This bill would require publicly traded companies with multiple classes of stock to disclose detailed voting results to shareholders. Specifically, when shareholders vote on company matters, these multi-class companies would need to break down and publicly report how many votes were cast for, against, or withheld for each class of stock, as well as abstentions and broker non-votes by class. The requirement applies whenever all shareholders vote together as a single group. The bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish the specific rules for these disclosures. The legislation affects publicly traded companies with dual or multi-class share structures, which often give certain shareholders greater voting power than others, and would increase transparency around how different classes of shareholders actually voted on corporate matters.

The Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026 creates new federal criminal penalties for adults who provide firearms to juveniles or fail to secure firearms where juveniles can access them. Adults 18 and older would face up to one year in prison for knowingly giving a firearm to a minor with reason to believe the juvenile intends to use it for crime or self-harm, or for storing unsecured firearms in places where they know or should know a juvenile could access them. Penalties increase significantly if a juvenile uses the provided or accessed firearm to commit a crime, injure someone, or cause a death, ranging from two years imprisonment for crimes up to ten years for direct provision of a firearm that results in harm. The law includes exceptions for lawful activities like hunting with parental permission and allows adults to avoid liability by using gun safety devices or keeping firearms on their person, and it provides courts guidance on relevant factors like prior knowledge of a juvenile's violence, mental health concerns, or history of self-harm. The bill has no specified timeline for implementation or funding requirement since it establishes criminal penalties within existing federal law.

This bill requires cryptocurrency kiosk operators to register with the Treasury Department and comply with strict anti-money laundering and consumer protection requirements similar to those for traditional banks. Operators must submit their kiosk locations before operation and update them quarterly, enforce daily transaction limits ($2,000 for new customers, $7,500 for existing ones), verify customer identity, and provide 24/7 customer service. The bill protects consumers by requiring clear disclosures about irreversible transactions, upfront pricing, fraud warnings, and 30-day refunds for victims who report scams to law enforcement. Existing kiosk operators have six months from the bill's enactment to register, and the Treasury Secretary has 180 days to issue detailed implementation rules, with federal standards taking precedence over state regulations on transaction limits while allowing states to issue compliance certifications.

The Military VOTE Act makes several changes to make voting easier for military members and overseas citizens. The bill requires all states to accept the official military voter registration and absentee ballot postcard form when submitted electronically through email or online portals, and provides $40 million in federal grants to help states implement this capability. The legislation also changes default procedures so that if a military or overseas voter doesn't specify a preference, states must transmit ballots electronically rather than by mail, and allows voters who request it to use a single application for absentee ballots in multiple subsequent federal elections. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Defense to study whether automatic voter registration is feasible for military members upon enlistment and to evaluate whether military bases provide adequate voter registration information to service members transferring to new duty stations. These provisions take effect for the November 2026 general election and beyond, though the study requirements begin immediately upon enactment.

This bill amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to address workforce shortages in defense-related industries. It requires federal agencies that receive authority under the Defense Production Act to identify gaps in skilled labor that prevent the domestic defense industry from meeting national security needs. When providing financial assistance to companies for defense purposes, agencies can now direct companies to use portions of that funding to recruit, train, hire, and retain workers in defense-critical jobs, provided the companies track performance metrics for these workers. The bill also requires federal agencies to include annual reports to Congress discussing identified workforce gaps and offering recommendations for training programs, apprenticeships, and other solutions to build a stronger defense workforce. The legislation primarily affects defense contractors and the federal agencies that oversee the Defense Production Act, with no specific funding amount or implementation deadline specified in the text.

# H.R. 7977, Energy Bills Relief Act — Complete Summary The Energy Bills Relief Act comprehensively addresses energy affordability, clean energy development, and electric grid modernization through a combination of consumer protections, infrastructure investments, and regulatory reforms. The bill expands low-income energy assistance by increasing federal funding to $2 billion annually starting in 2026, broadening eligibility to households earning up to 250% of the poverty level, and requiring utilities to waive late fees and prevent service shutoffs for participating households while implementing year-round assistance programs with online applications and auto-enrollment. On clean energy development, the legislation protects existing federal clean energy grants from cancellation, requires equal permitting treatment for renewable energy compared to fossil fuels, blocks new oil and gas leasing on federal lands unless renewable projects were recently approved, and substantially expands renewable energy development on public lands and offshore by updating production goals to 60 gigawatts by 2035, streamlining permitting timelines, and establishing revenue-sharing frameworks for states and conservation programs. The bill overhauls electricity grid governance and transmission by establishing minimum interstate transmission capacity standards, creating federal permitting authority for high-capacity transmission lines, providing tax credits and grants for transmission modernization, and linking utility earnings to efficiency improvements and customer benefits rather than simply increased energy sales. Additional provisions strengthen environmental and energy permitting across federal agencies through standardized data systems, modernized digital tools, mandatory intervenor funding, and $500 million in annual grants to improve state and local capacity for environmental reviews, while establishing safeguards against natural gas export approvals that would significantly increase domestic prices or harm low-income and tribal communities.

