The STARS Act waives entrance and recreation fees at specific federal public lands on September 17, 2026, to honor the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th anniversary). It requires the Interior Secretary to eliminate fees at National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, and waive standard amenity fees at Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service sites on that date, making entry free for all visitors. This is a one-time commemorative provision with no ongoing policy changes.
S 2913, the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act, prevents federal funding from being used to restructure or eliminate offices within the Department of Education that administer disability-related programs. The bill specifically prohibits using funds to: (1) dismantle or merge offices serving students with disabilities (under IDEA) or adults with disabilities (under the Rehabilitation Act), (2) change staff roles that could undermine these programs, or (3) outsource these services to outside organizations. It directly affects the Department of Education’s disability program offices and the students and adults who rely on their services. The bill maintains existing program structures by restricting how federal funds can be allocated, ensuring compliance with current laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act.
S 2870, the "Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act," requires manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of tableting machines (used to make pills) and their key components (like punches and dies) to permanently affix serial numbers to these items. It mandates that regulated businesses report these serial numbers to the Attorney General and prohibits removing, altering, or trafficking in machines or parts with tampered serial numbers. This law directly affects businesses involved in producing, selling, or distributing pill-making equipment, aiming to improve tracking of machines potentially used for illicit drug manufacturing. The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to create new recordkeeping and reporting requirements for these specific machines and parts.
This bill requires U.S. colleges and universities to update their anti-harassment policies to explicitly cover online communications (like emails and social media) and all campus activities, including off-campus events and dormitories. It mandates institutions to create clear procedures for reporting harassment based on protected characteristics (such as race, gender identity, or disability), including how they will investigate and respond to incidents. The bill also creates a new $50 million annual grant program to fund schools developing prevention programs, counseling services, or training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These requirements supplement existing federal civil rights laws like Title IX but do not replace them.
HR 5482, the Prevent Youth Suicide Act, requires schools serving grades 6-12 that receive federal education funds to implement evidence-based suicide prevention and postvention protocols within 210 days of the law's enactment. Specifically, schools must develop staff training to identify suicide risks and connect students to mental health resources, establish referral systems, conduct anti-stigma awareness campaigns, and create postvention plans for after a suicide occurs. The bill mandates biennial staff training on trauma-informed care and requires the Secretary of Education to provide technical assistance and monitor compliance. These requirements directly affect all public and private K-12 schools participating in federal education programs under applicable law.
This bill permanently expands Medicare telehealth coverage for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). It allows audio-only telehealth visits (not requiring video) to be covered under Medicare and removes the previous rule requiring patients to be at specific locations (like clinics) to access these services. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries in rural or underserved areas served by FQHCs/RHCs can now receive covered telehealth care from any location, including their homes, without location restrictions. The bill also ensures these clinics receive standard reimbursement rates for telehealth services, treating them the same as in-person visits for payment purposes.
This bill allocates $5 million annually (2026-2030) to states for collecting de-identified stillbirth data through existing health systems, including risk factor analysis. It also provides $1 million yearly to develop standardized guidelines for healthcare providers and public educational materials about stillbirths, requiring consultation with medical professionals, bereavement organizations, and affected families. The bill mandates that all data collection complies with privacy laws and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a public report on stillbirth guidelines within five years. It directly affects state health departments, healthcare providers, and families experiencing stillbirth by improving data quality and access to resources.
The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 requires U.S. colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs to create and distribute clear anti-harassment policies covering harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, or religion. These policies must explicitly prohibit harassment in all settings - including online, on campus, off-campus housing, and during school-sponsored activities - and outline reporting procedures and support services for victims. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund schools developing prevention programs, victim support services, or staff/student training on recognizing and addressing harassment. Grants are competitive, require annual reporting on effectiveness, and must be used to improve existing efforts without replacing existing civil rights laws like Title IX.
HR 5476, the PARA Educators Act, provides federal grants to states to help recruit and retain school support staff (paraprofessionals) in public elementary, secondary, and preschool programs. It allocates funds based on previous Title I education funding, requiring states to prioritize schools serving high numbers of low-income students or those meeting specific poverty criteria. States can use the funds for proven programs like mentoring for paraprofessionals, professional development, helping staff earn credentials (e.g., special education or English learner certificates), and increasing wages or offering retention bonuses. The law mandates annual reporting on wage baselines, paraprofessional employment, and program outcomes. This bill directly affects paraprofessionals and the schools they support, particularly in high-poverty communities.
This proposed constitutional amendment would explicitly authorize Congress and state governments to regulate campaign contributions and spending to influence elections, requiring such regulations to be viewpoint-neutral and reasonable. It would also permit states and Congress to establish public financing systems for campaigns, potentially offsetting private spending with public funds. The amendment allows distinctions between natural persons and corporations (including bans on corporate spending in elections) while explicitly protecting press freedom. As a proposed amendment, it would only take effect if ratified by 38 states within seven years.
HJRES 122 proposes a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress and states explicit authority to regulate campaign contributions and spending intended to influence elections. It would allow for reasonable, viewpoint-neutral limits on how much money candidates and others can raise or spend, as well as enable public financing systems to reduce private wealth's influence in campaigns. The amendment would permit distinguishing between individuals and corporations in campaign finance rules, potentially banning corporate spending to influence elections. It explicitly states this amendment would not affect the freedom of the press.
The Protect America’s Workforce Act (S 2837) directly affects federal employees and their labor unions by reversing two executive orders that limited their collective bargaining rights. It nullifies Executive Orders 14251 and 14343, which had excluded certain federal workers from labor-management programs, and prohibits federal funding for any efforts to implement those orders. The bill ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully enforceable through their original terms, as long as they were in effect as of March 26, 2025. This preserves current workplace agreements without creating new obligations or altering existing labor-management processes.
