Legislative Activity

The SMARTER Act repeals a section of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. It prohibits electric utilities from recovering smart grid system deployment costs from ratepayers. State regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities must consider this standard within one year and make a determination within two years, with exemptions for states that have recently addressed the standard.

The POWER Act mandates that electric utilities must notify consumers at least 30 days before any rate increase. These notifications must include the increase's percentage, reasons, and impact on consumers, as well as avenues for feedback. Utilities must also notify the Department of Energy of increases of 5% or more, which will then be reviewed and assessed for consumer impact. Non-compliant utilities may face civil penalties.

The "No Tax on Social Security Act" repeals the inclusion of social security benefits in adjusted gross income, ensuring these benefits are no longer subject to federal income tax. It amends Section 86 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude social security benefits from taxable income, starting after the enactment date. The act also allocates funds to offset any reduction in social security and railroad retirement funds resulting from this change.

The POST IT Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency for small businesses by requiring the Small Business Administration (SBA) to include hyperlinks to guidance documents explaining policies, regulations, and technical issues on its website. This act focuses on rules with a small entity compliance guide, ensuring easier access to essential information for small businesses. The Act also clarifies that the SBA is not required to disclose information protected under section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code and that no additional funds will be approved for this act.

The Heroes’ Tax Exemption Act of 2025, exempts active duty members of the Armed Forces from paying income tax on any amount earned after the second October 1 occurring after the enactment of this Act.

The Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It mandates the inclusion of data pertaining to animal abuse within the national clearinghouse, which is a repository for information related to child abuse and neglect. This inclusion aims to recognize and address the correlation between animal abuse and child abuse, facilitating more comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies.

The "Doctor Knows Best Act of 2025" eliminates hurdles imposed by insurers and federal healthcare programs. Starting in 2026, the act prohibits private insurers and federal healthcare programs from requiring prior authorization, using utilization management techniques, or conducting medical necessity reviews for covered healthcare services. This aims to streamline access to care by ensuring healthcare decisions are made between doctors and patients, not insurers.

The "Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act" mandates the detention and deportation of aliens who have illegally entered the United States or misrepresented themselves upon entry and have been found to have assaulted a law enforcement officer. The bill defines assault and law enforcement officer and requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue a detainer for any alien described above and to take them into custody.

The "No Child Tax Credit for Illegals Act of 2025" amends the tax code to require both the taxpayer and qualifying child to have a social security number to claim the child tax credit. The social security number must be issued by the Social Security Administration to a U.S. citizen or someone authorized to work in the United States. Failure to include a valid social security number will be treated as a mathematical error. This requirement applies to tax years beginning after the enactment of this law.

The Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025 expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' Foreign Medical Program by removing the requirement that care and services must be for a service-connected disability. It also mandates updating the payment system to allow for reimbursements through electronic fund transfer. Finally, it requires an assessment of contracting with a non-Department entity to create a network for providing care under this program.