The Biomass Facility Construction Act provides tax credits to encourage construction of biomass energy facilities in the United States. The legislation amends the tax code to offer an investment credit of 30 percent for qualifying property used in biomass facilities and reinstates production credits for electricity generated from biomass sources. The bill applies to both open-loop biomass facilities, which use agricultural residues and wood waste, and closed-loop biomass facilities, which grow crops specifically for energy production. These tax credits apply only to facilities that begin construction after the bill becomes law, and the legislation removes certain previous limitations that had restricted these credits. The measure primarily benefits energy companies and investors developing biomass power generation infrastructure across the country.

The SAM Act of 2026 creates a new federal grant program to help public transit agencies and their private partners deploy autonomous buses and related self-driving vehicle technology. The bill authorizes $60 million for fiscal year 2027 (available through 2030) and $40 million for fiscal year 2028 (available through 2031) for competitive grants, with at least 15 percent reserved for rural areas. Grant recipients can use funds to purchase autonomous buses, acquire software for automated driving systems, and cover related operational costs, with the federal government covering up to 80 percent of project expenses. The legislation also amends several existing transportation grant programs to explicitly allow spending on autonomous vehicle software and updates, and requires the Department of Transportation to establish a new testing facility for autonomous buses by January 1, 2027. Overall, the bill is designed to accelerate adoption of self-driving technology in public transit by removing funding barriers and establishing technical testing standards.

The Gas Tax Reduction Act would penalize states that impose gas taxes of $0.50 per gallon or higher by withholding 8 percent of their federal highway funding. The bill applies to funds that states receive under federal transportation programs, beginning in the first fiscal year after the law's enactment. Any state that maintains a gas tax at or above the $0.50 threshold would lose this portion of its annual apportionment on the first day of each fiscal year. This legislation directly affects state governments and transportation budgets, as states relying on higher gas taxes to fund roads and infrastructure would see reduced federal money to offset those revenues. The bill contains no specific funding amount or implementation timeline beyond stating it takes effect in the first fiscal year following enactment.

H.R. 7619, the "Keep Jobs in California Act of 2026," would prevent states from imposing retroactive taxes on the assets of people who don't live in that state. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from taxing nonresidents for the value of their assets during any time period before the tax law was enacted, as long as those individuals were not residents of the state when the law took effect. The legislation appears designed to address concerns that states might attempt to tax people who have left for perceived income or wealth they held while they were residents. The bill has no specific funding attached and would take effect on January 1, 2026.

This bill updates a 1980 law governing Forest Service land acquisition in California's Lake Tahoe Basin to better serve the Washoe Tribe and improve environmental management. The legislation allows the Forest Service to transfer acquired land to the Washoe Tribe, state and local governments, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and permits use of acquisition funds for land management activities like forest health, wildfire prevention, water quality protection, and cultural preservation. The bill requires the Forest Service to develop annual spending plans by March 15 each year, developed in consultation with the Washoe Tribe, Nevada and California, and local agencies, with priorities based on environmental improvement goals and stakeholder input. Funds can support administrative costs and partnerships with federal and non-federal partners, and any money transferred to the Washoe Tribe or local entities counts as matching funds for other federal programs. The bill particularly emphasizes supporting the Washoe Tribe's limited land ownership and access to cultural sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The Housing Choice Voucher Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the federal housing voucher program to allow families to move outside their local housing authority's service area while keeping their vouchers, as long as the rental costs don't exceed 10 percent more than what the voucher would have covered in their original area. Currently, families receiving Housing Choice Vouchers (a form of rental assistance) typically lose their vouchers if they relocate outside their local authority's jurisdiction, which can restrict their housing choices. This bill affects low-income families using the voucher program and makes the system more flexible by enabling them to search for housing across broader geographic areas without losing assistance. The legislation takes effect on January 1, 2026, and does not specify new federal funding requirements. The change aims to increase fairness and opportunity for voucher recipients while managing costs for local housing agencies.

H.R. 6402 directs the National Academy of Sciences to create a grant program focused on developing safe and secure artificial intelligence models and research. The bill recognizes that while AI technology offers significant benefits across society, it also carries unknown risks that require urgent study into safety measures and risk reduction. Before establishing the grant program, the National Academy of Sciences must consult with industry, government, academia, and technology stakeholders to develop ethical guidelines and principles that will guide how grants are awarded and used. Within one year of the bill's enactment, the National Academy must submit a detailed proposal to Congress that includes a budget request, evaluation of existing AI safety measures, identification of research gaps, and a timeline for implementation. The legislation essentially creates a federally-supported research initiative to ensure AI development prioritizes security, reliability, and alignment with human values.

Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Tribe Recognition ActThis bill extends federal recognition to the Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Tribe.The bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes and their members, without regard to the existence of a reservation or the location of the residence of any member. The service area of the tribe is considered to be Mono and Inyo Counties, California.In addition, the bill grants the tribe hunting and fishing rights on all federal lands within its aboriginal land area.Further, the tribe must submit a membership roll to the Department of the Interior as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits. The tribe must maintain the membership roll.Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take into trust certain land in Mono County, California, for the benefit of the tribe.

This bill establishes new design standards for federal buildings, directing the General Services Administration to prioritize classical and traditional architecture for major federal projects. The legislation applies to federal courthouses, agency headquarters, buildings in the National Capital Region, and any federal building project costing more than $50 million. It establishes guiding principles requiring federal buildings to uplift public spaces, inspire dignity, and respect regional architectural heritage, with classical architecture designated as the preferred style in Washington D.C. and traditional architecture favored nationwide. The bill requires GSA to hire architects with classical or traditional training, establish a Senior Advisor for Architectural Design position, and notify the White House before approving designs that deviate from these preferences—such as Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles—along with cost comparisons to preferred alternatives. The bill does not create enforceable rights, is subject to available appropriations, and requires annual reporting to Congress on implementation.

This bill prohibits a state where the congressional districts have been redistricted after a decennial census from carrying out another redistricting until after the next apportionment of Representatives following a decennial census, unless a court requires the state to conduct a subsequent redistricting to comply with the Constitution or enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The bill is applicable to any congressional redistricting which occurs after the November 2024 election.

This bill penalizes nonprofit organizations whose officers or board members are convicted of specific federal crimes. Specifically, if a nonprofit leader is convicted of assaulting a federal officer (Section 111) or inciting a riot (Section 2101), the entire organization loses eligibility for federal funding and loses its tax-exempt status. The penalties apply only when the criminal conduct occurred while the person was serving in their leadership role at the nonprofit. The bill has no specified funding or implementation timeline, as it primarily functions as a restriction on existing federal funds and tax benefits rather than appropriating new money. The legislation would affect thousands of nonprofits nationwide that currently receive federal grants or maintain tax-exempt status, though the actual impact would depend on future criminal convictions of nonprofit leaders.

Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization ActThis bill excludes a real estate agent or a direct seller of consumer products from the definition of an employee for the purpose of applying the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). Workers who are considered employees under the FLSA must be paid the minimum wage and are generally eligible to receive overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of a 40-hour workweek.

Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025This bill amends the law relating to patent subject matter eligibility to establish that only specified subject matter (e.g., a natural process wholly independent of human activity) is ineligible for patenting. (Currently, subject matter eligibility is determined by examining whether the claimed invention is directed to certain ineligible categories, and if so, whether there is an inventive concept. Subject matter eligibility is one of several requirements that an invention must satisfy in order to receive patent protection.)Under this bill, an invention shall be considered to involve patent-ineligible subject matter only if it falls within specified categories, such as (1) a mathematical formula that is not part of a useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition; (2) a mental process that is performed solely in the human mind; or (3) an unmodified human gene as the gene exists in the human body.

The Medicare Protection Act of 2025 modifies how Medicare calculates premiums for beneficiaries by excluding gains from the sale of a primary home from income calculations. Specifically, the bill amends Medicare's Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) rules—which currently charge higher premiums to higher-income seniors—to exclude the profit from selling a principal residence from this income calculation, but only once per person. The change takes effect on January 1, 2025, and applies going forward. This affects Medicare beneficiaries who sell their homes and would otherwise see their Medicare premiums increase due to the capital gains being counted as income. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tom Kiley and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means for consideration.

H.R. 2634 requires public colleges and universities that receive federal student aid funding to educate students about their First Amendment rights to free speech. Under this bill, schools must provide all new and transfer students with a written statement explaining their constitutional free speech protections and the institution's commitment to freedom of expression, along with educational materials covering campus policies that protect expression and lessons on respectfully expressing diverse viewpoints. Schools must also post this written statement on their public websites. The legislation applies to any public higher education institution participating in federal student aid programs (Title IV funding) and takes effect as a condition of that participation, though no new funding or specific timeline is provided in the bill.

