Legislative Activity

The Rural Safety Administration Flexibility Act updates federal highway safety funding rules by establishing a new definition for "rural State." This change specifically impacts how certain states, defined by having a lower-than-average population density, are treated under existing funding caps. The bill aims to provide greater flexibility in how highway safety funds are administered in these less densely populated areas.

The SAFE Cities Act establishes a process for identifying state and local governments deemed "anarchist jurisdictions" for failing to reasonably stop violence and property destruction. The Attorney General, in coordination with other agencies, will publish and regularly update a list of these jurisdictions based on criteria like restricting police action or defunding law enforcement. Federal agencies will then be instructed to restrict or unfavorably treat these identified jurisdictions when distributing federal grants where legally permissible.

The Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2025 establishes a voluntary Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, allowing employers to self-audit and quickly resolve unintentional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations regarding minimum wage and overtime. This program aims to efficiently recover back wages for employees while providing employers with a structured path to compliance and protection from future litigation over settled claims. Approval is contingent upon accurate self-audits, good faith compliance, and the employer correcting all identified wage violations before settlement. The Act also explicitly prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for participating in the settlement process.

The Smart Pricing Practices Permanence Act modifies an existing pilot program aimed at accelerating defense contracting and pricing processes. This legislation streamlines participation by eliminating requirements for unique reporting by program participants. It also removes an entire subsection from the original authorizing law, further adjusting the structure of the pilot program.

The PRIME Act streamlines the Department of Defense's procurement process for experimental defense articles. It broadens the types of items the military can purchase for testing and allows for direct transition to production contracts for successful experimental items. This change aims to accelerate the fielding of new technology if a combatant command certifies the item's utility.

The Buy-to-Budget Flexibility Act streamlines the Department of Defense's procurement process by eliminating outdated and specific requirements for purchasing "end items." This legislation strikes out old statutory language related to end-item purchases and removes several detailed subsections from existing law. The goal is to provide greater flexibility in how the DoD manages its budget for these acquisitions.

The Prototype to Production Act modifies Department of Defense (DOD) procedures for managing large-scale technology projects involving prototypes and subsequent production contracts. It establishes specific high-level approval requirements for major prototype projects exceeding \$100 million, ensuring these decisions cannot be delegated. Furthermore, the Act creates a new authority allowing the DOD to rapidly field proven technologies under exceptional circumstances without competitive procedures to meet urgent warfighter needs.

The Expedited Delivery Act revises federal procurement rules to allow the government to bypass competitive bidding for certain purchases. This is achieved by adding a new exception based on market research indicating special features or faster delivery. Furthermore, the bill significantly raises the dollar thresholds that permit these non-competitive contract awards.

The COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 establishes a legal remedy for service members discharged due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Covered members can sue in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to have such discharges deemed involuntary or unlawful. If successful, the court must award back pay, correct service records to reflect continuous service, and grant retirement eligibility for those nearing 20 years of service. This Act provides remedies in addition to any available under existing executive orders.

The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025 modifies the Department of Defense's authority to sell surplus aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression. This update explicitly allows the sale of equipment capable of dropping water, in addition to fire retardant. This authority for sales strictly limited to firefighting purposes is extended through October 1, 2035.

The Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act establishes a pilot program to test the use of predictive risk-scoring algorithms to enhance oversight of Medicare payments for durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. This voluntary program will use smart technology to flag suspicious transactions *after* they occur, requiring human review before any payment suspension. The goal is to proactively identify and stop fraud and abuse within these specific Medicare service areas.

The S Corporation Modernization Act of 2025 significantly updates S corporation tax rules by introducing a deduction for built-in gains upon a shareholder's death and allowing Nonresident Aliens and IRAs to become shareholders. The bill also substantially raises the passive investment income threshold from 25% to 60% and removes the termination rule for exceeding that limit. Finally, it treats all employees as a single shareholder for ownership counting purposes and repeals the complex Section 409A rules regarding deferred compensation.

The CHEERS Act amends tax law to allow businesses like restaurants and bars to claim commercial energy efficiency tax deductions for certain new energy-efficient draft beer equipment. This provision specifically targets stainless steel or aluminum kegs and commercial tap equipment used for dispensing alcohol. The goal is to encourage the adoption of energy-saving technology within the hospitality industry.

The Paycheck Protection Act prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from automatically deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from employee paychecks. This legislation effectively ends the practice of direct payroll deductions for union-related payments for federal and postal workers.

The Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act establishes a new, free federal program administered by the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with exemplary workplace safety and health management systems. Approved employers must meet rigorous standards, undergo periodic evaluations, and in return, they are exempt from routine OSHA inspections. The bill also mandates specific oversight, modernization of program technology, and dedicates a minimum percentage of OSHA's budget to support its operation.

The Police Officers Protecting Children Act amends federal law to permit qualified active and retired law enforcement officers, who are already authorized to carry concealed firearms, to carry and discharge their weapons in school zones. This legislation creates specific exceptions to the general prohibition on firearms in school zones for these authorized personnel.

The PARTS Act of 2025, or Protecting Americans Right To Silence Act, updates the federal definition of a "firearm silencer" or "firearm muffler." This legislation clarifies that both complete sound-reducing devices and the main housing component of such a device are legally considered silencers if designed to attach to a portable firearm. This change ensures that the core components intended for noise reduction are regulated under existing federal law.

The Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act broadens criminal penalties for actions that threaten energy transportation infrastructure. This legislation expands prohibited activities beyond simple destruction to include vandalism, tampering, and disrupting the operation or construction of pipelines and related facilities. These enhanced penalties are enforced under existing federal law.

The Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act of 2025 establishes new, aggressive federal standards for wildfire response times on public lands, aiming for initial evaluation within 30 minutes and full suppression deployment within three hours. The bill mandates that relevant federal agencies develop and report on plans to meet these goals, including necessary increases in firefighting fleets and streamlined contracting processes. This legislation seeks to significantly improve the speed and coordination of federal wildfire suppression efforts nationwide.

The MERIT Act of 2025 aims to reform federal employment practices by modifying performance-based actions, adverse action procedures, and employee appeal processes. It extends probationary periods for new employees, changes furlough procedures, and allows for the recoupment of bonuses for misconduct. Additionally, the act reduces annuity benefits for employees convicted of felonies related to their official duties and prohibits grieving certain adverse actions and reductions in force. These changes intend to streamline the disciplinary process and enhance accountability within the federal workforce.