The Kids Online Safety Act (S 1748) requires major social media platforms, online video games, and other "covered platforms" to implement specific safety features for minors (under 17). These features include default privacy settings that limit harmful design features like infinite scrolling and auto-play, parental controls for managing minors' accounts, and restrictions on advertising illegal products to minors. The bill also mandates annual transparency reports about how platforms are used by minors and requires platforms to provide clear notices about their content algorithms. It creates a Kids Online Safety Council to advise Congress on online safety issues for children. The law applies to platforms with more than 10 million monthly users in the U.S. and takes effect 18 months after enactment.
The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act expands federal firearm restrictions to include individuals subject to any domestic violence restraining order, including temporary or emergency orders issued without the abuser's presence. It broadens the legal definition of an "intimate partner" to cover dating partners and other relationships protected by state laws, closing previous loopholes that allowed some abusers to keep guns. The bill also creates a federal grant program for states and tribes to fund the removal, storage, and return of firearms from individuals subject to these orders, requiring them to partner with local domestic violence service providers to ensure victim safety.
The Restoring Justice for Workers Act prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign agreements that force them to resolve disputes through individual arbitration rather than in court or as part of a group. It bans retaliation against employees who refuse to arbitrate and mandates that any post-dispute arbitration agreements be truly voluntary, requiring plain language explanations, a 45-day waiting period, and written consent. The bill also amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it illegal for employers to enter into or enforce contracts that prevent workers from joining together to file joint or class-action lawsuits regarding workplace rights. These changes apply to all workers, including independent contractors, and take effect immediately upon enactment.
The ASSET Act prohibits states from using asset limits to determine eligibility for several federally funded assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, SNAP, LIHEAP, and Supplemental Security Income. By removing these financial thresholds, the bill aims to allow low-income families to save money and build financial stability without risking their benefits. Additionally, the legislation updates the resource limit for SSI recipients to $20,000 for individuals and $10,000 for couples in 2026, with future increases tied to inflation. While the bill generally eliminates these limits, it includes a grace period for states that must pass their own laws to comply with the new rules.
The Fairness in Foreign Filing Act changes how the IRS handles specific penalties related to foreign information reporting to give taxpayers more time to contest them. Under the new rules, the IRS must send a written notice explaining the proposed penalty at least 60 days before assessing it, allowing the taxpayer to request a review by the IRS Appeals Office and stopping collection until that review is complete. The bill also clarifies that certain existing penalties are treated as taxes for collection purposes while preserving other taxpayer rights to sue for refunds. Additionally, the legislation removes a requirement for foreign trusts to file certain information returns by a specific deadline, applying this change to tax years starting after December 31, 2026.
This joint resolution seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding how federal banking laws interact with state interest-on-escrow laws. If passed, the measure would declare the federal rule invalid and prevent it from taking effect. The primary impact would be to allow states to maintain their own regulations on interest earned on escrow accounts without interference from this particular federal directive.
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to remove specific quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year through 2036 and beyond, with targets increasing from 50,000 to 10 million metric tons annually. The bill defines eligible technologies as those that capture CO2 directly from the air or seawater and store it durably, while excluding methods like enhanced oil recovery or natural photosynthesis. To ensure accuracy, the law requires independent third parties to measure, monitor, and verify removals, with costs included in the price of removal, which must drop from $750 per ton in 2026 to $150 per ton by 2037. The Secretary of Energy must prioritize projects that create domestic jobs, source materials locally, and benefit communities historically dependent on fossil fuels, while reserving at least 20 percent of removals for smaller projects. Additionally, the act mandates regular reports to Congress on progress and authorizes funding to carry out these removal obligations.
This Senate resolution recognizes the importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing their right to live in their own homes and communities. It calls on the Department of Justice to rescind a recent opinion that the Senate views as undermining the legal requirement to provide community-based services instead of institutional care. The document also urges various federal agencies to improve funding for home and community-based services, increase accessible housing and transportation, and promote competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Additionally, the resolution pledges bipartisan efforts to address barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, including those of color, and opposes cuts to the Medicaid program that could limit access to essential support services.
This resolution directs the Speaker of the House to file a lawsuit on behalf of Congress against the President and other executive officials who have failed to follow constitutional duties regarding military actions in Iran. The bill specifically targets the continuation of hostilities that exceed the time limits set by the War Powers Resolution and ignores a prior congressional order to withdraw troops. If passed, the House of Representatives would intervene in federal court to seek legal relief, with the Office of the General Counsel representing the institution in these civil actions.
The Right to IVF Act of 2026 establishes federal protections to ensure individuals can access assisted reproductive technology and intrauterine insemination without state-imposed restrictions, while also mandating that health insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program cover these services. The bill defines these procedures broadly to include treatments like egg and embryo freezing and requires coverage regardless of whether a patient has been diagnosed with infertility. It further directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide fertility preservation and reproductive assistance to uniformed service members and veterans, including funding for egg or sperm retrieval and storage. Additionally, the legislation grants federal courts the authority to challenge and block any state laws that limit access to these reproductive treatments or discriminate against providers and patients based on protected characteristics.
The Temporary Protected Status Review Act restores the ability of courts to review decisions by the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for foreign nationals. Under this bill, the government must publish detailed written findings explaining why a country no longer qualifies for TPS protection, and these decisions would be subject to a legal challenge in federal court. If a TPS designation is terminated, the affected individuals would remain in the United States with their current status and work authorization intact while the legal challenge is pending. Additionally, the legislation requires the government to follow specific administrative procedures, such as considering all available evidence and avoiding bias, before making any termination decisions.
This bill establishes federal protections and funding to expand access to in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination for individuals, military service members, and veterans. It requires most private health plans, Medicaid programs, and Medicare to cover these fertility treatments without imposing higher cost-sharing than other medical services. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide specific fertility preservation and treatment benefits to uniformed service members and eligible veterans. The bill also includes preemption clauses that override state laws restricting these procedures and prohibits discrimination based on marital status, sex, or sexual orientation in the provision of care.
