HR 6197, the Health Tech Investment Act, establishes a new payment category under Medicare for algorithm-based healthcare services (like AI tools used in diagnosis or treatment) starting January 1, 2026. It requires Medicare to pay based on manufacturer-provided costs (including software, staff, and overhead) for these services and prohibits removing them from the special payment category for at least five years after initial payment. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (through coverage), healthcare providers (who deliver these services), and AI/algorithm service manufacturers (who receive reimbursement). The bill ensures these new technologies get fair payment while gathering sufficient claims data before potentially moving them to standard payment categories.
This bill allows borrowers to count digital assets (like cryptocurrency) held in secure custody as part of their mortgage reserves, without converting them to U.S. dollars. It directly affects borrowers with digital assets and requires Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) to adjust their risk assessments for these assets. Key provisions include applying adjustments for market volatility and asset concentration, requiring periodic reviews of risk models, and mandating board and agency approval before implementing assessment methods. The bill defines "digital assets" to exclude non-fungible items like collectibles and specifies secure custody requirements for inclusion.
This bill prohibits federal agencies from restricting individuals' use of convertible virtual currency for personal purchases or self-custodying digital assets via self-hosted wallets. It directly affects people who use crypto to buy goods/services for themselves, regardless of how they obtained the currency. Key provisions prevent agencies from blocking personal transactions or interfering with user-controlled wallets (where owners retain full control over their assets). The law defines "covered users" broadly to include anyone purchasing items for their own use with convertible virtual currency. It does not regulate businesses, exchanges, or government use of digital assets.
This bill (S 2266) requires businesses selling online services with automatic renewals or free trials to clearly disclose renewal terms and make cancellation simple for consumers. It mandates 7-day advance notice before charging for renewals, requires express consent for each renewal (not just initial sign-up), and prohibits deceptive "dark patterns" that hide cancellation options. Violations make renewals void and require full refunds for affected charges. The law directly affects subscription services (like streaming or software) and protects consumers from unexpected fees or hidden billing practices.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create an electronic system allowing veterans and eligible individuals to send and receive digital messages about their education benefits. It directly affects veterans using VA education benefits, such as the GI Bill, by giving them the option to switch from paper mail to electronic communication. The VA must notify these veterans about the opt-in option and ensure they can choose electronic correspondence instead of mail. The law mandates this change for all communications related to education benefit entitlements under existing VA programs.
The Connected Vehicle National Security Review Act creates a new Office within the Department of Commerce to review transactions involving connected vehicles (vehicles with internet connectivity) that could pose national security risks from countries like China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. The Office can require companies to implement cybersecurity measures, remove certain components, or block transactions if they pose a significant risk to U.S. critical infrastructure. Companies must provide information about their transactions and comply with review findings, with penalties including fines of up to $1 million per violation. The law requires annual risk assessments from the Director of National Intelligence to identify high-risk supply chain participants, expanding government authority to regulate the connected vehicle supply chain for national security purposes.
The Cyber PIVOTT Act creates a program to build a skilled cyber workforce by providing full tuition scholarships to students in two-year cyber or cyber-relevant associate's degree programs at participating community colleges and technical schools. The program requires scholarship recipients to complete a two-year service obligation in a cyber role for federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government, with exceptions for military service. It includes mandatory skills-based exercises, internships with government agencies or critical infrastructure sectors, and a database of cyber training resources mapped to job roles. The program aims to enroll 250 students in its first year, doubling annually until reaching 1,000 students per year, with a long-term goal of 10,000 students annually within ten years.
HR 1734 establishes a task force of financial regulators (including Treasury, Fed, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials) to study deep fake threats to banking security. The task force must issue a report within one year detailing current protections used by banks and credit unions, standard definitions for AI terms like "deep fakes," risks of identity theft via AI fraud, and best practices for prevention. The report will also include regulatory recommendations to protect consumers from data theft and fraud. This procedural bill requires a study but does not enact new laws or directly affect consumers or institutions until recommendations are considered.
S 2714 (CHAT Act) requires companies operating AI chatbots designed to simulate friendship or emotional interaction (like companion AI chatbots) to verify user ages and implement protections for minors. It mandates age verification for all users, parental account linkage and consent for minors, blocking access to sexually explicit content for minors, and monitoring for suicidal ideation with resource links. Companies must also display clear notifications every 60 minutes stating users are interacting with AI, not humans. The bill directly affects minors under 18 and the companies providing these chatbot services, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
The SAFE Supply Chains Act requires the U.S. Department of Defense to only purchase or use certain IT hardware and software (called "covered products") from the original manufacturer or an authorized reseller, prohibiting purchases from other sources. It allows limited waivers for scientific research or to protect critical military operations, but mandates annual reports to Congress detailing waiver reasons, security measures, and efforts to reduce future waivers. The law does not create new funding and will take effect one year after enactment. This aims to strengthen supply chain security by limiting reliance on unvetted vendors for defense-related technology.