The Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 directs the National Science Foundation to align its research funding with workforce development efforts in key biotechnology fields such as biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics. To achieve this, the bill requires the NSF Director to create a workforce framework, support educational pathways with multiple entry points, and foster partnerships between universities, federal labs, and private industry. The legislation also mandates the development of metrics to identify career gaps and barriers to entry, along with a requirement to submit biennial reports to Congress assessing these efforts and the U.S. position in global biotechnology leadership.
This bill, known as the Department of Energy Drone Defense Act, expands the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Energy to manage certain drone systems. Specifically, it allows the Secretary to procure, operate, and use federal funds for drones that are classified as "covered" and originate from "covered foreign entities." These changes modify existing restrictions found in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which previously limited such activities primarily to the Secretary of State. By adding the Department of Energy to the list of authorized agencies, the legislation enables the department to participate in these drone-related activities without violating current prohibitions.
The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act establishes a pilot program to provide competitive grants to school food authorities for preparing meals using unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. These grants, which cover costs such as equipment upgrades, staff training, and technology systems, are available for a two-year period and are prioritized for schools serving high numbers of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. To support implementation, the bill requires recipients to collaborate with a designated technical assistance center to create strategic plans and mandates a final report detailing changes in ingredient usage and menu preparation methods. The program is funded with up to $20 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with a portion reserved for administrative and technical assistance expenses.
The Stop the Doxx Act makes it a federal crime to publicly share personal information, such as home addresses or phone numbers, about law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, or their immediate family members with the intent to threaten or intimidate them. Under this law, individuals found guilty face prison sentences of up to 10 years for a first offense, with penalties increasing to 20 years for repeat offenses or up to 40 years if the act results in injury or death. The bill also allows victims to sue for damages and requires the Attorney General to create a free, annual training program to help these public servants protect their personal data online.
The State and Local Public Sector Innovation Act creates a grant program to help state and local governments upgrade their technology systems to improve security and service efficiency. Funded by $500 million over four years, the program distributes money equally based on population and specific needs, with at least 70% of funds directed directly to local political subdivisions. Recipients can use the money for tasks such as buying new technology, updating cybersecurity, hiring staff, and ensuring compliance with data privacy and post-quantum cryptography standards. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information will oversee the program, conduct surveys to assess state needs, and provide technical guidance on data security and artificial intelligence usage.
This bill nullifies a specific decision made by the Endangered Species Committee regarding oil and gas operations in the Gulf of America. It immediately cancels any exemptions previously granted to these activities under the Endangered Species Act and bars federal agencies from using funds to enforce the canceled order. For a three-year period starting when the bill is enacted, the committee is prohibited from issuing any new exemptions for Gulf oil and gas projects. Consequently, all standard environmental protections required by the Endangered Species Act will continue to apply fully to these activities.
The No Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 prohibits the use of federal money to pay specific settlements involving high-ranking government officials and their close associates. It bars payments to the President, Vice President, their immediate families, cabinet members, senior executive staff, political appointees, and individuals connected to these roles, as well as any entity owned by the President or Vice President. Additionally, the bill restricts settlements related to claims about the January 6 Capitol attack, foreign election interference, or previously dismissed lawsuits, while requiring Treasury reports for large settlements and allowing the government to seek repayment if rules are broken.
This bill prohibits the enforcement of contractual clauses that prevent victims of sexual abuse of minors from disclosing their abuse or related facts. It directly affects survivors of child sexual abuse, alleged perpetrators, and any parties to agreements containing such nondisclosure provisions. The law declares these clauses void and unenforceable under public policy, applies retroactively to agreements made before or after enactment, and preempts state laws that would allow enforcement of prohibited clauses. The bill also preserves the ability to settle cases while still allowing disclosure of abuse-related information.
Hemp Planting Predictability Act This bill extends by two years the implementation of changes to the regulation of hemp products, which reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products. Specifically, Congress enacted the FY2026 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 119-37) on November 12, 2025. Effective November 12, 2026, the act modifies the statutory definition of hemp products that are considered to be lawful. This bill extends the effective date to November 12, 2028. As background, the 2018 farm bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana and defined hemp . As a result, hemp and hemp-derived products at or below the 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) concentration threshold were no longer regulated as Schedule I controlled substances and registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration was no longer required to cultivate or handle hemp and hemp-derived products. However, hemp remained subject to Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulation. The 2025 changes to the definition of hemp, include changing the limit to a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC, explicitly including industrial hemp, excluding seeds from a cannabis plant that exceed a certain THC concentration, and excluding various types of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Cannabinoids refer to unique chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana (e.g., THC) and are known to exhibit a range of psychological and physiological effects.
This bill extends by two years the implementation of changes to the regulation of hemp products, which reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products. Specifically, Congress enacted the FY2026 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 119-37) on November 12, 2025. Effective November 12, 2026, the act modifies the statutory definition of hemp products that are considered to be lawful. This bill extends the effective date to November 12, 2028. As background, the 2018 farm bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana and defined hemp . As a result, hemp and hemp-derived products at or below the 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) concentration threshold were no longer regulated as Schedule I controlled substances and registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration was no longer required to cultivate or handle hemp and hemp-derived products. However, hemp remained subject to Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulation. The 2025 changes to the definition of hemp, include changing the limit to a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC, explicitly including industrial hemp, excluding seeds from a cannabis plant that exceed a certain THC concentration, and excluding various types of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Cannabinoids refer to unique chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana (e.g., THC) and are known to exhibit a range of psychological and physiological effects.
This bill creates federal programs to advance alternative protein production through biomanufacturing and bioprocessing. It authorizes $15 million annually for research centers focused on protein diversification, $50 million for grants to companies building food biomanufacturing facilities, and $25 million for workforce development programs. The bill also requires a national strategy on protein security coordinated across multiple federal agencies. These provisions aim to strengthen food supply chains, create jobs in the growing protein sector, and reduce reliance on foreign commodities. The bill explicitly excludes insect-based food production from its scope.
The VA Research Reform Act of 2025 establishes a centralized VA Research Data System to track all Department of Veterans Affairs medical research activities, including funding, progress, and results. It creates a tiered review system for research proposals that matches review intensity to the project's risk level and potential impact on veterans. The bill requires researchers to submit "veteran impact forecasts" and "translation plans" for major projects, detailing how findings will benefit veterans and be implemented in care. It also creates regional research hubs to coordinate multi-site studies and reduce duplication, while implementing performance metrics to track research efficiency and impact. The law mandates annual reports to Congress showing how VA research is improving veteran care and identifying areas for improvement.