H.R. 1874 would change how coastal states review federal projects in their waters by automatically presuming state approval for certain activities unless the federal government objects within 30 days. The bill applies this "conclusive presumption" to four types of activities: national security projects, critical infrastructure development, disaster recovery efforts, and projects with significant economic impact in low-income or high-unemployment areas. The presumption would make state objections unable to delay or stop the activity from proceeding. States or local governments could only challenge these activities if the federal government determines within 30 days that the project doesn't qualify as one of the covered activities; otherwise, the presumption becomes final and binding. This amendment to the 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act would primarily affect federal agencies, state coastal regulators, and developers of major federal projects in coastal zones, with no specific funding or implementation timeline specified in the legislation.

This bill specifies a legal standard for determining whether an individual is considered an independent contractor rather than an employee for the purposes of federal labor laws that address issues such as the federal minimum wage, overtime compensation, and collective bargaining. The rights and protections provided by these laws exclusively apply to employees.Under the bill, an individual is considered an independent contractor if (1) another individual or entity does not exercise significant control over the details of how the individual's work is performed, without regard to any control the other individual or entity may exercise over the final result of the work performed; and (2) while performing such work, the individual has opportunities and risks inherent with entrepreneurship (for example, the discretion to exercise professional judgment).The bill also sets forth factors that may not be used to determine whether an individual is an employee. Specifically, factors such as whether another individual or entity requires the individual to meet certain legal, health and safety, insurance, or performance requirements may not be used to make such a determination.

This bill would prevent the federal government from considering whether a company provides benefits to a worker when determining if that worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The legislation affects gig economy workers, freelancers, and companies that want to offer benefits like health insurance, workers' compensation, or retirement savings to independent contractors without risking reclassification of those workers as employees. Under current law, providing traditional employee benefits can be evidence that a worker should be classified as an employee rather than a contractor, which creates legal risks for companies and can discourage benefit offerings. The bill defines benefits broadly to include portable benefits that workers can keep when switching jobs, traditional employee benefits, and any financial contributions toward such benefits. The prohibition would take effect immediately upon the bill becoming law, with no specified funding requirements or implementation timeline.

Supporting Affordable Fire Emergency Hardening through Optimized Mitigation Efforts Act or the SAFE HOME ActThis bill establishes a new refundable tax credit (through 2032) for costs incurred by an individual to improve the fire resistance of a primary residence. (Certain requirements and limitations apply.)The amount of the tax credit is 25% of unreimbursed qualified wildfire mitigation expenses up to $25,000. The tax credit begins to phase out for individuals with an adjusted gross income exceeding $200,000, such that the tax credit is completely phased out for individuals with an adjusted gross income of $300,000 or more. Wildfire mitigation expenses that qualify for the tax credit includeproperty to improve the fire-resistance of a roof;installation of ignition-resistant property (e.g., sheathing, flashing, roof and attic vents, or certain exterior elements) or structure-specific water hydration systems;services or equipment to create a buffer around the residence or to replace flammable vegetation with less flammable vegetation;services or equipment for certain fire maintenance procedures; andservices or equipment to prevent smoke inhalation (e.g., air filters).Further, such expenses must be incurred with respect to a primary residence located (1) in the United States; and (2) in an area that, due to a wildfire, received a federal disaster declaration within the prior 10 years or that is adjacent to such area, that received certain hazard mitigation assistance in the tax year or the prior 10 years, or that is a community disaster resilience zone (or received such designation for any tax year).

National Human Trafficking Database ActThis bill establishes a framework to collect comprehensive data on human trafficking.At the federal level, the bill requires the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the Department of Justice to establish an online database that includes human trafficking data for each state.At the state level, the bill authorizes grants for covered state agencies (e.g., a state bureau of investigation or similar law enforcement agency) to collect and report human trafficking data to the OVC.

Freedom to Cooperate ActThis bill addresses issues related to state and local government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.A state may not prohibit its personnel or another government entity from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts or making inquiries about an individual's immigration status. Currently, a government entity is only barred from prohibiting the sharing of immigration-related information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).DHS may issue a detainer if there is probable cause to believe that an individual arrested for any criminal or motor vehicle offense is inadmissible or deportable.Furthermore, the bill provides legal immunity for a state or local government entity or official temporarily detaining a non-U.S. national under federal authority.

No Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2025This bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from covering individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States, except for certain emergency services for which federal payment is authorized under current law.

This bill prohibits the state of California from receiving federal funds for a high-speed rail corridor development project. Specifically, the prohibition applies to a project in California that is the same or substantially similar to the project that is the subject of an FY2010 cooperative agreement entered into on November 18, 2011, between the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).As background, CHSRA has received various federal grants for the California High-Speed Rail program, a project led by the state of California with the goal of implementing a high-speed rail system capable of speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The FRA terminated the specific FY2010 cooperative agreement on May 16, 2019.