The Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026 updates the legal framework for the Special Envoy to include Central Asia and the Caucasus in normalization efforts alongside existing regions. This change formally recognizes Kazakhstan as the first Central Asian nation to join the Abraham Accords and defines specific countries within the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. The bill requires the Special Envoy to coordinate with other federal agencies like Defense and Commerce while implementing these goals using existing authorities without requesting new funding. Additionally, the act allows the Special Envoy to appoint a Deputy Special Envoy with relevant regional expertise to assist in these expanded diplomatic activities.
This bill prohibits the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from issuing or enforcing patents for inventions created by individuals or companies identified as threats to national security. Specifically, it bars patents for entities listed on the Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List, designated Chinese military companies, or those providing equipment on the FCC's untrusted networks list. While the law prevents these entities from receiving or enforcing patents, it does not stop them from submitting patent applications, and it includes a provision allowing the President to grant temporary waivers if national security interests do not require the prohibition.
This concurrent resolution directs the President to withdraw all United States Armed Forces from Lebanon within seven days of the bill's adoption. It operates under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, which allows Congress to mandate the removal of troops from foreign locations. The measure directly affects the executive branch by requiring immediate compliance with the specified timeline for troop withdrawal.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly allow Congress and state governments to regulate campaign contributions and spending for public office elections and ballot initiatives. The key provision grants authorities the power to distinguish between individual voters and artificial entities like corporations or unions, specifically permitting restrictions on the latter's ability to raise and spend money in these campaigns. By adding this authority to the Constitution, the bill aims to override previous legal interpretations that limited such regulations, ensuring that laws restricting corporate political spending are constitutionally valid.
The Protecting Student Privacy Act prevents federal student aid data from being shared with immigration enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. This rule applies to information held by the Department of Education regarding students and their financial contributors, such as parents or spouses, and blocks its use for arrests, interviews, or surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security and other authorized entities. The law includes specific exceptions for court orders related to criminal offenses and for cases where a student or contributor voluntarily and without pressure consents to sharing their information. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to report any unauthorized disclosures to Congress and states that this new rule overrides any conflicting state or local laws.
The Sectoral AI Governance Act of 2026 gives federal agencies with enforcement powers the ability to create specific rules targeting algorithmic decision-making systems that are likely to cause violations of existing federal laws. Under this bill, agencies must publish a public notice at least 60 days before proposing rules to allow for feedback, while also consulting with other agencies and technical experts to ensure consistency and avoid conflicts. The legislation requires agencies to periodically review these rules every five years and submit biennial reports to Congress detailing their rulemaking activities, enforcement actions, and assessments of potential discriminatory impacts. By clarifying regulatory authority and mandating transparency, the bill aims to improve coordination across the federal government without preempting state laws on the same topics.
This bill transfers approximately 583.79 acres of federal land (excluding 20 acres of roads) from the U.S. Forest Service to the Pit River Tribe in trust for the tribe's benefit. The land becomes part of the tribe's reservation and is administered by the Secretary of the Interior under standard federal trust regulations. Key provisions require a survey within 180 days of enactment and explicitly prohibit the land from being used for tribal gaming under federal law. The bill directly affects the Pit River Tribe (including its XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek, and Roaring Creek Rancherias) by expanding their reservation land base.
This bill authorizes a land exchange between the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (a federally recognized tribe) and the U.S. government. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to accept the tribe’s offer to convey approximately 1,460 acres of tribal land (Non-Federal Land) and convey in return about 1,475 acres of National Forest land (Federal Land), excluding specific forest service road easements. As a condition, the tribe must preserve the Arrowhead landmark site through a separate agreement recorded with San Bernardino County and the Forest Service. The exchange is managed under standard land survey processes and will integrate the federal land into the San Bernardino National Forest.
This bill transfers approximately 1,261 acres of federal land in Riverside County, California (administered by the Bureau of Land Management) into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians, making it part of their reservation under federal management. The land must remain open space, be used only for cultural/wildlife preservation, and cannot be used for any gambling (including class II or III gaming). The bill preserves existing water rights and service agreements, requires tribes to report MOU terminations to Congress and the Interior Department, and prohibits development that conflicts with open space or conservation goals.
HR 5437, the *Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act*, prohibits lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products (like countertops) for injuries caused by silica dust exposure during third-party fabrication (e.g., cutting or grinding by fabricators). It directly affects stone slab manufacturers and sellers by shielding them from civil liability when injuries result from fabricators violating workplace safety laws. The bill’s key provision bans such lawsuits in federal or state courts and requires dismissal of pending cases. It aims to protect this industry, which employs thousands, from claims they cannot control, emphasizing that safety regulations apply to fabricators - not the original sellers.
This bill creates new grounds for deporting non-citizens who are members of or associated with criminal gangs. It defines a "criminal gang" as a group of five or more people whose primary purpose is committing serious crimes like drug offenses, violence, trafficking, or weapons violations. The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate groups as criminal gangs after consultation with the Attorney General, and these designations make gang members ineligible for asylum, temporary protected status, parole, and other immigration benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for reviewing and revoking these designations, with limited judicial review options.
This bill creates a new federal assistance program specifically for specialty crop farmers who face financial losses due to disasters, economic crises, or market disruptions. Under the new framework, the Secretary of Agriculture would calculate payments based on the producer's recent sales history and a specific payment factor determined to address the losses. The legislation includes special rules to account for the higher value and input costs associated with growing specialty crops compared to standard commodities. Additionally, it sets payment limits consistent with existing farm bill provisions, with higher maximums allowed for producers whose income is primarily derived from farming activities.
