Texas Congressional Bills

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8475: Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act

Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act This bill creates a new income-driven repayment plan for student loans called the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan. The SOAR plan has similar provisions to, but further expands on, the Department of Education's (ED's) final rule published on July 10, 2023, that created the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE plan was blocked by federal courts. The bill directs ED to carry out a SOAR plan program that complies with specified requirements. The bill allows all federal student loan types to be eligible for repayment under the SOAR plan, including Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Family Education Loans. Under the SOAR plan, a federal student loan borrower whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) has $0 monthly payments. A borrower whose income is over 250% of the FPL pays 5% of their discretionary income on loans obtained for undergraduate study and 10% of their discretionary income for all other outstanding loans (e.g., loans obtained for graduate study). Additionally, under the SOAR plan, holders of eligible federal student loans (e.g., ED or private lenders) must apply 50% of the borrower's monthly payment toward outstanding principal. The other 50% must be applied in the following order: (1) accrued charges and collection costs on the loan, (2) outstanding interest, and (3) outstanding principal. ED must forgive any loan balance that remains outstanding after a specified maximum repayment period (e.g., 10 years or 15 years).

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8468: Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

The Protecting American Railroad Workers' Jobs Act of 2026 requires freight trains crossing the southern border into the United States to stop for crew changes and safety inspections. Under this bill, only railroad workers who are U.S. nationals or lawfully authorized aliens with a primary reporting point in the U.S. may operate these trains after the stop. The legislation also prohibits crew members from performing any duties while physically outside the United States. These provisions directly affect railroad carriers operating freight trains across the Mexico border and the workers employed on those trains.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8460: Territorial Protection and Sovereignty Act

This bill, titled the Territorial Protection and Sovereignty Act, ends the Temporary Protected Status program for individuals currently holding that status in the United States. It requires that any existing status grants terminate immediately upon the law's enactment. Affected individuals must depart the country within 60 days of the bill becoming effective to avoid being classified as unlawfully present. The legislation removes the specific legal protections previously established under Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8092: Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026

This bill modernizes housing assistance programs for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians by streamlining environmental reviews, extending funding authorization through 2032, and expanding loan guarantee options. Key provisions include consolidating environmental review requirements to reduce paperwork for tribes, allowing 99-year leasehold interests on trust lands for housing, and creating new rental assistance specifically for homeless or at-risk Native American veterans. The legislation also clarifies rent rules, waives certain housing counseling certifications for tribal entities, exempts tribal housing projects from some federal civil rights and Buy America requirements, and establishes a direct loan guarantee process for tribal housing projects.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Troy Downing (R) · 50 co-sponsors

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 4374: Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026

The Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026 grants the Department of Defense authority to purchase F-35 and F-15EX fighter jets through multiyear contracts. It also permits the procurement of key aircraft components in advance to streamline production schedules. The legislation establishes minimum inventory levels for Air Force fighter aircraft that must be maintained between 2026 and 2035. Additionally, it authorizes an increase in the F-15EX fleet size to 329 aircraft, requiring new planes to replace older F-15E models.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8443: End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026

This bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the H-1B visa program by pausing new issuances for three years and capping the annual limit at 25,000 visas. It would eliminate the current lottery system, replacing it with a process that prioritizes employers offering the highest wages, while also restricting visa holders to a maximum stay of three years and banning them from holding multiple jobs simultaneously. The legislation further mandates that all H-1B workers be paid at least $200,000 annually, prohibits staffing agencies from sponsoring these visas, and bars federal agencies from hiring or petitioning for H-1B workers. Additionally, the bill would end employment authorization for foreign students and interns, and generally prevent most nonimmigrants from adjusting their status to become permanent residents while in the United States.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8440: ZELDIN Act

The ZELDIN Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to obtain explicit approval from both chambers of Congress before dismissing any lawsuits or withdrawing referrals related to claims about the release of known or likely carcinogens. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EPA consult with its Office of General Counsel before terminating grants and prohibits agencies from penalizing recipients for delays caused by legal challenges to those terminations. The legislation also establishes a private right of action allowing harmed individuals to sue the EPA for injunctive relief and damages, while setting a specific sunset date of January 20, 2029, for the law's provisions.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HRES 1189: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

This resolution provides for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8411: Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise

This bill proposes a 15 percent pay increase for career employees of the Transportation Security Administration, including agents and officers who are not senior executives or high-level appointees. The raise would take effect starting with the first pay period following the law's enactment and would apply to both basic pay rates and compensation bands under the TSA's core system. The legislation directly affects TSA staff members who fall under the career employee definition, ensuring they receive the salary adjustment in their next eligible paycheck.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8320: USA 6G Global Leadership Act

The USA 6G Global Leadership Act directs the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies to develop strategies for U.S. global leadership in 6G telecommunications technology. It mandates the Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy to coordinate U.S. diplomatic efforts at upcoming international telecommunications conferences, consulting with the private sector and reporting to Congress. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of State to fund projects in developing countries that promote connectivity using trusted U.S. or allied telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, it requires reports on a comprehensive U.S. 6G dominance strategy and on efforts by China and Russia to influence international telecommunications standards.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8285: Protecting American Competition Act of 2026

This bill modifies the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to require the Under Secretary for Industry and Security to consider whether a license application represents the first export authorization for an item to a specific buyer. It mandates that if an initial license is granted, the agency must promptly process any subsequent applications from other parties seeking to export similar items to the same buyer. The legislation also requires annual reports to Congress detailing the number of initial licenses issued, information about competing applications, and explanations for why initial licenses were granted despite other requests. These changes aim to increase transparency in export licensing procedures while maintaining flexibility for national security and foreign policy decisions.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2026

HR 8284: Bureau of Industry and Security License Administration Enhancement Act

This bill strengthens the Bureau of Industry and Security's ability to manage export control licenses by requiring the agency to publish specific regulatory guidance within 60 days and establishing clear standards for denying licenses to prevent technology transfer to foreign adversaries. It creates a system of technical advisory committees composed of national security experts, industry specialists, and academics to advise on emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology, with these committees required to meet every four months and submit annual reports. The legislation also mandates regular reviews of existing export control rules for advanced computing integrated circuits and requires the Secretary of Commerce to report findings to Congress within 120 days of enactment.

Topics ✓ Technology

Texas Congressional Bills

Bill results