The Venezuela Oil Proceeds Transparency Act requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit a U.S.-Venezuela energy deal announced in January 2026, in which the United States will market and sell Venezuelan oil with proceeds deposited into U.S.-controlled accounts. The audit will examine activities across the State Department, Energy Department, Treasury Department, and any other federal agencies involved in implementing the deal, with particular attention to potential fraud, abuse, and conflicts of interest. The GAO must begin the audit within 30 days of the bill's enactment, provide Congress with preliminary findings within 30 days of completing the audit, and submit a final unclassified report with detailed findings and recommendations within 90 days. The bill also requires the GAO to notify Congress immediately if any federal department or agency unreasonably delays or denies access to information needed for the audit.

The SURGE Act of 2026 creates financial incentives for electric utilities to improve grid efficiency by allowing them to recover a portion of the cost savings they achieve through various efficiency improvements. The bill amends federal power law to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish rules within one year that set standardized methods for measuring baseline performance and verifying savings, with utilities permitted to keep between 10 and 60 percent of documented savings over a 2 to 5-year period. The legislation also provides federal grants to state regulatory authorities to develop similar frameworks for utilities not under federal jurisdiction, while explicitly directing funds toward framework development and implementation rather than direct utility payments, with at least 30 percent of grant money designated for implementation activities. Additionally, the Department of Energy is tasked with offering guidance to states and conducting periodic studies on transmission rate structures. The bill affects both large utilities and state regulators nationwide, creating a nationwide approach to incentivizing energy grid improvements while ensuring ratepayers benefit from verified cost savings.

The Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026 conditions future U.S. military aid to Israel on compliance with a ceasefire agreement negotiated on October 10, 2025, and a 20-point peace plan. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit reports every 90 days certifying that Israel has met ten specific conditions, including halting military operations in Gaza, permitting unimpeded humanitarian aid, preventing civilian displacement, refraining from annexation of the West Bank, and enforcing laws against settler violence. If Israel fails to meet any condition, the U.S. would be prohibited from selling, exporting, or transferring defense articles for use in the West Bank or Gaza, though the President may waive this prohibition for up to 15 days if it serves national security interests. The bill also establishes an end-use monitoring group to verify that previously provided U.S. weapons are not being used in these territories, with reports submitted every 60 days. The law includes carve-outs to continue funding Israel's missile defense systems (Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 3) and authorizes humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The act expires five years after enactment.

The Powering Productivity Act directs the Department of Energy to measure and improve how efficiently the United States uses energy to generate economic value. The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a baseline assessment of national energy productivity within 18 months and produce comprehensive assessments every three years thereafter, evaluating how energy efficiency improvements could reduce costs, create jobs, and boost competitiveness in key industries like manufacturing. The legislation also mandates quarterly reports on energy productivity indicators aligned with labor productivity measures, and establishes an advisory task force of federal agencies, industry representatives, and academic experts to guide these efforts over a three-year period. The assessments must consider the full lifecycle impacts of energy production and use, including effects on water resources, public health, and supply chains. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the legislation.

The METRIC Act directs the Department of Energy to study and modernize how the United States measures and reports energy consumption at the national level. The bill addresses a key problem: current energy accounting methods were designed for economies powered primarily by combustible fuels and don't accurately reflect the efficiency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, making it harder to track electrification and decarbonization progress. The Secretary of Energy must complete a comprehensive study within 18 months evaluating how primary energy is currently measured, identifying its limitations, reviewing international best practices, and recommending alternatives that better align with modern energy transition goals. Additionally, the Energy Information Administration is required to develop and publicly report "incident energy" statistics—a complementary measure that accounts for total energy entering energy conversion systems before losses occur—presenting this data alongside existing primary energy figures so policymakers and the public can better compare energy efficiency across different fuel types. No specific funding amount is stated in the legislation.

This bill creates new structures within the Financial Stability Oversight Council to identify and address climate-related risks to the U.S. financial system. It establishes two new bodies: a Climate Financial Risk Committee made up of staff from member agencies to coordinate climate risk assessment efforts, and an Advisory Committee of up to 30 members including climate scientists, economists, insurance experts, investors, and consumer advocates to provide recommendations. The bill requires federal banking regulators and credit unions to update their guidance for large financial institutions (those with over $50 billion in assets) to address climate risks, and directs the Federal Insurance Office to assess climate impacts on the insurance industry and collect detailed homeowner insurance data by zip code. Additionally, the bill calls for a comprehensive annual report to Congress on climate financial risks and encourages U.S. financial regulators to coordinate with international bodies on climate risk oversight. The initial climate risk report must be completed within 270 days of the bill's enactment, with subsequent annual reports following thereafter.

