The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits inappropriate seclusion and restraint in schools, including mechanical, chemical, and certain physical restraints that pose safety risks. It requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, train staff in crisis intervention, and notify parents within 24 hours of any restraint incident. The law mandates meetings between schools and parents after incidents to discuss prevention strategies and provides documentation requirements. It applies to all public schools receiving federal funding, with specific protections for students with disabilities. States must submit compliance plans and report on restraint use, including demographic data on affected students.
This bill creates a new federal grant program to fund public transit improvements in cities. It provides 80% federal funding for urban transit systems to cover operating costs (like vehicle service), security enhancements (including personnel), and safety projects identified by safety committees. Recipients must certify they will maintain or increase their own funding levels for these services and cannot use funds to switch to third-party on-demand transit providers. The grants are allocated based on each city's reported transit operating expenses from the previous year.
HR 6682, the Endometriosis CARE Act, requires federal agencies to advance research, improve treatment access, and increase awareness for people with endometriosis - a chronic condition causing pelvic pain and fertility challenges affecting an estimated 10% of reproductive-age individuals. The bill mandates $50 million annually for NIH research on endometriosis treatments and cures, directs HHS to analyze barriers like insurance coverage and provider shortages in accessing care, and funds public education campaigns targeting underserved racial, ethnic, and minority groups. It also requires HHS to develop provider training materials on diagnosis and care, and to commission a National Academies study on disparities in endometriosis treatment across race, geography, and insurance status. The legislation focuses on data collection, education, and research rather than altering existing insurance coverage or treatment protocols.
The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to extend the loan limits for graduate and professional students indefinitely. It removes the previous expiration date (June 30, 2026) for these limits, meaning graduate and professional students will continue to have access to the same federal loan amounts without a set end date. The key change modifies Section 455(a) by eliminating the sunset provision and updating the effective date language in the law. This directly affects students pursuing advanced degrees who rely on federal loans for tuition and living expenses. The bill makes a technical adjustment to existing student loan policy without creating new benefits or altering eligibility criteria.
This bill establishes new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) working with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicaid programs. It mandates that PBMs pay pharmacies a specific reimbursement amount based on drug acquisition costs plus a fixed fee, pass through manufacturer rebates directly to beneficiaries at the point of sale, and prohibits steering practices that direct patients to specific pharmacies. The bill applies to Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid managed care organizations beginning January 1, 2027, affecting how PBMs interact with pharmacies and handle drug rebates. Violations could result in criminal penalties of up to $1 million or 10 years in prison for willful noncompliance. The bill aims to increase transparency and fairness in pharmacy drug pricing for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
HR 6678, the Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025, authorizes $10 million annually (2027-2031) to fund competitive grants for nonprofits or government partnerships to establish or operate statewide legal hotlines serving older adults. The hotlines must provide free, phone-based legal counseling, referrals, and advocacy on civil issues to seniors with the greatest economic or social need, coordinating with existing legal aid providers across each state. Grantees must contribute 25% of costs from non-Federal funds and ensure staff/volunteers have no conflicts of interest. This bill directly affects older individuals facing legal barriers they cannot afford to resolve, expanding access to free legal assistance through a coordinated state network.
HR 6333, the Parents Over Platforms Act, requires app stores (like the Apple App Store or Google Play) and app developers to implement age verification systems for applications that offer different experiences for minors versus adults. It mandates app stores to ask users for age during signup, provide parents with tools to block age-inappropriate apps, and prevent developers from showing personalized ads to minors. The bill directly affects app stores, developers of "covered applications" (such as games or social media apps targeting children), and parents seeking to control their children’s app access. Key provisions include requiring developers to confirm if their app treats minors differently, obtain parental consent for age-restricted content, and use age signals from app stores to verify user age. The law applies to apps on smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles but excludes websites and browsers.
HR 5360, the AWARE Act, requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create and publish public educational resources about AI chatbot safety within 180 days of the bill becoming law. These resources will specifically help parents, educators, and minors (under age 18) understand safe AI chatbot use, including how to identify risks, privacy practices, and supervision strategies. The FTC must model these materials after its existing Youville program. The bill defines "AI chatbot" as consumer-facing interactive AI systems but does not regulate or restrict chatbot development or use.
Sammy's Law requires large social media platforms (those with over 100 million monthly users or $1 billion in annual revenue) to create real-time tools allowing parents or third-party safety software providers to help protect children under 17 from online harms. Platforms must provide secure access to children's account data for safety software providers that register with the Federal Trade Commission and meet strict security and privacy requirements. Third-party providers can only use the data to address specific risks like cyberbullying, trafficking, or abuse, and must delete data after 14 days unless needed for a safety concern. The law creates a federal standard that prevents states from making their own rules about this type of platform access.
This concurrent resolution (HCONRES 65) is a symbolic congressional commendment of state and local governments that have affirmed reproductive rights as human rights. It recognizes efforts by jurisdictions like Carrboro, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Fulton County, Georgia, which passed resolutions or proclamations declaring abortion access a human right and condemning criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. The resolution urges states to repeal restrictive abortion laws and protect access to reproductive care, but it does not create new legal requirements or fund programs. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on federal or state law.
The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ rights at the Department of State, with the authority to coordinate all federal government efforts addressing discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the development of a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals, along with annual briefings to Congress on progress. It mandates that the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices include detailed information about laws criminalizing or discriminating against LGBTQI+ people in all countries. The legislation also requires all U.S. government-funded programs to adopt inclusive nondiscrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. These provisions aim to strengthen U.S. foreign policy efforts to protect LGBTQI+ rights worldwide through coordinated diplomatic, humanitarian, and development initiatives.
