The SHIELD Act would prohibit local school districts that receive federal education funds from allowing organizations that provide abortions to distribute information about those services to students on school grounds or through the district's virtual platforms. This ban specifically covers sharing or reposting such materials on social media on behalf of outside abortion providers. The bill defines "abortion-related service" as any medical, surgical, or support care directly related to terminating a pregnancy.
HR 10090 would impose a 10 percent excise tax on private colleges and universities that allow individuals defined as biologically male to participate in intercollegiate athletic programs designated for females. The bill defines sex strictly by biological reproductive systems, excluding state institutions from this requirement. To prevent the financial burden of the tax from being shifted to students, the legislation prohibits affected schools from raising tuition or mandatory fees as a result of the liability. These provisions would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
The Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 amends the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education to explicitly define "sex" based on biological characteristics. Specifically, it states that sex refers to an individual's biologically determined status as male or female. The bill further defines "female" as someone with a reproductive system that produces ova and "male" as someone with a reproductive system that produces sperm, regardless of congenital anomalies or accidents. These definitions apply to all education programs receiving federal financial assistance starting on the date the law is enacted.
The COMPASS Act expands protections for military families under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to ensure uninterrupted schooling during permanent relocations. It allows a dependent child of a servicemember to be considered compliant with a new state's homeschooling laws if they were already following the rules of their previous state or their legal residence. This change aims to reduce administrative burdens and prevent conflicting state requirements from penalizing military families who move frequently. By aligning these rules with existing federal protections, the bill seeks to support family stability and the readiness of servicemembers during transitions.
This bill directs the Secretary of Education to create and share evidence-based model plans for mental health and suicide prevention specifically for colleges and universities. In partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the government will provide technical assistance to schools that wish to adopt these models, while also considering existing state efforts and collaborating with various community and student groups. The legislation requires regular updates to these model plans every five years and mandates periodic reports to Congress on the program's progress. Importantly, the bill clarifies that these measures are voluntary guidelines and do not impose new legal requirements on higher education institutions.
The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026 eliminates a federal tax credit that allowed parents to deduct contributions to scholarship granting organizations from their income. By removing these specific tax breaks, the bill prevents the use of public tax dollars to support private school vouchers and scholarship programs. This change directly affects families who currently rely on these tax incentives to fund education outside the public school system. The provisions take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act extends the funding authorization for the African American Civil Rights Network by three years. This change allows the network to continue its operations and support civil rights education for an additional period beyond the original seven-year limit. The bill directly affects the federal funding available to this specific organization but does not alter its core mission or activities. By updating the timeline in the relevant section of the U.S. Code, the legislation ensures continued financial support without changing the program's substantive provisions.
The READ Act aims to improve student literacy by directing federal funding toward evidence-based reading instruction known as the science of reading, which explicitly teaches phonics and decoding while prohibiting the use of the three-cueing model. Under this bill, the U.S. Department of Education would distribute grants to states, with a specific focus on those performing in the lowest tier of reading assessments, to implement statewide policies, update teacher training standards, and provide universal early literacy screenings for all students before third grade. The legislation also requires schools to notify parents when a student is identified as at risk for reading difficulties and mandates that these notifications be provided in the family's primary language. Additionally, the act allocates funds to support high-quality instructional materials, literacy coaching for teachers, and interventions like tutoring for struggling readers, while ensuring that federal money supplements rather than replaces local education spending.
This resolution congratulates students, families, educators, and leaders of public charter schools across the United States for their contributions to education and support of National Charter Schools Week in May 2026. It recognizes the growth of the charter school sector, noting that approximately 8,000 such schools serve over 3.7 million children and operate under specific accountability measures similar to traditional public schools. The Senate formally supports the ideals of the annual celebration and encourages communities to hold events to demonstrate backing for these institutions.
The Merit Restoration Act prohibits federal research agencies and grant recipients from using specific diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their work. This law targets requirements that mandate employees or researchers sign statements or complete training asserting that certain races, sexes, or national origins are inherently superior or inferior. If a recipient is found to have violated these rules, the agency must freeze their funding and may require them to repay any money used during the violation. The restrictions apply to grants awarded on or after the bill becomes law, affecting scientific and medical research funded by the federal government.