Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a streamlined process for farmers and ranchers to provide benefits under certain federal nutrition programs. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). Specifically, USDA must establish a streamlined application process for farmers and ranchers to apply to be vendors under the nutrition programs, including by developing a single application for the programs or an information sharing system. USDA must also develop a streamlined process for these vendors to use standardized technology to process program benefits (such as a single piece of equipment or a mobile application). Further, USDA must ensure that the program benefit processing equipment and systems made available by a state agency are appropriate for the entity. For example, this includes ensuring wireless or mobile processing equipment and technology systems are appropriate for farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer markets.
This bill, the Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026, strengthens enforcement powers for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to protect consumers in the electricity and natural gas markets. It allows FERC to ban companies or individuals who violate reporting rules or engage in deceptive practices from buying or selling energy and related services. The legislation also adds specific penalties for knowingly submitting false information about natural gas prices or availability to federal agencies. These changes apply to utilities, energy traders, and other market participants regulated by FERC.
The SERVE Act extends various Veterans Affairs benefits to former military members who were discharged specifically due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation amends existing laws to include these individuals in access to hospital care, mental health counseling, burial in national cemeteries, post-9/11 education assistance, and VA housing loans. The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify affected service members about available benefits and mandates a report within 15 months detailing how many individuals have received these services.
The SECURE Data Act establishes a comprehensive federal privacy framework that grants consumers specific rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal data, while requiring companies to provide clear privacy notices and implement reasonable data security measures. It directly affects large businesses and data brokers that process significant amounts of consumer information, mandating that these entities obtain explicit consent for sensitive data and prohibiting discrimination against individuals who exercise their privacy rights. The legislation creates a registration system for data brokers, allows for enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, and preempts conflicting state laws to ensure a uniform national standard.
This bill directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise labeling regulations for beverages marketed to children aged 12 to 36 months, directly impacting manufacturers and parents/caregivers. It would prohibit these "toddler drinks" from using the term "formula" and require them to use descriptive names like "milk-based drink" or "soy-based drink powder," adding terms like "sweetened" or "flavored" if applicable. Additionally, labels would need to include clear disclaimers cautioning against consumption by infants and stating that such beverages are not recommended for children 12-24 months or necessary for a healthy diet, particularly if they contain added sugars. The bill also prohibits labels from suggesting a recommended daily intake for these toddler beverages.
This bill establishes a Climate Change Education Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to increase climate literacy across the United States through formal and nonformal learning opportunities for all ages. The program will award grants to state and local educational agencies, universities, professional associations, and youth organizations to develop climate education curricula, train educators, and support community-based climate action projects. Funding allocations prioritize environmental justice communities and require that grants to local schools provide at least $1 million annually if total funding exceeds $5 million. The bill authorizes $50 million per year from 2027 through 2032 to carry out these educational initiatives and requires the NOAA Administrator to submit annual reports to Congress on program effectiveness.
This bill, HR 8403, amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the definition of eligible food items for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It directly affects SNAP recipients by expanding the types of food they can purchase with their benefits. The key provision explicitly adds "hot rotisserie chicken" to the list of items considered SNAP-eligible food. This change would allow individuals using SNAP to buy prepared hot rotisserie chickens from authorized retailers.
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 establishes a grant program to help vulnerable mothers and babies in areas with high climate-related health risks, such as extreme heat and air pollution. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award up to $105 million over four years to community groups, healthcare providers, and local organizations for initiatives that provide cooling resources, health education, and support services. The program prioritizes areas with high rates of maternal and infant health disparities and requires grantees to address racial and ethnic inequities. Additionally, the bill creates a research consortium at the National Institutes of Health to study climate impacts on birth outcomes and funds training programs for health profession schools to better prepare providers for these risks.
The ACCESS Act of 2026 aims to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for public accommodations, affecting individuals with disabilities, business owners, and website/app developers. It directs the Department of Justice to create an education program on accessibility strategies for property and website owners. A key provision requires individuals to provide written notice of an architectural or technological access barrier and a 60-day period for the owner to address it before a civil lawsuit can be filed. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on various website accessibility standards and directs the Judicial Conference to develop a model mediation program for architectural barrier claims.
This bill establishes a federal registration system for payment service providers, allowing companies that meet specific state licensing and charter requirements to register with the Comptroller of the Currency and operate across state lines. Once registered, these providers must maintain customer funds in segregated reserve accounts backed by highly liquid assets like U.S. currency, Treasury securities, and insured deposits, and they are prohibited from reusing customer funds for their own purposes. The legislation also requires registered providers to follow fair access rules that prevent discrimination based on political views or beliefs, undergo regular federal examinations, and submit financial reports to regulators. Additionally, the bill grants the Comptroller authority to act as a conservator or receiver for insolvent nonbank payment providers and ensures that customer balances held with these providers are not classified as securities under federal law.
Equal Representation Act This bill requires that the statement sent by the President to Congress after the decennial census indicating the number of persons in each state exclude noncitizens. (This statement is the basis for reapportionment of U.S. Representatives.) The bill also requires any questionnaire used in the decennial census to include a checkbox or other similar option for respondents to indicate whether the respondent and each household member is (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a U.S. national but not a citizen, (3) a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) lawfully residing in the United States, or (4) a non-U.S. national unlawfully residing in the United States. The Department of Commerce must make public the number of persons in each state, disaggregated by each of these four categories.
