Legislative Activity

The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 mandates a transition to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards to better protect SNAP recipients from fraud and benefit theft. The bill requires states to modernize their digital account management tools, improves online transaction security, and establishes a grant program to help small retailers upgrade their payment terminals. Additionally, it streamlines the card replacement process and prohibits states from charging fees for replacing cards compromised by fraud or technical malfunctions.

The Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026 mandates greater public oversight of criminal surveillance by requiring courts to maintain searchable, online dockets for surveillance orders and limiting the government's ability to keep these records sealed. The bill establishes stricter notice requirements for individuals targeted by surveillance and mandates that courts be notified if data is collected beyond authorized limits. Additionally, it introduces comprehensive reporting requirements for government surveillance activities and provides grant funding to help state and tribal courts implement these transparency measures.

The Specialty CROP Act of 2026 mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress regarding the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports. This legislation requires an analysis of foreign trade barriers, their economic impact, and the executive branch’s ongoing efforts to eliminate these obstacles. By incorporating public input and ensuring transparency, the Act aims to strengthen the global market position of American specialty crop producers.

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 mandates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection issue interest-bearing refunds for import duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that were subsequently ruled unlawful. The bill prioritizes small businesses in the refund process and requires that larger entities pass these savings on to their customers. All refunds must be processed within 180 days of enactment, with regular progress reports provided to Congress.

The Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act establishes mandatory minimum nurse staffing levels for nursing homes, including 24-hour registered nurse coverage. It also permanently funds the inspection and certification program for healthcare facilities. Finally, the bill directs states to use a portion of collected civil money penalties to fund nursing home workforce recruitment, education, and retention programs.

This bill establishes the **Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act** to protect confidential attorney-client electronic communications for incarcerated individuals. It mandates the creation of a secure system that prevents the monitoring of privileged digital correspondence between inmates and their legal counsel. While the system is being developed, inmates must be notified that their current electronic communications are subject to monitoring.

The Stop Presidential Embezzlement Act imposes a 100% tax on certain civil lawsuit damages received by current or former high-ranking U.S. officials, including the President, and their relatives. This tax specifically targets damages awarded to these individuals from lawsuits they filed against the United States during their tenure in office. The purpose is to prevent the misuse of public funds or legal actions for personal financial gain by covered officials.

The Accountability for Withholding Aid and Relief Essentials (AWARE) Act of 2026 establishes U.S. policy requiring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to civilians in conflict zones. It mandates the President to identify and impose diplomatic and financial sanctions on foreign officials obstructing this essential assistance. The bill includes specific congressional oversight procedures for waiving or terminating these sanctions.

The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to drastically increase the use of controlled burns on federal lands to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and restore ecosystems. It achieves this by establishing new funding mechanisms, mandating annual acreage increases for prescribed fire treatments, and streamlining implementation through expanded partnerships. The bill also enhances support and liability protection for federal fire staff and non-federal partners executing these burns, while requiring robust reporting on progress.

The Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act establishes a comprehensive federal framework for regulating cannabinoid products under the FDA, setting national standards for safety, manufacturing, and labeling. It also allocates significant funding for public health initiatives focused on preventing underage cannabis use and launches a major research and grant program to address cannabis-impaired driving. This bill aims to ensure consumer safety while supporting data collection and prevention efforts across the country.

This bill, the AGRITOURISM Act, establishes an Agritourism Advisor within the USDA to promote and encourage agritourism activities nationwide. It recognizes the significant financial, educational, and cultural benefits that agritourism provides to rural communities and their agricultural enterprises. The Advisor will coordinate efforts within the USDA and with external partners to share best practices and improve access to federal resources for these businesses.

The Fast Track Healthcare Apprenticeships Act aims to streamline the creation of healthcare apprenticeship programs by establishing a national registration system. This legislation mandates that the Department of Labor must decide on apprenticeship applications within 45 days. Furthermore, the Act requires the digitization of all apprenticeship agreement forms for improved efficiency.

This resolution strongly condemns the Government of Iran for its ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority. It highlights decades of systematic human rights abuses, including imprisonment, job discrimination, and violence against Baha'is. The resolution urges the Iranian government to immediately release all religious prisoners and reverse discriminatory policies. Furthermore, it calls on the U.S. President and Secretary of State to condemn these actions and utilize existing authorities to impose sanctions on responsible Iranian officials.

The End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 prohibits rental property owners from using coordinators to gather and analyze rental data to recommend prices or terms. This bill makes paying for or performing such "coordinating functions" illegal under federal antitrust law. Enforcement is granted to the FTC, the Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General, and allows harmed individuals to sue for treble damages.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify an interim guidance rule issued by the Internal Revenue Service concerning the application of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT) to partnerships. If enacted, this resolution would prevent the IRS guidance from taking effect.

The Emergency Relief for Hungry Families Act of 2025 temporarily exempts certain retail food stores from standard equal treatment requirements during specific budget shortfalls. This allows stores to offer incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants when benefits are delayed or reduced. These temporary incentives will not be considered violations of existing federal regulations.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency declared by the President on April 2, 2025, which was used to impose global tariffs. The termination of this emergency will take effect immediately upon the resolution becoming law.

The Protecting Free Vaccines Act of 2025 mandates that certain vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) must be covered by private health plans, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP without cost-sharing. This requirement is generally based on ACIP recommendations in effect as of October 25, 2024, and is set to expire at the end of 2029 or 2030, depending on the program. The bill also includes specific provisions to ensure continuity of coverage for individuals already following a recommended vaccine schedule.

The Wildfire Smoke Relief Act establishes a new FEMA program to provide assistance during severe wildfire smoke events. This program targets at-risk individuals, including low-income residents, children, pregnant individuals, seniors, and those with chronic illnesses, when air quality is unhealthy for three consecutive days. Assistance includes distributing essential smoke protection gear like air filters and respirators, or providing transitional shelter if the protective equipment is insufficient to mitigate health risks.

This Act shields sensitive personal information, such as home addresses and phone numbers, of Members of Congress, their families, and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence from public disclosure. It mandates that government agencies and data brokers remove this "covered information" from public records and online platforms within 72 hours of a request. The law aims to prevent doxing and protect these individuals from potential political violence.