The Stop CHEATERS Act directs the Internal Revenue Service to increase its enforcement efforts against high-income individuals and large corporations by allocating billions of dollars in additional funding for tax audits, criminal investigations, and taxpayer services through fiscal year 2031. A significant portion of this funding is designated for modernizing the IRS's technology and business systems to improve its ability to detect fraud and noncompliance. The legislation also requires the IRS Commissioner to submit regular reports to Congress detailing plans to shift auditing resources toward wealthy taxpayers and analyzing how much unpaid tax is owed by different income groups.
The Federal Lands Lawful Carry Act modifies federal law to allow individuals who are legally permitted to carry firearms under state laws to do so on specific federal lands open to the public. This change directly affects visitors to areas managed by agencies such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Forest System. Under the new provisions, carrying a firearm in these exempted areas is considered having a lawful purpose if the individual follows applicable state regulations and is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a weapon. The bill does not authorize carrying firearms in areas where state laws forbid it or in locations that remain closed to visitors.
This resolution asks the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide the House of Representatives with specific documents regarding a freeze on federal payments to five states. The requested materials include communications about how the payment freeze was decided, records of the tweet that announced it, and details on funding drawdowns, disciplinary actions, and data sharing plans related to those states. The bill specifically targets documents concerning Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care, and Social Services Block Grant programs in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. If the agencies possess the records, they must submit them to Congress within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.
Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2030, modifies, and establishes programs under the Older Americans Act, which supports social services and activities for individuals aged 60 years or older. Reauthorized programs and activities include the national eldercare locator service; regional aging and disability resource centers; grants to support counseling and assistance on pensions and other retirement benefits; grants to support home-delivered nutrition services (sometimes referred to as meals on wheels programs); programs to facilitate the delivery of supportive services to tribal organizations; and programs to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill also modifies existing programs for older individuals, including by explicitly permitting states to use certain grant funds to make carryout meals available at congregate meal sites or community locations. (Some providers began offering carryout meals to seniors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Further, the bill permits the Administration on Aging to establish and operate, through grants to or contracts with eligible entities, a national resource center to support growth of the direct care workforce. The center’s activities may include the provision of training and technical assistance and the promotion of strategies to recruit and retain direct care workers. Finally, the bill establishes or reconvenes certain advisory groups, including (1) an advisory committee to provide guidance regarding the needs of older Native Americans and the implementation of related programs, and (2) a White House Conference on Aging to recommend improvements to federal programs that serve older individuals.
The Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act of 2025 designates approximately 600,000 acres of federal land in Gunnison County, Colorado, as Special Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Areas, Protection Areas, Recreation Management Areas, and a Scientific Research Area. The bill limits off-highway vehicle and bicycle use to designated routes, requires winter travel management plans within three years, prohibits new road construction, and mandates ecological restoration projects prioritizing native vegetation and wildlife protection. It establishes seasonal closures in specific areas to protect wildlife habitat while allowing continued traditional tribal uses and limited recreational access. The legislation affects federal land managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management across these designated areas, with specific management requirements for each type of protected area.
HR 7651, the Chloe Cole Act of 2026, prohibits healthcare providers from performing certain medical interventions on minors under 18 aimed at altering physical development to align with gender identity. These "covered interventions" include puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and specific surgeries, but exclude medically necessary care for conditions like disorders of sexual development or traumatic injuries. The bill creates a federal civil lawsuit right for affected minors or their parents against providers who perform such interventions, allowing claims for damages including emotional distress and punitive awards, with strict liability for providers after the law's enactment. It explicitly allows exceptions for legitimate medical treatments and requires providers to prove such exceptions apply if challenged.
This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
This bill, HR 1687 (the CLEAN Act), modifies geothermal leasing and permitting processes on federal lands. It shortens geothermal lease terms from two years to one year and requires the Interior Secretary to hold replacement lease sales if a sale is canceled or delayed. The bill also sets strict 30-day deadlines for the Interior Secretary to notify applicants about complete permit applications and issue final decisions on those applications. These changes directly affect geothermal energy developers seeking to lease federal land for energy projects.
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, ending the current practice of changing clocks twice yearly. It repeals the 1966 law requiring seasonal time changes and adjusts time zone offsets to reflect permanent daylight saving time (e.g., shifting from "4 hours" to "3 hours" in historical references). States that currently opt out of daylight saving time (like Arizona and Hawaii) would retain their existing arrangements, while all other states would adopt permanent daylight saving time unless they choose to stay on standard time. This change would directly affect all U.S. residents by eliminating the need to reset clocks in spring and fall.
The High Court Gift Ban Act prohibits federal judicial officers from accepting gifts from sources likely to appear before them, unless the gift is under $50, the total annual value from that source remains $100 or less, or it falls under specific exceptions like gifts from relatives or public events. The law defines a "gift" broadly to include items, services, and reimbursements, while allowing exceptions for personal hospitality within IRS limits and certain professional benefits available to the general public. Enforcement mechanisms include referrals to the Attorney General for violations, which can result in civil or criminal penalties similar to those for other federal ethics breaches. The bill requires the Supreme Court and the Judicial Conference to create implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment to ensure compliance.
The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 establishes a federal program to eliminate hepatitis C by creating a subscription model that allows the government to purchase antiviral drugs directly from manufacturers and distribute them at no cost to specific patient groups. These groups include individuals in Medicaid or CHIP programs, those without health insurance, patients in correctional facilities, and those receiving care through the Indian Health Service. The bill also expands Medicare coverage by removing deductibles and copayments for hepatitis C treatments between 2028 and 2032. To support these efforts, the legislation authorizes funding for state grants to improve screening and treatment access, mandates the creation of a national strategy and performance dashboard, and requires coordination with various federal agencies and stakeholders.
