The Right to Vote Act establishes legal protections against government actions that make it more difficult for citizens to vote in federal elections. It prohibits any rule or practice that diminishes voting ability unless the government proves it is the least restrictive way to achieve an important interest, and it similarly blocks substantial impairments unless they significantly further a specific government goal. The bill creates a new legal pathway for voters to challenge these restrictions in federal court, requiring judges to expedite these cases and shifting the burden of proof to the government to justify any voting barriers. These protections apply to all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia for elections occurring on or after September 1, 2026.
The REG Act of 2026 amends four major financial laws to require regulators to assess whether new rules, when combined with existing or proposed ones, would promote the public interest. Specifically, it adds language to the Securities Act, Securities Exchange Act, Investment Company Act, and Investment Advisers Act to mandate this cumulative review process. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for overseeing securities markets and investment firms by changing how they evaluate proposed regulations. This change aims to ensure that individual rules are not approved without considering their broader impact on the financial system when stacked alongside other measures.
The American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026 requires law enforcement agencies receiving federal grants to certify that they will stop buying drones from designated foreign countries by 2027 and phase out existing foreign-made drones by 2031. To support this transition, the bill establishes a buyback program that pays agencies to surrender foreign drones and offers grants to help them purchase secure, domestically produced alternatives. Additionally, the legislation provides funding to private companies to build or expand drone manufacturing facilities in the United States, with a requirement that these systems be adaptable for defense use. Non-compliant agencies face penalties including the loss of future funding and the requirement to repay previous grants, while the bill also authorizes $1.5 billion in funds derived from trade duties to finance these initiatives.
The Reproductive Health Care Training Act of 2026 authorizes $25 million over five years to fund a program that provides grants to health schools and clinics for expanding abortion care training. These funds are specifically designated for institutions located in states where comprehensive abortion training is legal, with a priority on serving minority-serving schools and those training students from medically underserved areas. The program supports activities such as developing clinical curricula, utilizing telehealth, recruiting diverse healthcare workers, and offering scholarships to students pursuing this specialized training. Recipients must submit annual reports on program performance while ensuring federal funds supplement, rather than replace, existing state and private resources.
The Access to Innovative Treatments Act of 2026 changes how Medicare reviews decisions to deny or limit coverage for new drugs and biological products. It requires the Medicare administrator to start a review within 90 days of a request, includes a 30-day period for public comments, and mandates a final decision within 120 days that must address those comments. The bill also prevents Medicare from applying old coverage rules to newly approved or licensed drugs if those rules would contradict the current approval. Additionally, it stops prescription drug plans from using outdated coverage decisions to deny payment for new medications. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries, drug manufacturers, and the Medicare program administrators.
This bill authorizes the presentation of Congressional Gold Medals to the four crew members of the Artemis II mission to recognize their historic achievement in advancing human space exploration. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medals, which will feature the faces of the astronauts and be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury. In addition to the gold medals, the bill permits the minting and sale of duplicate bronze versions to help cover production costs, with any proceeds returned to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
The Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from trading on prediction markets regarding government policies, actions, political outcomes, or any events related to their congressional duties. This restriction applies to any purchase, sale, or agreement dependent on these specific outcomes while the individual is in federal service. If a covered individual violates these rules, they must pay a fee equal to the greater of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value, plus any net profit made from the trade. The law also forbids paying these penalties using personal allowances, campaign funds, or other official accounts, and it requires the supervising ethics office to issue guidance on how to interpret the new restrictions.
This bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.
The NO FAKES Act of 2026 establishes a new property right for individuals to control the creation and use of their digital voice and visual likeness replicas, extending protection to both living people and their heirs for up to 70 years after death. The bill requires companies and platforms that distribute these digital replicas or sell tools to create them to obtain explicit authorization from the right holder, while also setting up a notification system for online services to remove unauthorized content. Additionally, the law preempts existing state laws regarding digital likeness rights and includes specific penalties and safe harbor protections for platforms that comply with the new requirements.
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on how federal cybersecurity programs help small businesses protect themselves from digital threats. The investigation will examine the effectiveness of current resources in identifying risks, assessing preparedness, and planning responses to cyberattacks and fraud. Additionally, the study will analyze why some small businesses are unaware of these tools and suggest ways to improve their coordination and accessibility. The final report will be submitted to congressional committees without requesting any new funding for the project.
This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations.
The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act (DLARA) requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to improve transparency and accountability for disaster loans. It mandates monthly reports detailing loan funding status, new budget requests with historical cost comparisons, and strict limits on loan obligations when funds fall below 10% of a 10-year average. The bill also requires GAO and SBA Inspector General reviews of funding shortfalls, cost impacts of recent policy changes, and enhanced forecasting for disaster loan budgets. These provisions directly affect the SBA’s operations and its reporting to Congress, aiming to prevent future funding crises through better data and oversight.
