Legislative Activity

The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025 establishes a special enrollment period for individuals transitioning from COBRA continuation coverage to Medicare Part B. This allows those currently on COBRA when they become Medicare-eligible to sign up without incurring late enrollment penalties. The Act also clarifies how COBRA plans must treat individuals eligible for, but not yet enrolled in, Medicare Part B.

The Promoting New Bank Formation Act aims to encourage the creation of new banks by providing regulatory relief for newly insured institutions. This includes a three-year phase-in period for new capital standards and streamlined processes for adjusting initial business plans. The Act also establishes temporary, favorable capital requirements for new rural depository institutions and expands lending authority for Federal savings associations to include agricultural loans. Finally, it mandates a study on barriers to new bank formation, especially in underserved areas.

The Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2025 establishes a mandatory federal registration system for entities that sell human bodies or body parts for education or research, but not for transplantation. Registrants must provide detailed operational information, submit to inspections, and maintain rigorous records documenting donor consent and the chain of custody. The Act also mandates strict labeling, packaging, and privacy standards to ensure integrity throughout the process until final disposition.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights to join single-sex social organizations at colleges receiving federal funding. This bill prevents institutions from taking adverse action against students or groups solely because of sex-based membership policies. It ensures these organizations are treated fairly compared to other campus groups regarding participation and privileges. Ultimately, the Act safeguards a student's freedom to choose their associations, including single-sex clubs.

The CARE Act of 2025 mandates that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) test a new payment model for emergency services. This model will allow Medicare to pay ground ambulance providers for emergency responses, even when a patient does not ultimately require transport under Medicare Part B. The five-year demonstration aims to evaluate the impact of covering these non-transport emergency responses on patient access and resource utilization.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act aims to encourage more veterinarians to serve in underserved rural areas by making participation in certain loan repayment or forgiveness programs more financially appealing. This bill amends the tax code to exclude amounts received through qualifying state or federal veterinary student loan repayment programs from being counted as taxable income. This tax benefit applies to amounts received for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act of 2025 allows states to use Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funds to purchase life-saving opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, for schools. These funds can also cover essential training for school staff on administering the antagonists and providing fentanyl awareness education to students. This legislation aims to enhance school safety by equipping them to respond to opioid emergencies.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue special commemorative gold, silver, and clad coins honoring the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. These coins will be sold to the public, with surcharges from the sales benefiting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Treasury must ensure that the production and issuance of these coins result in no net cost to the U.S. Government.

The Innovative FEED Act of 2025 establishes a new regulatory category for "zootechnical animal food substances" intended to modify animal digestive byproducts or reduce foodborne pathogens without treating disease. This bill mandates that these new substances must undergo the standard food additive approval process with the FDA, requiring petitioners to provide extensive data on their intended effects. Approval is contingent upon proving the substance achieves its claimed function under proposed use conditions, and all resulting animal food must carry a specific disclaimer stating it is not for disease treatment.

The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025 extends the current Medicare payment structure for ground ambulance services. This change ensures continuity in how these vital services are reimbursed under existing rules. Specifically, the temporary payment pilot program is extended through 2028, preventing an immediate change in payment policy.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The Credit for Caring Act of 2025 establishes a new, non-refundable federal income tax credit for working family caregivers who incur significant expenses caring for a relative with long-term care needs. Eligible caregivers can claim a credit equal to 30% of qualified expenses exceeding \$2,000, up to a maximum annual credit of \$5,000. The bill specifies detailed requirements for the care recipient's needs, the types of allowable expenses, and includes income phase-out limits for claiming the benefit.

The JUDGES Act of 2025 aims to address the increasing caseloads in district courts by creating new judgeships in multiple states over the next decade, as well as a temporary judgeship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. It also authorizes appropriations to support these new positions and adjusts the organization of district courts in Texas and California. Additionally, the Act mandates Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports to evaluate workload measures, judicial activities, and the effectiveness of policies regarding senior judges, as well as the needs and efforts to acquire federal detention space. Finally, the Act ensures public accessibility to the Judicial Conference's recommendations for Article III judgeships by requiring the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to publish these reports on its website.

The Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025 (ACRE Act) creates a new federal tax incentive for qualified lenders. This incentive excludes income earned from interest on loans secured by rural or agricultural real property from taxation. The goal is to encourage lending for agricultural, forestry, and certain rural home improvement purposes while prohibiting loans to foreign adversary entities.

The Aviation Workforce Development Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow expenses for aviation maintenance and commercial pilot courses to be considered qualified higher education expenses for qualified tuition programs. This change applies to distributions made after the enactment of this law, aiming to support workforce development in the aviation sector.

The "Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act" amends the Social Security Act's definition of "qualifying single source drug" to include advanced drugs using genetically targeted technology. This update applies to drugs that can modify gene function, potentially impacting drug pricing and access regulations under the Act.

This bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the "Black Panthers," in recognition of their courageous service and crucial contributions during World War II. The medal will be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display, honoring the 761st as the first Black soldiers to serve in an American armored unit and their significant role in the Allied victory in Europe. The bill also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to support the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The "No American Land for Communist China Act" prohibits the President from allowing individuals or entities associated with the Chinese government from purchasing real estate near covered federal lands. Covered lands include those managed by the Departments of Interior, Defense, Agriculture (Forest Service), and Energy, as well as Indian country. This restriction applies to entities with at least 25% equity interest held by Chinese government-affiliated individuals or businesses. The Act defines "United States" broadly to include states, territories, and other U.S. possessions.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.