This resolution honors schools designated as 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools and celebrates the federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which has recognized nearly 9,000 public and private schools for academic excellence since its creation in 1982. The resolution specifically recognizes 28 Illinois schools that earned the 2025 designation, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools across the state. However, the resolution also responds to the Department of Education's August 2025 decision to discontinue the program, which eliminated the national recognition system for exemplary schools. The resolution commends educators and school administrators at these selected schools and calls on the Secretary of Education to reinstate the Blue Ribbon Schools Program. This is a symbolic measure with no funding attached, intended to express Congress's support for the program and the schools that achieved this honor before the program ended.

This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to systematically evaluate climate and environmental justice impacts when approving natural gas pipeline projects. Specifically, FERC must assess whether a project produces significant greenhouse gas emissions (set at a threshold of 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year), examine disproportionate effects on low-income and communities of color, and require applicants to propose ways to mitigate these environmental harms. The bill directs FERC to weigh the environmental effects against project benefits and to attach conditions to pipeline permits that address climate and environmental justice concerns. If FERC approves a project despite significant environmental effects that cannot be adequately mitigated, the agency must provide detailed written justification. The legislation effectively strengthens FERC's authority to deny or restrict natural gas infrastructure based on climate and equity considerations, affecting energy companies seeking new pipeline certifications and communities near proposed projects.

The Electricity Transmission Scorecard Act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish a comprehensive transparency and accountability system for the nation's electricity transmission companies. Transmission utilities must submit biannual performance scorecards measuring 11 key metrics—including costs, reliability, investment decisions, interconnection fairness, and emissions—with grid operators submitting similar annual reports, all published in machine-readable format using standardized methodologies. Independent evaluators must verify all scorecard data before publication, while the Department of Energy will conduct annual performance rankings and comprehensive reviews every three years. The Secretary of Energy must create a public online portal within 18 months housing all scorecards and data, and FERC will maintain a 17-member stakeholder advisory board representing utilities, grid operators, consumers, and energy experts to continuously evaluate and improve the program. This legislation aims to give ratepayers and policymakers clear insight into how transmission companies are investing resources and managing the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid.

The Grid Research and Development Act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to modernize how electric utilities and grid operators report data on transmission projects, costs, and interconnection activities. Utilities must now provide detailed information on project timelines, expenses, capital structures, congestion costs, and technical losses in standardized, machine-readable formats available to the public through a single searchable website. The bill also directs FERC and the Department of Energy to develop a centralized data repository consolidating historical and current filing information, and requires the Energy Secretary to conduct research analyzing what drives transmission costs for ratepayers, identify ways to improve affordability, and maintain a public "Interconnection Data Dashboard" showing real-time project statuses and queue performance metrics. FERC must issue new reporting rules within one year, review all filings from the prior five years for completeness within that year, and have the centralized data repository operational within two years of the law's enactment, with no specific funding level authorized in the bill.

The Energizing Our Communities Act establishes a fund to provide financial payments to local governments and Native American tribes that host large electric power transmission line projects (those capable of transmitting 999 megawatts or more). The fund is created from a portion of interest collected on Department of Energy loans used to finance these transmission projects, with payments made to eligible host communities within 18 months of construction beginning. Host communities receiving payments must allocate at least 20 percent of funds toward conservation, stewardship, and recreation purposes—such as habitat restoration, outdoor recreation facilities, and natural climate solutions—while using up to 80 percent for community development needs like schools, hospitals, roads, broadband access, and workforce training. The bill requires the Department of Energy to report on covered loan programs within 90 days and to submit annual reports on fund activity, and it does not prevent communities from negotiating separate benefit agreements with transmission infrastructure owners.

This bill expands family leave protections to school paraprofessionals and education support staff—such as classroom aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative personnel—by making them eligible for coverage under the existing Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Currently, these workers often don't qualify for unpaid family and medical leave because they work part-time or seasonal schedules that don't meet the law's strict hour requirements. The legislation modifies eligibility rules so that education support employees only need to work at least 60 percent of the expected monthly hours for their position during the previous school year, rather than the standard 1,250 annual hours required of other workers. Schools would be required to document expected monthly hours for each employee's job description and provide this information to the Department of Labor. The bill does not create new funding but establishes calculation methods for how leave should be credited to these workers, making family leave more accessible to a significant segment of the school workforce.

