The Affordable Housing Credit Carryback Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to claim a five-year carryback for unused low-income housing tax credits. This provision enables developers and investors who have not fully utilized their allocated credits in the current year to apply them against taxes owed in previous years. By extending this refund mechanism, the bill provides financial flexibility to entities involved in affordable housing projects, potentially accelerating the development of such units.
The Trade Deficit Elimination Act of 2026 directs the United States Trade Representative to annually identify countries with which the U.S. has a bilateral deficit in goods trade and designate them as "trade deficit economies." For these designated partners, the bill authorizes the imposition of additional import duties specifically calculated to eliminate the trade imbalance, subject to presidential direction and consultation with congressional committees. The legislation allows for exemptions on goods that are critical to national security or unavailable domestically at reasonable prices. Additionally, it empowers the Trade Representative to negotiate bilateral agreements requiring partner nations to increase purchases of U.S. goods or reduce their exports to the United States.
The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act expands the existing advanced manufacturing production tax credit to include nine additional critical minerals - boron, copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, silver, uranium, and phosphate - effective for products sold after December 31, 2025. The bill allows companies that extract ore in the United States (or specific foreign locations where the mineral is not commercially available domestically) to claim tax credits for extraction costs if the ore is subsequently refined into one of these covered minerals. Additionally, the legislation removes a previous restriction that limited the tax credit amount for metallurgical coal, ensuring it receives the same full credit rate as other eligible materials.
The Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act mandates increased funding for federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to combat health care fraud and abuse starting in fiscal year 2027. The bill expands the investigative authority of the HHS Office of Inspector General to cover programs established under the Affordable Care Act and includes the State Children's Health Insurance Program in Medicare-Medicaid data matching efforts. Additionally, it requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the program's performance and effectiveness, with results due to Congress within 16 months of enactment.
The Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act prohibits healthcare providers from requiring registered, licensed practical, or licensed vocational nurses to work mandatory overtime beyond specific limits, including a cap of 48 hours per week or 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period. The bill mandates that facilities post nurse schedules and rights notices, while protecting nurses from retaliation if they refuse excessive shifts or report violations. Limited exceptions allow for mandatory overtime during declared emergencies or disasters, provided the facility has made reasonable efforts to fill staffing needs through other means. Providers who knowingly violate these rules face civil money penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with harsher fines for repeated offenses, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to conduct studies on safe working hour standards.
