This bill prevents state or local governments from banning or restricting energy connections (like installation, modification, or access) based on the type or source of energy, such as electricity, natural gas, or renewable fuels. It directly affects consumers choosing energy providers and energy companies seeking to offer services. The key provision prohibits local laws, regulations, or policies that limit energy services sold in interstate commerce, covering all energy types listed in the bill’s definitions. It does not create new programs but limits regulatory authority at the state or local level. The law aims to ensure open access to diverse energy sources without source-based restrictions.
This bill amends federal energy conservation law to require federal agencies to consider mechanical insulation as a standard energy-saving measure during building evaluations. It defines "mechanical insulation property" as materials that reduce energy loss in mechanical systems while meeting ASHRAE 90.1 standards, including insulation placed in service with those systems. The law adds mechanical insulation to the list of measures agencies must evaluate for potential installation in federal buildings as part of their required energy and water assessments. This directly affects federal agencies managing buildings, ensuring they formally assess this specific efficiency measure during routine evaluations.
This bill creates a tax exclusion for certain disaster mitigation payments received by property owners. It allows individuals to exclude from gross income funds paid by state programs (or approved entities) to make improvements that reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. The exclusion applies to payments made for specific property upgrades like storm shutters or fire-resistant roofing. The change takes effect for 2021+ tax years and includes a retroactive option for taxpayers to amend prior returns. It directly affects homeowners participating in qualifying state disaster resilience programs.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 amends federal law to enhance support for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. The bill authorizes $270 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 to fund state, tribal, and community programs, with specific funding reserved for tribal programs (12.5%), national hotlines ($20.5 million for general hotline, $4 million for Indian hotline), and services for underserved populations. It requires grantees to provide trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services while prohibiting discrimination and protecting victim confidentiality, and mandates accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. The bill also establishes new technical assistance centers, Tribal resource centers, and community-based prevention programs to address the needs of underserved populations including Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and racial and ethnic minorities.
HR 7322, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, requires federal agencies to pay regular wages to most employees and contractor workers during government shutdowns in fiscal year 2026, instead of furloughing them. It applies to all standard federal employees (excluding those on emergency duty) and contractor workers whose jobs would normally halt during a funding gap. Agencies must pay covered employees within 7 days of the bill's enactment for ongoing shutdowns, and contractors receive reimbursement for costs incurred keeping workers paid. The bill also prohibits agencies from implementing layoffs or placing employees on administrative leave for more than 10 days during a shutdown.
The Make Elections Great Again Act (HR 7300) would require voters to present photo identification to cast ballots in person or by mail for federal elections, with limited exceptions for religious objections or military voters. It would establish new requirements for proving U.S. citizenship during voter registration, including documentary proof of citizenship and proof of state residency. The bill would change mail-in ballot procedures by requiring voters to request mail-in ballots (rather than universal mail-in voting), implementing barcode tracking for mail-in ballots, and setting strict deadlines for ballot receipt. These provisions would apply to all states for federal elections held in 2027 or later, affecting how voters register, vote in person, and submit mail-in ballots for federal office elections.
This bill amends federal water pollution control funding rules to make wastewater services more affordable for low-income communities. It requires states to dedicate at least 20% of their annual federal capitalization grants toward additional subsidies for wastewater infrastructure, with an additional 10% specifically reserved for rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works. States must use these funds to help ratepayers afford wastewater (including stormwater) services, excluding loans with 0% interest rates from counting toward subsidy calculations. The policy directly affects communities served by publicly owned treatment works, particularly in underserved rural and tribal areas, by mandating minimum subsidy levels from state water funds.
The Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to open applications for its Next Generation Warning System grants for at least 30 days each year. It also explicitly includes public broadcasting entities (as defined in the Communications Act of 1934) as eligible recipients for these grants. This bill directly affects FEMA's grant administration process and public broadcasting organizations that provide emergency alert services. The key change is standardizing the application window and expanding eligibility to ensure public broadcasters can access funding for emergency alert systems.
This bill exempts certain less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal sales taxes and National Firearms Act restrictions. It directly affects manufacturers, importers, and producers of these devices, which are defined as non-lethal tools (like rubber bullets or beanbag rounds) designed not to cause serious injury and unable to be easily converted to use standard firearm ammunition. Key mechanisms include a 90-day classification process for manufacturers seeking exemption, an annual public list of approved devices, and annual congressional reports on devices excluded from the exemption. The policy change applies to devices meeting specific safety criteria, such as projectile velocity limits and design features preventing misuse as conventional weapons.
S 3754 imposes a tiered tax on investors purchasing single-family homes, targeting those owning significant portfolios: 1% for medium-sized investors (16-25 homes), 3% for large investors (26-100 homes), and 5% for giant investors (over 100 homes). The tax applies to home purchases, excluding new construction unless replacing an existing home on the same site, and exempts nonprofits focused on affordable housing, government entities, and community land trusts. Revenue generated will be allocated 65% to the Housing Trust Fund and 35% to the Capital Magnet Fund to support affordable housing programs. The law takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE America Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and requires photo identification to vote, in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill (1) provides for a private right of action for certain violations, and (2) establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses. Individuals voting in federal elections must present an eligible photo identification document. An individual who votes by absentee ballot must submit a copy of their identification document with both the request for, and the submission of, the absentee ballot.
HR 7281, the Justice for Shireen Act, requires the FBI and State Department to submit a public report within 30 days of enactment. The report must identify those responsible for journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, detail any U.S. defense materials, funds, or services involved, and include relevant unredacted documents. It mandates the report be unclassified and published online simultaneously for public access. This bill directly affects federal agencies by imposing specific reporting obligations, with no direct impact on citizens or changes to existing laws. The focus is solely on documenting the circumstances of Abu Akleh’s death through a mandated government review.
