This bill would eliminate interest on all existing and future Federal student loans starting in 2026, directly affecting current borrowers and future students. It requires the Department of Education to automatically modify eligible Federal Direct loans to stop interest accrual and allows borrowers to refinance other Federal loans into zero-interest consolidation loans without origination fees. The legislation also creates a new Education Affordability Trust Fund that would use loan repayments to fund these interest-free loans and potentially provide additional Pell Grants, while establishing a six-member board to oversee investments in government bonds.
This bill, titled Sammy's Law, requires large social media platforms with over 100 million monthly users or $1 billion in annual revenue to provide real-time access to third-party safety software providers. These platforms must create application programming interfaces that allow children under 17 or their parents to delegate control over the child's online interactions, content, and account settings to approved safety software providers. The third-party providers must register with the Federal Trade Commission, agree not to sell user data, and delete data within five days after a delegation ends. The bill also prohibits states from creating their own conflicting regulations on this matter and gives the FTC authority to enforce compliance.
The RISE Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes and expands a federal grant program that provides funding to rural communities for economic development projects. It removes specific references to "industry clusters" from previous rules, replacing them with broader language about "opportunities and networks" to increase flexibility for grantees. The bill requires the program to prioritize rural communities with populations under 20,000, and mandates that at least 10% of annual funds support communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. It authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to support these grants.
This bill proposes adding a new article to the U.S. Constitution to explicitly state that only citizens can vote in federal elections. The amendment would apply to all federal elections, including those for President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. It gives state legislatures the authority to create enforcement rules while reserving the power for Congress to make or alter regulations and enforce the rule in Washington, D.C. The measure would require ratification by conventions in three-fourths of the states before becoming part of the Constitution.
This bill, known as the Local Data for Better Conservation Act, would require the federal government to use data collected by states when deciding whether to list or remove species from the endangered or threatened lists. The key provision adds a new requirement to the Endangered Species Act mandating that the Secretary of the Interior must accept and integrate state-collected information into listing determinations. This change directly affects state agencies that gather biological and environmental data, as well as federal wildlife officials who make conservation decisions. The bill aims to incorporate local knowledge and regional expertise into federal conservation assessments without altering the overall framework of the Endangered Species Act.
This bill requires all states to submit detailed data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud to the Department of Agriculture. The data must include information on fraud cases, enforcement actions, recoveries, and specific instances involving deceased individuals or false social security numbers. States must provide this information within 180 days of enactment for historical data and annually thereafter, with funds withheld if they fail to comply. The Secretary of Agriculture will compile and publish annual reports to Congress based on the submitted data.
The Maternal Vaccination Act directs federal funding to expand a public health campaign focused on increasing vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children. It modifies existing laws to include these groups in awareness efforts and specifically targets racial and ethnic minority communities to address equity gaps. The bill also adjusts the funding timeline and amount for the campaign, increasing the annual allocation from $15 million to $17 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. These changes aim to improve maternal and child health outcomes by ensuring broader access to vaccination information and resources.
This bill proposes to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to classify establishments that implement Sharia law as discriminating on the basis of religion. It would directly affect businesses and organizations that follow or apply Islamic legal principles in their operations. The key mechanism adds a new provision to existing civil rights law, allowing affected parties to claim religious discrimination if an establishment uses Sharia law. The bill does not define what constitutes implementing Sharia law or establish specific enforcement procedures beyond the existing civil rights framework.
This bill establishes a federal task force to address maternal health disparities by coordinating efforts across multiple government agencies and community stakeholders to reduce preventable maternal deaths and serious health complications. The task force will include representatives from various departments such as Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, along with community leaders, patients, and healthcare providers focused on maternal health. Additionally, the bill authorizes $100 million over five years to provide grants to community organizations for addressing social determinants of maternal health including housing, transportation, nutrition, employment, and environmental conditions. These grants prioritize areas with high rates of maternal mortality and poverty, and recipients must submit annual reports on their activities and outcomes. The legislation defines key terms such as maternal mortality and social determinants of maternal health to guide implementation and reporting requirements.
This bill, titled the Women's Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026, extends funding and authority for the WISEWOMAN program, which provides preventive health services to women. It authorizes $250 million over five years (2027-2031) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award supplemental grants for blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes screenings, along with health education and medical referrals. The program would be administered by existing WISEWOMAN grantees or other healthcare entities serving women eligible under current guidelines or identified as high-risk. Additionally, the bill requires a Government Accountability Office study by September 2027 to evaluate the program's reach, access barriers, and cost-effectiveness in improving cardiovascular health outcomes.
This bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.
S 2855, the *Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025*, provides $50 million annually (2026-2035) to fund grants for workforce training programs using virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and similar immersive technologies. Eligible entities - including community colleges, career schools, and industry partnerships - can apply for 5-year grants to create career pathways that train workers for in-demand jobs, with priority given to programs serving veterans, rural communities, people with employment barriers (meeting ADA standards), and industries facing workforce shifts. The bill requires grantees to report on program outcomes, including participant success rates and employer needs, and mandates the Department of Labor to publish best practices for using immersive tech in training. It directly affects workers seeking new skills, training providers, and employers needing qualified staff in growing sectors.
