The Civics Learning Act of 2026 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding and support for civics education in K-12 schools. The bill directs the Department of Education to distribute $70 million in grants to schools, with at least 60 percent reserved for elementary and middle schools and a preference for programs that include hands-on civic engagement, constitutional history, and civil rights education. It also requires grant recipients to submit annual reports detailing how they meet civics education goals and ensures geographic diversity in funding distribution across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
This bill prohibits the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing financing to individuals or companies with seriously delinquent federal tax debt. The law requires the Bank to check tax records through the System for Award Management website and consult with the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner to identify such debt. Exceptions are allowed if the President determines there are urgent and compelling circumstances affecting U.S. interests, requiring a report to Congress within 30 days. The definition of seriously delinquent tax debt excludes debts being paid under agreements, pending hearings, or under continuous levies.
The Rural Child Care Access Act establishes a federal grant program to assist child care facilities in rural areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. The Department of Health and Human Services can award up to $4 million per facility for projects that upgrade infrastructure or improve provider recruitment and training. Congress has authorized $250 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, requiring the agency to report on project progress and ensure funds are distributed equitably across regions. Additionally, the bill mandates a study to assess the ongoing construction and renovation needs of child care facilities nationwide.
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Children
Rural Communities
The Tax Relief for First Responder Beneficiaries Act expands tax exemptions for public safety officers and their families starting in 2023. It allows surviving beneficiaries, not just dependents, to exclude certain compensation from their taxable income. Additionally, the bill permits children or beneficiaries of life insurance policies and benefit plans to receive survivor annuity benefits without tax penalties. These changes directly affect first responders and the individuals who rely on their insurance and pension plans after the officers pass away.
The Great American Healthcare Plan is a comprehensive bill that modifies tax rules for Health Savings Accounts, expands access to health insurance through new marketplace pools, and strengthens price transparency for hospitals and medical providers. It allows individuals to use HSAs for wellness expenses like healthy food and gym memberships, lets parents and children access each other's HSA funds, and requires hospitals to publicly list their standard charges and negotiated rates. The legislation also mandates that administrative service providers share detailed pricing data with health plans and creates a mechanism for pharmacists and nurses to dispense certain low-risk prescription drugs under expanded access.
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.
The Relief for Families of the Fallen Act provides tax relief for the families of public safety officers who die as a direct result of injuries sustained while on duty. This legislation removes income taxes for the year of death and any prior tax years since the injury occurred, applying to officers such as police, firefighters, and paramedics. To process these claims, the law requires the tax authority to use existing criteria for determining line-of-duty deaths and to handle requests quickly with minimal administrative burden on grieving families. The benefits become effective for officers who die on or after January 1, 2025.
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Public Safety
This bill creates an online portal to help surviving spouses and estate executors prepare and file their taxes after a death. The portal will offer tools like checklists, pre-filled forms, and secure document uploads while automatically connecting with Social Security death records. To support this system, the bill also establishes a grant program to help states improve how they record and report death information to the Social Security Administration.
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management assistance for agricultural producers, crop insurance providers, and other stakeholders. It requires the USDA to offer language translation services and update training programs to include diverse conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water management, and agroforestry systems. The legislation increases funding limits, allowing producers to receive up to $200,000 over five years for these activities, while also authorizing $20 million annually in new appropriations. Additionally, it clarifies that payments for these programs do not count toward existing federal fund limits, ensuring producers can access multiple sources of support.
The Jersey Pride Tax Credit Act of 2026 creates a new tax incentive for businesses that sell products promoting the state of New Jersey. Under this bill, eligible businesses can claim a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the sales revenue from these specific products. Additionally, the legislation requires Port Authorities to give preference when renting commercial space to businesses selling such promotional items. These changes apply to products sold after December 31, 2025.