The CODE Act directs the Treasury Department to establish a public-private partnership program within six months to develop technological solutions for preventing money laundering and other illegal activity in decentralized finance services. The program will bring together government agencies, cryptocurrency companies, and compliance experts to test ways of building anti-money laundering, identity verification, and cybersecurity controls directly into blockchain applications before they launch. The legislation also requires the Treasury Department to publish compliance guidance within 18 months and issue new regulations within 30 months that formally define decentralized finance services and require them to implement anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs under existing Bank Secrecy Act rules. The partnership program itself will sunset after 18 months, though the resulting regulations will continue afterward.

The Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2025 prohibits federal courts from awarding civil damages based on calculations that factor in a person's race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or related characteristics when determining future earning potential. The bill applies to all civil lawsuits in federal court and aims to prevent bias in how damages are calculated—for example, by preventing courts from using lower wage projections for certain groups when assessing what an injured person would have earned. The legislation requires the Secretary of Labor and Attorney General to develop guidance within 180 days to help forensic economists and states create earnings tables free of such bias, and it directs the Judicial Conference to study federal damages awards and submit a report within 18 months to identify patterns and ensure compliance. The bill also requires federal judges to receive training on implementing these new rules, though it preserves courts' ability to award damages based on civil rights violations or when someone's membership in a protected class is itself relevant to the case.

Restoring Judicial Separation of Powers ActThis bill revises the federal statutory framework that confers appellate jurisdiction to courts.Among the changes, the bill grants the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—not the Supreme Court—jurisdiction overdirect appeals from final decisions of three-judge panels, andappeals by certiorari and certified questions.The bill also establishes a 13-judge multi-circuit panel and grants it jurisdiction over any case in which the United States or a federal agency is a party, or a case concerning constitutional interpretation, statutory interpretation of federal law, or the function or actions of an executive order.Finally, the bill specifies that whenever an action before a federal court seeks injunctive relief barring the enforcement of a federal law, statute, regulation, or order against a nonparty, the court shall, upon a motion of a party, transfer the action to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The Equal Voices Act would nearly double the House of Representatives from 435 to approximately 860 members, with each representative serving an average of 500,000 constituents rather than the current 760,000. The bill gives states the option to adopt multi-member districts and ranked-choice voting systems if they prefer. To manage future changes, the bill establishes a 15-member bipartisan commission that automatically convenes following each decennial census if House representation would change by 15% or more; the commission then has six months to analyze population shifts and recommend an optimal House size and state-by-state distribution, with special attention to reducing district population disparities and protecting historically underrepresented communities. This reform would significantly alter House representation and campaign dynamics while providing a mechanism to periodically assess whether further adjustments are needed based on population changes.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would significantly reshape how Americans elect senators and presidents. The amendment would add twelve senators elected by a national popular vote (rather than by state) to the existing 100 state-based senators, and create twelve presidential electors chosen nationwide who would vote for the winner of the national popular vote. The twelve new senators would serve six-year terms staggered so that one-third come up for election every two years, with the first elections occurring no later than two federal election cycles after ratification. Additionally, twelve at-large presidential electors would be appointed by Congress and meet in Washington, D.C., to cast votes for the presidential candidate who wins the most votes nationally. The amendment would need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states) to take effect, and Congress would establish the specific rules for administering these new elections and appointments.

The Financial Empowerment and Protection Act requires utilities, internet and phone providers, landlords, mortgage lenders, childcare providers, and credit card companies to allow unmarried cohabitating adults to open joint accounts for managing their services and bills. Both adults must consent to the joint account, and the company must provide each person access to account information, bills, and online portals upon request, along with privacy notices explaining what information will be shared. The bill takes effect 180 days after passage and allows individuals harmed by a company's failure to comply to sue for up to $1,000 per violation. Additionally, the legislation amends housing assistance laws to prohibit landlords from charging early lease termination fees to tenants who leave due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2025This bill addresses climate change risk and its potential impact on the financial system.The Federal Reserve Board must develop financial risk analyses relating to climate change for certain large nonbank financial companies and bank holding companies. Specifically, these entities must be evaluated every two years on whether they have the capital necessary to absorb financial losses that would arise under several different climate change risk scenarios. In response to the results of the evaluation, entities must develop and submit for approval a climate risk resolution plan. The plan must include a capital policy with respect to climate risk planning and targets to remedy identified vulnerabilities. If the plan is not approved, the entity’s ability to make capital distributions is restricted. The bill also establishes the Climate Risk Scenario Technical Development Group to provide recommendations to the board regarding climate change risk scenarios, and determine the financial and economic risks of these scenarios.The board must develop a survey to assess (1) the ability of other large financial institutions to withstand each scenario, (2) which surveyed entities have activities in geographical areas or industries that are significantly exposed to the impacts of climate change, and (3) how these surveyed entities plan to adapt to risks presented in each scenario.