This bill directs the Attorney General to create guidance for local and state governments on establishing voluntary registries for individuals at risk of receiving false emergency calls, commonly known as swatting. The guidance will outline best practices for data privacy, secure technology integration, and training law enforcement to use registry information to de-escalate dangerous situations without mandating a federal registry. Additionally, the bill allows the Justice Department to provide technical assistance and funding to help communities implement these safety measures while ensuring that participation remains optional and that officer safety is not compromised.
The Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026 amends federal law to expand the definition of foreign instrumentality. This change allows the U.S. government to classify any entity domiciled in a covered nation, such as China, as a foreign instrumentality even if it is not directly owned or controlled by that government. The bill directly affects companies and organizations operating in these countries by subjecting them to stricter scrutiny under existing economic espionage laws. By broadening who can be considered a foreign agent, the legislation aims to close a loophole that previously required proof of direct government control to trigger certain legal restrictions.
The LEARN AI Act expresses Congress's preference for integrating artificial intelligence training into registered apprenticeship programs to better prepare workers for the technology. It directs the Department of Labor to encourage AI instruction, share best practices for responsible AI use, and offer technical help to employers and training sponsors. The bill allows the Department of Labor to support these efforts but does not force any specific program to include AI training or change existing rules. Ultimately, the legislation aims to assist in adapting the workforce to technological changes without mandating specific curriculum updates.
This bill designates the District of Columbia as the nation's "Tech for Good Capital" and creates a new tax incentive program for technology companies that develop solutions for public-interest challenges. To qualify for a real property tax abatement, these companies must be based in the District and primarily focused on areas such as civic engagement, public health, climate resilience, and education. The legislation also establishes a working group to create a marketing strategy and authorizes the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to support innovation clusters aimed at strengthening the local economy.
This bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Health to create a digital system for submitting student health and dental certificates while banning healthcare providers from charging fees for these forms. It directly affects families of students in public and private schools by eliminating the current financial and logistical burden of obtaining and submitting paper forms, as well as reducing the risk of lost documentation. Additionally, the legislation mandates a new tiered fee structure for health professional licensing that aligns costs with the education level required for each profession. These changes aim to modernize the registration process and encourage more entry-level health workers to practice in the District.
This bill establishes a new chapter in Pennsylvania law to protect the personal data of current, former, and retired state officials, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislators, and judges. It specifically restricts data brokers from selling or sharing protected information such as home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers for monetary gain. The legislation defines who qualifies as a covered person and clarifies that information is only protected if it is not already publicly available through official government records or media. Additionally, the bill outlines enforcement mechanisms and provides for legal action to be taken by the affected officials or their authorized agents.
This bill amends Pennsylvania law to criminalize the act of photographing, filming, or viewing intimate parts of another person without their knowledge and consent for sexual gratification. The legislation specifically includes images created using artificial intelligence and defines intimate parts to include genitals, pubic areas, buttocks, and female nipples. It also clarifies that the offense occurs in places where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as changing rooms or private residences. The law applies to anyone who knowingly records or views these images, regardless of whether the person is wearing clothing. This measure takes effect 60 days after it is passed.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to explicitly ban "surveillance pricing," which is defined as setting customized prices for goods or services based on personal data gathered through technology like cameras, sensors, or third-party purchases. The legislation prohibits businesses from using such data to charge different prices to specific consumers unless they can prove the price difference is due to varying costs, public discounts available to broad groups like seniors or students, loyalty program rewards, or credit decisions based on standard credit reports. In addition to banning this practice, the bill increases civil penalties for violations to up to $3,000 per incident and allows individual consumers who suffer financial loss from these pricing tactics to file private lawsuits for damages.
This bill requires dental insurance companies in Pennsylvania to create secure online portals that give dental providers and their staff daily access to detailed patient benefit information, including claims history and denial reasons. The legislation mandates that any verbal or written statements made by insurers regarding benefits or costs must be binding on future claims, with specific exceptions for fraud or eligibility changes. To enforce these rules, the bill allows providers to sue for the original billed amount if insurers fail to pay within 30 days and imposes administrative fines of up to $10,000 for non-compliance. The changes are designed to increase transparency and reduce billing disputes, and they will take effect one year after the bill is enacted.
This bill allows local governments in Pennsylvania to automatically permit battery storage systems as accessory uses on land already approved for commercial solar projects. Under the new rules, these storage units must be located within the same property boundaries and have a capacity that does not exceed the solar facility's generating capacity. Once approved, the storage systems do not require additional special permits or land use approvals, though they must still follow all existing safety and fire codes. The legislation also clarifies that adding battery storage does not change any financial terms or tax exemptions associated with the original solar facility.
