The SCALE Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to help states and eligible Indian tribes improve soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural lands. Between fiscal years 2027 and 2031, the Department of Agriculture will provide up to $10 million annually to recipients that meet specific performance standards, with a total funding pool of $250 million. To receive these funds, applicants must submit a plan detailing their goals and agree to match federal dollars with their own state or tribal funds, unless they cannot provide the full match. The law also sets strict rules on how the money can be spent, limiting administrative costs and prohibiting conditions that would force changes to existing local programs. Recipients must submit annual audit results and could be disqualified from future funding if they fail to comply with the grant terms.
The Keep Kids in School Act creates a federal grant program to help public schools reduce chronic absenteeism and improve safety for students. The Department of Education will provide funds to states, which will then distribute money to local school districts for specific interventions like hiring counselors, offering teacher stipends for home visits, and covering transportation costs. The bill defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent or more of school days and prioritizes funding for states with the highest rates of absenteeism among vulnerable student populations. Additionally, the act requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on effective methods for reducing absenteeism and improving student well-being, with findings reported to Congress and the Education Department.
The AI Tax Integrity Act of 2026 directs the Treasury Department to launch a pilot program using artificial intelligence to detect tax fraud, identity theft, and errors in returns prepared by third parties. This initiative is designed to target individual and business taxpayers who may file inaccurate returns, with the program running for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of two years. Upon completion, the Comptroller General must submit a report detailing the amount of improper refunds recovered, the total government recovery, and the accuracy of the AI tools used during the pilot.
The Alaska National Guard Rural Community Revival Act requires the Secretary of the Army to create a strategy for improving National Guard facilities and readiness in remote areas, including the Arctic. This plan must include an audit of existing armories, a strategy to recruit and retain personnel in isolated regions, and a blueprint for modernizing facilities with upgrades for extreme weather and cyber resilience. The legislation also directs the Army to explore partnerships with private companies to share infrastructure and data while reporting progress to Congress.
The Tax Dollar Accountability Act requires states and local governments that receive federal funds to provide the Comptroller General with access to their financial records, budgets, and contracts for audits and evaluations. Under this bill, these entities must submit such documents annually within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year. If a state fails to comply with this request, the Office of Management and Budget is authorized to withhold, suspend, or condition future federal funding until access is granted.
The Federal Fraud Prevention Workforce Training Act establishes a government-wide training program for federal employees to prevent fraud and improper payments in federal programs. This program mandates that federal employees in key oversight roles, such as program administrators, financial managers, and grants managers, complete the training within 180 days of their appointment and every two years thereafter. The curriculum will cover identifying fraud risks, using various antifraud resources and systems, and implementing internal controls to safeguard federal funds. Additionally, the training will be made available to State, local, and Tribal government employees who manage federally funded programs, with agencies having the option to require completion as a grant condition.
This bill, known as the Medicare Payment Integrity Enhancement Act of 2026, allows contractors hired to audit Medicare claims to review them before payments are made. Under current rules, these auditors can only check claims after money has already been sent out, but this legislation would expand their authority to stop improper payments in advance. To support this new role, the bill changes how these contractors are paid by linking their compensation to the amount of money they successfully prevent from being paid out incorrectly. Additionally, it requires the government to create a specific funding plan that transfers money from Medicare trust funds to cover these prepayment review costs. The law also mandates that the health department issue rules within a year to explain exactly how contractor pay and savings calculations will work.
The Stop CHEATERS Act directs the Internal Revenue Service to increase its enforcement efforts against high-income individuals and large corporations while also expanding taxpayer support services. To achieve this, the bill appropriates billions of dollars over several years to fund IRS investigations, hire additional staff, purchase vehicles, and modernize outdated technology systems. Additionally, the legislation requires the IRS Commissioner to submit regular reports to Congress detailing plans to shift auditing resources toward wealthy taxpayers and analyzing collection gaps across different income levels.
The Legacy IT Reduction Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to create and maintain an inventory of their outdated information technology systems, including details about costs, vendors, and planned updates. Under this bill, agency heads must develop five-year modernization plans every two years that outline how they will update, retire, or replace these legacy systems, with submissions to congressional oversight committees. The Office of Management and Budget will issue guidance on what qualifies as a legacy system and provide templates for inventory and planning, while the Comptroller General will review implementation three years after enactment. The law does not authorize new funding and will expire six years after enactment, with specific exemptions for national security systems and protections against transferring systems to foreign entities.
This bill directs the Comptroller General of the United States to create and regularly update a "High Risk List" that identifies program areas where state and local governments face the greatest risks to the integrity of federally funded money. The list will analyze existing audit reports and public data to pinpoint specific administrative practices that lead to waste, fraud, or abuse, while also highlighting successful strategies that have improved fund management. Additionally, the report will outline available federal tools and resources to help address these vulnerabilities and offer recommendations to Congress on how to mitigate the identified risks. Ultimately, the legislation aims to enhance oversight of state-administered federal programs by providing a clear, evidence-based assessment of where the highest risks exist.
