The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2024 requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a study every two years on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities affecting the agriculture and food sector - including farmers, processors, distributors, and retailers - and assess impacts on food safety, public health, and the economy. The study must identify gaps in current defenses and recommend improvements, with reports submitted to Congress. Additionally, the Act mandates annual simulation exercises over five years to test the sector's response to food supply chain disruptions, involving government agencies and private companies, with findings reported to Congress. The law authorizes $1 million annually from 2024 through 2028 to fund these activities.
The Insurance Data Protection Act (S 3349) requires federal financial regulators to coordinate with state insurance regulators before collecting data from insurance companies, ensuring they first check if the data is already available from existing sources to avoid duplication. It protects the confidentiality of data shared with federal regulators, preventing waivers of existing privacy protections or legal privileges under federal or state law. The bill applies to insurance companies and federal financial regulators (such as the Federal Reserve and Commodity Futures Trading Commission), mandating that any data-sharing agreements with state regulators maintain confidentiality. Key provisions include a "coordination step" to reduce redundant data requests and strict rules preserving privacy obligations for all data handled under this law.
This bill amends SNAP (food stamp) program rules to prevent misuse. It requires states to suspend SNAP benefits for households making exclusively out-of-state purchases via EBT cards for over 60 days unless they prove they still reside in the state. It also prohibits households with members who own approved retail food stores or wholesale food businesses from using SNAP benefits at those locations (except for publicly owned stores or government entities). The changes take effect one year after enactment.
Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2024 This bill eliminates certain restrictions relating to Medicare coverage of mental health services that are provided through telehealth. Current law allows for coverage of such services regardless of the geographic location of the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), as long as the beneficiary previously received in-person services and continues to receive in-person services at specified intervals (effective January 1, 2025). The bill eliminates these in-person requirements.
S.1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023, repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die after the bill's enactment. It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation) and creating a new tax rate schedule for gifts. This bill directly affects high-net-worth individuals who would have paid estate or gift taxes on large transfers of wealth. The changes take effect after the bill's passage, with the exemption adjusted annually for inflation.
S 3625, the "Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act," tightens reporting deadlines for small businesses required to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). It changes deadlines from "in a timely manner" or "not later than 1 year" to a strict 90-day window for submitting reports. The bill also explicitly prohibits FinCEN from allowing businesses to skip reporting if they cannot obtain the required information, ensuring all covered entities comply. This directly affects small businesses subject to the beneficial ownership reporting rule under federal law. The changes aim to streamline compliance and enhance transparency to prevent illicit financial activity.
S 3619, the GUARD Act, restricts abortion access for Coast Guard members and their dependents. It prohibits using Coast Guard funds or facilities for abortions except when the mother's life is endangered or the pregnancy results from rape or incest. The bill also bans covering travel, lodging, or related expenses for abortion care under these same limited exceptions. This directly affects Coast Guard personnel and their dependents seeking abortion services through military channels. The law imposes these restrictions on all Coast Guard medical and administrative operations.
S 3624, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, restricts U.S. federal funding for organizations that perform, promote, or support abortions internationally. It prohibits federal funds from being provided to foreign or domestic groups (including NGOs and multilateral organizations) that conduct abortion services, provide related counseling or referrals, develop abortion tools, or financially support such activities. The bill also blocks funding for groups that fail to maintain strict separation between abortion-related work and other programs receiving U.S. aid. This directly affects foreign aid recipients and domestic organizations administering international programs that involve abortion-related services.
HR 5970, the SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act of 2023, allows federally recognized tribes to manage their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits locally through contracts or compacts with the USDA. Tribes must request this option via a tribal resolution, replacing the current federal administration of SNAP for tribal members. The agreements would follow the same rules as existing tribal self-determination contracts under the Indian Self-Determination Act. This change aims to support tribal self-governance over nutrition assistance programs.
HR 3372 establishes a 10-year pilot program allowing specific heavy trucks (6-axle vehicles weighing up to 91,000 pounds) to operate on interstate highways under state permits. States must apply to join the program, issue permits with route restrictions, and require operators to report accidents, vehicle weight, and annual mileage. Participating states may reduce permit fees by 67% for trucks equipped with automatic emergency braking systems. The program mandates annual safety reports to the federal government and ensures no reduction in highway funding for states participating in the pilot.
HR 1709, the Tribal Firearm Access Act, allows members of federally recognized tribes to use their Tribal government-issued ID instead of a state-issued ID when purchasing firearms from licensed dealers. It amends federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(1)(D)) to explicitly accept tribal identification documents as valid proof of identity for firearm transactions. The bill defines "Tribal government" to include recognized tribes listed under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994. This change directly affects tribal members seeking to purchase firearms and federally licensed dealers who must now accept tribal IDs as valid identification. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment.
HR 1508, the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act, clarifies who is considered a "resident" for federal gun purchase background checks. It redefines "State of residence" to include active-duty military members' duty station state or their commuting home state, and allows individuals without a physical home to use a private mailbox address. The bill modifies the National Instant Criminal Background Check System requirement to mandate that background checks include either a physical address or a private mailbox address for those without a physical residence. This change directly affects gun buyers traveling across state lines who may not be considered residents of the state where they purchase firearms under current rules.
