The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2026 allows nationals of Haiti and their immediate family members who have lived continuously in the United States since June 26, 2024, to apply for permanent resident status. To qualify, applicants must submit their request within three years of the bill's enactment and generally cannot have been convicted of aggravated felonies, multiple crimes of moral turpitude, or acts of persecution. The bill also permits eligible individuals with existing deportation orders to apply without first overturning those orders and grants them work authorization while their applications are pending. Additionally, the legislation ensures that granting permanent residence to these applicants does not reduce the number of available immigrant visas for other categories.
The Home Internet Accessibility Act requires the Comptroller General to produce a detailed report within a year on which federally assisted housing units currently have or lack the infrastructure to support high-speed internet. This report will analyze specific challenges, costs, and timelines for upgrading these properties, broken down by location and demographic data, while also reviewing past retrofitting efforts and pilot programs. Following this analysis, the Department of Housing and Urban Development must create a formal plan to upgrade necessary housing to support broadband service and submit it to Congress within 18 months. The legislation directly affects residents of government-subsidized housing by aiming to ensure their living spaces can accommodate modern internet connectivity.
The GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the deadline for contributing military death benefits to Roth IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts from one year to three years. This change directly benefits families of service members who receive these death benefits, giving them more time to save for retirement or education. The law applies to benefits received after the bill is enacted and includes a special rule allowing contributions made within a specific window for benefits received between 2001 and the enactment date. By amending the Internal Revenue Code, the bill ensures that eligible funds can be deposited into these tax-advantaged accounts without losing their value due to time limits.
The Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026 prohibits data brokers from buying, selling, or sharing specific types of personal information, including an individual's health data and location history. This ban applies to any entity that resells data it did not collect directly from the person, though it allows exceptions for actions compliant with existing HIPAA rules, newsworthy reporting, and disclosures where the individual has given valid consent. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with defining exactly what counts as "data" and issuing final rules within 180 days of the law's enactment. Violations of these restrictions can lead to enforcement actions by the FTC, state attorneys general, or private individuals, potentially resulting in civil penalties of up to 15 percent of the violator's annual revenue. The legislation also includes a funding provision that appropriates $1 billion to the FTC for fiscal year 2027 to support its work under this act.
The Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act of 2026 creates a new program to help state and local governments purchase and distribute food grown within 400 miles of schools. This initiative provides $200 million annually to eligible state agencies, which can either buy local produce directly or give funds to school districts for that purpose. The bill defines local foods as minimally processed agricultural products and requires recipients to submit reports on their purchases while ensuring funds supplement rather than replace existing state support.
The National Fab Lab Network Act of 2026 establishes a new nonprofit corporation to create a nationwide network of digital fabrication facilities, known as fab labs, with a specific goal of placing at least one in every congressional district while prioritizing underserved communities. This independent organization will coordinate the expansion of these labs, which contain tools for 3D printing and electronics manufacturing, and serve as a resource for training leaders and maintaining a national registry. The bill mandates that the corporation's board includes representatives from diverse sectors such as education, Tribal communities, and the private sector, with initial members appointed by congressional leaders. Additionally, the nonprofit is authorized to accept private and government funding to distribute to local partners for establishing and operating these facilities, while it must submit annual activity reports to relevant congressional committees.
The Investor Choice Act of 2026 prohibits companies, brokers, and investment advisers from forcing customers into mandatory arbitration or class-action waivers for future disputes. Under this law, securities exchanges cannot list stocks from issuers that require arbitration in their bylaws or contracts, and financial firms are barred from entering into agreements that limit a client's choice of legal forum or ability to join group lawsuits. The bill applies to new contracts signed after its enactment, while existing agreements containing these prohibited clauses become void unless arbitration proceedings were already started before the law takes effect.
This bill, known as the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, aims to combat unpaid wages by strengthening penalties for employers who violate federal labor laws and providing workers with better tools to recover stolen money. It directly affects employees across industries who are currently at risk of not receiving their full compensation for hours worked, tips, or benefits. Key provisions require employers to provide detailed paystubs and final payments within 14 days of termination, increase civil fines for violations, and extend the time limit for workers to file lawsuits from two to four years. Additionally, the legislation creates a new grant program to fund community partnerships between the Department of Labor and local organizations to educate workers, assist with claims, and improve enforcement efforts.
The Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act limits the executive branch's ability to completely stop the Diversity Visa Program, which provides immigration opportunities to applicants from countries with low rates of migration to the United States. Instead of allowing indefinite or broad pauses, the bill permits only targeted restrictions on specific countries, individual security denials, or temporary suspensions lasting no more than 60 days. Any such limitation requires the relevant government officials to notify Congress and publish details about the threat and legal basis at least seven days in advance. Additionally, the law ensures that individuals who have already received a Diversity Visa cannot lose their eligibility due to a temporary program-wide suspension.
The Next Generation Shipping Act establishes a $10 billion funding program over ten years to support the development and deployment of zero-emission vessels and clean alternative fuel technologies. Administered by the Department of Transportation, the program provides grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to eligible entities such as shipowners, manufacturers, and port authorities, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for automated vessel systems. To guide these efforts, the bill creates an advisory committee representing diverse stakeholders including labor groups, environmental organizations, and industry leaders to evaluate technologies and identify gaps. Additionally, the legislation mandates that funded projects prioritize workforce training, community benefits, and environmental justice, ensuring that laborers receive prevailing wages and that local communities are engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to create new regulations. Specifically, it prohibits the EPA Administrator from issuing rules that restrict the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles, force power plants to switch fuel sources, or reduce the reliability of the electric grid. The bill also bars the agency from mandating technologies that are commercially unavailable, too expensive without subsidies, or technically unfeasible due to geographic or infrastructure limitations. Additionally, the law prevents the EPA from expanding its regulatory power beyond what Congress originally intended. These changes directly affect the EPA's ability to enforce environmental standards and impact industries such as automotive manufacturing and energy production.
HR 2332, the SHARE Act of 2025, standardizes how states share criminal history background check information for professional licensing across state lines. It requires the FBI to provide this information to state licensing authorities through agreements with law enforcement, specifically for verifying applicants seeking licenses or practice privileges in multiple states. The bill strictly prohibits states from sharing detailed criminal history records with other states or the public, allowing only a simple "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" result to be shared. This directly affects licensed professionals (like nurses or contractors) seeking to practice in multiple states and the state agencies that issue their licenses.
