The Protecting Ratepayers Act requires private companies planning to build or operate large data centers to disconnect from public utility grids for both electricity and water. Starting 180 days after the law takes effect, these facilities must generate all their power and water on-site or from sources separate from the public system. Additionally, the bill gives legal force to a 2026 presidential proclamation known as the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. This legislation directly affects private data center operators by mandating self-sufficiency in utilities to prevent reliance on public infrastructure.
The SECURED Act of 2026 requires digital platforms that list short-term rentals to ask property owners if they are registered child sex offenders and to publicly display that status if the owner answers yes. Property owners who are registered offenders must respond truthfully to these requests, while platforms must provide a direct link to a public registry so guests can verify the information before booking. The Federal Trade Commission is authorized to enforce these rules as unfair business practices, and state attorneys general can also sue to stop violations or seek damages on behalf of residents. The law will not take effect until one year after it is signed into law.
The Protecting Patients from Automated Denials Act requires Medicare Advantage plans to ensure that any denial of medical coverage based on artificial intelligence is reviewed and approved by a qualified physician before it is issued. This rule, which applies to plan years starting on or after January 1, 2027, mandates that the reviewing doctor must exercise independent medical judgment and provide a signed statement confirming the denial was not generated by AI. Additionally, the plan must inform the patient and provider that AI was used, share the doctor's contact information, and keep detailed records of the process for at least 10 years. The legislation also establishes a system for the government to audit these plans and requires them to submit regular reports on how often AI is used to deny care.
The Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act prohibits federal agencies from buying, using, or contracting for automated surveillance systems that rely on license plate recognition, facial recognition, biometric identification, or other technologies designed for mass tracking. It also prevents state, local, and tribal governments from using federal funds to acquire or operate these same surveillance tools. If federal agencies obtain data in violation of these rules, the law requires them to delete the information within 30 days and bars its use as evidence in any court or administrative proceeding.
This bill directs U.S. national security agencies to evaluate whether specific communications equipment and services from seven Chinese companies pose an unacceptable risk to American national security. If these agencies fail to make a determination within a year, or if they find the technology risky, the Federal Communications Commission will add these products to a restricted list that prevents their use on federal networks. The legislation also requires the Department of Defense to decide if these same companies should be officially classified as Chinese military entities operating in the United States. Additionally, the bill mandates that all findings and decisions regarding these determinations be reported to Congress, either in unclassified form or with a classified annex.
The No Hostile ONLOOKERS Act restricts intelligence agencies from funding research or technical support at National Laboratories if those facilities allow individuals from designated "countries of risk" to access their premises, information, or technology. This rule directly affects federal intelligence elements and the National Laboratories they fund, prohibiting the expenditure of money on projects where such access is permitted. The only exception to this ban is a specific waiver that an intelligence agency head can request from congressional committees, provided they certify that the project is not at risk of foreign intelligence collection and explain why the waiver is necessary. Essentially, the bill aims to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive U.S. scientific data and facilities through personnel associated with the intelligence community.
The Cloud Security Act amends existing laws to allow cloud service providers to share specific customer data with the U.S. government under certain conditions. This permission applies when the provider believes in good faith that a customer is using advanced cloud computing resources or artificial intelligence models to benefit a designated foreign entity. The bill defines these advanced technologies by specific technical metrics, such as the number of parameters in AI models and the processing power of computer chips, while limiting the shared information to only what is necessary for verification. By creating these exceptions, the legislation enables the Department of Commerce to monitor and report on the use of sensitive technology by foreign actors without requiring a separate warrant for each instance.
This bill updates Pennsylvania turnpike laws to restrict the use of text messages for notifying drivers about unpaid tolls. It specifically prohibits the turnpike commission and its agents from sending texts regarding unpaid charges, payment links, or potential enforcement actions like license suspensions. Exceptions are made for messages from third-party collection agencies and for drivers who have explicitly opted in to receive texts or who use an official mobile app. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.
