This bill establishes a pilot program to help local governments in large urban areas create better maps for urban flooding, which occurs when heavy rain overwhelms drainage systems in built-up areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide grants to eligible cities and stormwater authorities to develop easy-to-understand digital tools that show specific flood risks for individual buildings and factor in climate trends. Funding is available for up to 12 locations over several years, with a preference for communities that are highly vulnerable to flooding or sea-level rise, and recipients must share their results and lessons learned online with the public.
The Workforce Transparency Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary federal framework for companies developing artificial intelligence systems to share aggregated, privacy-protected data about how their tools are used in the workplace. Participating providers and enterprise customers can submit statistical information regarding task usage, geographic distribution, and trends over time to the Department of Labor without revealing individual identities, trade secrets, or proprietary code. The Department of Labor will maintain a public database of this data and issue annual reports to Congress to support evidence-based workforce and economic policymaking. The legislation explicitly prohibits federal agencies from penalizing companies that choose not to participate and ensures that all shared data remains exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Maritime Cybersecurity Act requires owners and operators of covered maritime facilities to annually report on the software and hardware they use, specifically focusing on equipment connected to the internet or manufactured by foreign entities of concern. Under this bill, the Secretary of Transportation must conduct assessments of these systems to identify security weaknesses, even if doing so violates existing contracts or requires bypassing consent from facility owners. The legislation mandates that facilities generally cannot use unassessed foreign technology unless the Secretary grants a waiver based on a determination that the commercial benefits outweigh the low national security risks. Additionally, the Act establishes a process for the government to share sensitive cybersecurity findings with relevant federal partners while keeping the specific details confidential from the public.
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to equip specific contract air traffic control towers with advanced situational awareness tools within one year of enactment. It mandates the installation of Airborne Position Reference Tools at towers lacking these systems and ensures that towers without Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems receive necessary equipment and maintenance support. The legislation also updates funding rules to cover the costs of acquiring and operating these new tools and establishes training programs to help controllers effectively use the technology. Additionally, the bill provides financial reimbursement to airports that have already purchased similar systems before the federal government installs them.
This bill directs the Small Business Administration to create a plan for disclosing how it uses artificial intelligence in its operations and contracting. The agency must submit this implementation plan to Congress within 45 days of the law's enactment, outlining specific steps to define roles and document AI usage decisions. The requirements are based on a prior government report and existing federal guidelines aimed at increasing transparency in federal AI adoption. Ultimately, the legislation ensures the SBA formally reports its AI strategies and progress to legislative oversight committees.
The Parents Over Platforms Act requires app stores and developers to verify user ages and restrict access to adult-only content for minors. App stores must ask users to declare their age and allow parents to block specific applications, while developers are prohibited from showing personalized ads to minors and must prevent them from accessing age-gated features. The law grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules and includes a preemption clause that stops states from passing their own conflicting regulations. Developers are solely responsible for identifying which of their apps require age restrictions, and the bill includes protections for companies acting in good faith when technical limitations prevent perfect age verification. These measures will take effect two years after the legislation is enacted.
The No Rigged Grocery Prices Act prohibits grocery stores and third-party delivery services from using a customer's personal data to raise prices for specific individuals. While the law allows for standard promotions, loyalty rewards, and objective cost differences like shipping fees, it bans dynamic pricing that targets consumers based on their personal information. Retailers must also inform customers if item availability changes or if prices are calculated by weight, and delivery services need explicit permission before swapping out grocery items. Violations of these rules would be treated as unfair business practices enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to report on how the adoption of electronic shelf labels affects employment at grocery stores.
The Protecting Charitable Giving Act strengthens penalties for unauthorized disclosures of donor information from certain tax-exempt organizations, specifically raising fines to a range of $10,000 to $250,000. It also expands legal venue options to allow prosecutions in the district where victims reside and requires the IRS to issue reports detailing audit results and prevention steps for such breaches. These changes directly affect organizations classified under sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) that maintain records of contributor names or addresses.
This bill updates the Department of Veterans Affairs' high technology program to include emerging fields like artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, aiming to help veterans find jobs in growing industries. It requires the VA, along with the Departments of Defense and Labor, to partner with private sector employers and schools to identify these new job opportunities and the specific training needed to fill them. The agencies must then prominently display this information on their websites and promote it to veterans during their transition from military service. Additionally, the law mandates that the list of relevant industries and occupations be reviewed and updated every quarter to reflect changing market demands, with the entire program set to expire in September 2027.
The Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026 updates federal programs to extend their funding periods through fiscal year 2031 and establishes a new Transportation Statistics Coordination Council to oversee data collection across the Department of Transportation. The bill also creates a study on the safety impacts of new headlamp technologies and requires a strategy to increase the use of reclaimed asphalt in road construction. Additionally, it expands rail research to address safety challenges in modern commuter and freight systems while ensuring data standards remain consistent.
