The Small Business Tax Cut Act increases the qualified business income deduction from 20 percent to 23 percent for eligible taxpayers, directly affecting small business owners and investors. The bill modifies income thresholds that limit this deduction for higher earners and extends the phase-in rules for taxable income above certain limits. Additionally, it allows dividends from qualified business development companies to be treated similarly to qualified REIT dividends for deduction purposes. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a specific definition for "dairy product." This bill directly affects food manufacturers and consumers by regulating how certain food names can be used. It defines a "dairy product" as food that is, contains as a primary ingredient, or is derived from, the lacteal secretion of hooved mammals. The act prohibits foods that do not meet this definition, or the requirements for an imitation food, from using names for standardized dairy products (like milk, yogurt, and cheese) in interstate commerce. Additionally, it requires the FDA to issue guidance on enforcement of these provisions and report to Congress on actions taken.
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.
The Legacy IT Reduction Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to create and maintain an inventory of their outdated information technology systems, including details about costs, vendors, and planned updates. Under this bill, agency heads must develop five-year modernization plans every two years that outline how they will update, retire, or replace these legacy systems, with submissions to congressional oversight committees. The Office of Management and Budget will issue guidance on what qualifies as a legacy system and provide templates for inventory and planning, while the Comptroller General will review implementation three years after enactment. The law does not authorize new funding and will expire six years after enactment, with specific exemptions for national security systems and protections against transferring systems to foreign entities.
The ACCURATE Act establishes a new Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools to improve the quality and consistency of natural hazard risk models used by federal agencies. This commission will include representatives from government agencies, state and local emergency organizations, insurance and banking industries, and various professional sectors to develop standards for hazard maps, flood assessments, and risk scores. The bill requires federal departments to adopt these new standards when purchasing hazard assessment tools from private companies, with specific documentation requirements to ensure the tools meet established quality criteria. The commission will submit regular reports to Congress on its findings and recommendations, and the entire commission will dissolve five years after the law takes effect.
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.
The Guidelines for Use, Access, and Responsible Disclosure of Financial Data Act strengthens privacy protections for consumers by amending the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require financial institutions to limit data collection to what is necessary, provide clearer privacy notices, and offer new rights for customers to access or delete their personal information. Key provisions include requiring explicit opt-in consent for sensitive data like biometric information, restricting how third parties can use consumer login credentials, and mandating that institutions disclose how they use artificial intelligence in processing financial data. The bill also establishes a right for former customers to request deletion of their data within 45 days and requires regulators to consider the impact of rules on smaller financial institutions with $15 billion or less in assets.
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.
The Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit several reports to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment. These reports must detail the status, impact, and effectiveness of the existing integrated biometric entry and exit data system. Specifically, the reports will cover the system's effects on legitimate travel, counterterrorism efforts, and identifying individuals who overstay their visas, while ensuring minimal disruption to travel. It also mandates an assessment of how the system matches biometric information for individuals departing the United States against previously collected data, including privacy protections for U.S. citizens regarding facial recognition. Additionally, the bill requires an evaluation of biographic data sharing with the Canadian Border Services Agency.
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.
