numerous acts and legal documents. It also authorizes Congress to appropriate funds for the newly named agency for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, bringing it into the regular appropriations process.

This bill expresses support for designating January 26 - February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week" to recognize the importance of diverse K-12 education options and the role of parents in choosing the best learning environment for their children. It encourages raising awareness about the benefits of educational choice and congratulates those involved in education.

The "Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act" revises the tax treatment of intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas operations. It modifies how these costs are handled when calculating adjusted financial statement income, aligning depreciation and expense deductions more closely with taxable income standards. These adjustments impact depreciation deductions under section 167 and deductions for expenses under section 263(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. The changes will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The "Strengthening our Servicemembers with Milk Act" mandates that the Department of Defense provide diverse milk options, including flavored, organic, and lactose-free varieties, in military dining facilities. It also prohibits the purchase of milk from entities owned or controlled by foreign adversaries.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the deduction for qualified business income. This removes the previous expiration date, providing long-term tax certainty for eligible businesses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Sarah's Law mandates the detention of aliens who are charged with or have committed crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It requires the Department of Homeland Security to gather information about victims of crimes committed by these aliens and provide them with timely updates about the alien's status and removal efforts. The law also ensures that victims' rights under other laws are protected.

The "Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem aliens inadmissible and deportable if they have committed or admitted to acts constituting sex offenses, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, or violating protection orders. It broadens the definition of crimes against children to include any crime constituting domestic violence.

The "Qualified Immunity Act of 2025" codifies qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, protecting them from liability unless the violated right was clearly established, or no reasonable officer would have known their conduct was unlawful. It also protects employing agencies and local governments from liability if the officer acted within their employment scope. This act aims to balance accountability with the need to protect officers from harassment and liability when performing duties reasonably. The changes will take effect 180 days after enactment.

The CONTAINER Act aims to enhance border security by enabling border states to place temporary, movable structures on federal land along the U.S. border. States must notify the relevant Secretary 45 days in advance of placement. These structures can be maintained for up to a year, with possible extensions if border control is not yet achieved.

The HSA Modernization Act expands access to health savings accounts (HSAs) by allowing individuals with certain veterans' benefits, those entitled to Medicare Part A due to age, and those eligible for Indian Health Service assistance to contribute. It also broadens the types of health plans that qualify for HSAs, including bronze and catastrophic plans, and allows high-deductible plans to offer mental health services with no deductible for the first $500 of expenses. The Act also increases HSA contribution limits to match deductible and out-of-pocket maximums and enables the use of HSAs for qualified long-term care services. Additionally, it permits HSAs to cover medical expenses incurred up to 60 days before the HSA was established and allows both spouses to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA.

The Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 nullifies previous presidential actions that withdrew unleased offshore lands from mineral leasing and limits the president's authority to withdraw such lands in the future. It sets acreage and time limits on withdrawals, mandates resource assessments and congressional notification, and establishes a process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals. The Act prioritizes resource assessments of withdrawn lands, emphasizing economic, energy, and national security value, and ensures withdrawals do not conflict with scheduled lease sales.

The "Empowering Law Enforcement To Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act of 2025" allows Byrne JAG funds to be used for programs that combat human trafficking. This will provide additional resources to law enforcement agencies and organizations working to fight sex trafficking.

The Healthy SNAP Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to revise the definition of "food" under SNAP. It excludes items like alcohol, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from SNAP eligibility. The Act directs the Secretary to designate eligible foods based on nutritional value, public health, and cultural eating patterns, with regular reviews to update the list. It also allows for culturally relevant food substitutions with state approval, ensuring nutritional equivalence.

The FAIR PREP Act of 2025 prohibits the Treasury Secretary from preparing tax returns or refund claims, including through IRS-run electronic services, with exceptions for qualified programs like the IRS Free File Program. It defines "prepare" and "electronic tax preparation service" to clarify the scope of the prohibition, which applies to returns filed more than 30 days after enactment. The Act also restricts the Treasury Secretary from spending funds on developing or operating electronic tax preparation services without explicit authorization from a new law.