Right to Read Act of 2025 This bill expands access to school libraries and literacy skills support for elementary and secondary school students. It also outlines certain constitutional rights and liability protections related to school libraries. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 (1) the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program, which provides grants to ensure high-quality instruction and effective strategies in reading and writing for children through 12th grade; and (2) the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program, which provides grants to support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities. Additionally, the bill allows Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants to be used to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools in recruiting, hiring, and retaining state-certified school librarians. Further, the bill authorizes states and LEAs to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants for programs and activities that promote the development of digital literacy and information literacy skills. The Department of Education (ED) must direct the National Center for Education Statistics to biennially collect data on school libraries. ED must require an assurance from each state and LEA receiving certain funds confirming that it will (1) protect the First Amendment rights of students in school libraries, and (2) provide equal protection in the conduct of school libraries in compliance with the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment and nondiscrimination laws. The bill also provides liability protection to teachers, school librarians, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and other staff for actions that conform with state or local policies regarding the right to read.
This bill imposes a 20% tax on certain loans secured by assets like stocks or business property for individuals earning over $400,000 annually (or $450,000 for joint returns). The tax applies to the borrowed amount each year and is paid directly by borrowers. It specifically excludes home mortgages, home equity loans, margin loans, and farmland-secured loans. The tax targets high-value lending outside standard residential financing, with new rules taking effect after the bill's enactment.
HR 6449, the "DO NOT Call Act," amends the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1993 to strengthen penalties for illegal robocalls. It increases criminal penalties for willful violations to up to one year in prison (or three years for aggravated offenses like repeated high-volume calls or calls intended to support felonies), and raises fines for inaccurate caller identification from $10,000 to $20,000 per violation. The bill directly affects businesses and entities making unsolicited calls without consent, including those using auto-dialers or prerecorded messages. Key provisions define "calls" broadly to include unsolicited texts sent via auto-dialers without prior permission.
This bill amends federal pay rules to expand higher overtime pay rates for U.S. Border Patrol supervisors. It changes the eligibility from only GS-12 agents to include all supervisors classified from GS-12 through GS-15. The key provision modifies Section 5550(h) of Title 5, U.S. Code, to apply the higher overtime pay rate to these higher-grade supervisory positions. The bill aims to improve retention for experienced Border Patrol supervisors by increasing their overtime compensation.
The Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 creates a new federal registration process for physicians to directly administer Schedule I investigational drugs under the "Right to Try" framework. It requires physicians to apply to the Attorney General with evidence of state compliance, manufacturer agreements, and training, and limits the amount of drugs they may possess based on approved applications. The bill mandates the Attorney General to issue interim rules within 240 days and final rules within two years covering drug delivery, storage, recordkeeping, and registration management. This affects physicians treating eligible patients with Schedule I drugs under federal Right to Try provisions, not the patients themselves.
This bill creates two federal grant programs to support medical residency training in rural areas. The first program provides grants to eligible organizations (like rural hospitals, health centers, and medical schools) to establish or expand residency programs where doctors train in rural settings for over half their residency time, focusing on primary care, high-need specialties, or maternal health. The second program funds technical assistance grants to help these organizations apply for and run the training programs. The bill authorizes $12.7 million annually from 2026 to 2030, with grants for the training programs lasting up to 3 years and technical assistance grants up to 4 years.
This bill establishes a National Center for Advanced Development in Education within the Institute to advance teaching and learning through research on effective practices, technology, and community-informed approaches. The Center will focus on developing innovative teaching methods, addressing achievement gaps, and promoting research on learning and development across all education levels from early childhood through adult education. It authorizes $500 million annually for 2026-2030 to support research, development, and improved statewide longitudinal data systems that connect educational data from early childhood through workforce outcomes while protecting student privacy. The bill also requires states to enhance their data systems to better track student progress and outcomes, with the goal of improving educational opportunities and closing achievement gaps.
This bill (HR 6469) requires the U.S. State Department, in coordination with the FCC and Treasury, to submit a report within 120 days of enactment assessing internet access options in Iran. The report must evaluate the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless technology to expand internet access there, including technical, security, and regulatory considerations. It also analyzes how drone-based systems and signal jamming could affect such technology, surveys Iranian telecom providers (including state ownership and foreign investment), and examines broader implications for communications freedom. The bill does not enact new policy but mandates a government review of potential technological solutions.
HR 6423, the HELP Copays Act, requires health insurance plans and coverage to count financial assistance from non-profits or drug manufacturers toward patient cost-sharing limits like deductibles and copayments. This directly affects patients enrolled in health insurance who receive such assistance for prescription drugs, ensuring the help they get reduces their out-of-pocket costs faster. The bill amends key health laws to mandate that these payments are included when calculating whether a patient has met their deductible or copayment threshold. The change applies to all prescription drugs, including specialty drugs and those subject to prior authorization, but does not alter how insurers manage drug access through tools like step therapy. It takes effect for plan years starting in 2026.
The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act establishes minimum standards for detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security, requiring them to follow the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. It mandates annual unannounced inspections by the DHS Inspector General, with penalties including fines for noncompliant private facilities and transfers of detainees from noncompliant facilities. The bill requires DHS to publicly report on facility compliance, phase out private detention facilities over three years, and prohibit solitary confinement. It also ensures detainees have access to legal orientation, counsel, and more frequent custody review hearings. The bill directly affects all individuals detained in DHS custody, including immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees held in facilities operated by or contracted to DHS.
This bill would protect unaccompanied children by repealing fee requirements and other provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that have created barriers to their access to humanitarian protections. It specifically exempts unaccompanied children from paying fees for asylum applications, employment authorization, and immigration court proceedings, and requires the government to refund fees already paid under the repealed provisions. The bill also repeals provisions allowing for summary removal of children without due process, intrusive body examinations without safeguards, and sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement that has led to family separations. These changes would directly affect unaccompanied children seeking asylum or other protections in the United States, ensuring they can access legal processes without financial barriers or heightened risks of exploitation. The bill aims to uphold protections for unaccompanied children established under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA).
This bill creates several tax credits to increase housing affordability for individuals and families. It establishes a first-time homebuyer credit of up to $25,000 (or $50,000 for first-generation homebuyers) for purchasing a principal residence, with income limits based on household size. It also creates a starter home construction credit for building homes under 1,200 square feet priced below 80% of local median home prices, and a renter tax credit for tenants paying more than 30% of their income in rent. Additionally, it provides a credit for converting non-residential buildings to affordable housing that meets specific income and rent restrictions. The bill includes provisions for inflation adjustments and reporting requirements for these tax credits.
