The DISCLOSE Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency in election spending and prevent foreign influence. It expands the ban on foreign money to cover federal, state, and local elections, including ballot initiatives and judicial nominations, and criminalizes using corporations to conceal these funds. The bill mandates that organizations spending over $10,000 on campaign-related activities, such as independent expenditures or judicial nomination advocacy, disclose their beneficial owners and top donors. Additionally, it establishes new "Stand By Every Ad" disclaimers for political communications, requiring the highest-ranking official to approve the message and, for certain ads, list their top funders. These provisions directly affect non-candidate organizations, individuals involved in political and judicial nomination spending, and foreign nationals.
This bill, known as the American Passport Card Accessibility Act, would ban the Secretary of State from charging fees for issuing or reissuing passport cards to U.S. citizens. The legislation directly affects individuals seeking passport cards, which are used for land and sea travel to certain countries, by removing the standard application and renewal costs. While the bill eliminates regular processing fees, it explicitly allows the government to continue charging for expedited processing services. The change would make passport cards free for standard processing while maintaining the option for faster service at an additional cost.
This bill authorizes the creation of Lending.gov, a centralized online platform designed to streamline access to loans offered by various federal agencies. It requires agencies to migrate their loan management systems to this shared platform within three years, aiming to reduce costs, prevent fraud, and improve the speed and transparency of federal lending. The platform will be operated by a designated provider using modern commercial technology, with oversight from the General Services Administration and performance monitoring through regular surveys and public reporting.
HR 7803, the "Save Medicare Act," renames Medicare Advantage plans to "Alternative Private Health Plan" for all federal references, including in the Social Security Act. It requires health plans to stop using "Medicare" in their titles after enactment, imposing a $100,000 civil penalty per violation. The change applies to all Part C Medicare plans and mandates a full transition by October 15, 2023, with a temporary period allowing both terms to be used during the switch. This bill directly affects private health insurers offering Medicare Part C plans and federal agencies managing Medicare programs. The policy change is solely about terminology, not benefits or coverage.
This bill reauthorizes and modernizes Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to help workers, firms, communities, and farmers affected by trade-related job losses. It extends program funding through 2033 and expands eligibility to include teleworkers, staffed workers, and public agency employees. Key provisions increase financial benefits, add new allowances for childcare and job search, require inflation adjustments to benefit amounts, and establish new outreach requirements to ensure underserved communities receive adequate support. The legislation also creates a new community assistance program providing grants for strategic economic development planning and expands technical assistance for businesses seeking adjustment support.
This bill, known as the Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026, would require health care providers to give patients free copies of their medical records unless specific exceptions apply. Under the new rules, patients could be charged fees only if they request duplicate records already provided in the same year or a non-electronic version of records already available online. The legislation also allows providers to send medical records to other health care providers in any usable format when requested by the patient. Health care providers would not be required to provide free copies to attorneys representing the patient. The Department of Health and Human Services would have six months to create regulations implementing these changes, with the rules taking effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.
HCONRES 72 is a procedural bill authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a specific Holocaust remembrance ceremony on April 14, 2026. It does not create new policies or affect any individuals or groups; it only permits the Capitol Visitor Center to host this commemorative event. The Architect of the Capitol will oversee any physical preparations required for the ceremony. This is a one-time authorization for a ceremonial purpose, not a substantive legislative change.
HRES 1097 is a procedural resolution requesting federal agencies to provide specific documents to the House of Representatives. It directs the Treasury and Homeland Security Secretaries to share records about how they implement an existing agreement (the "Memorandum of Understanding") for sharing taxpayer information related to non-tax criminal enforcement. The resolution specifically asks for documents concerning access to IRS systems containing taxpayer data, policies for handling such information, and any violations of privacy rules. This request does not create new law but seeks transparency about current agency practices involving sensitive taxpayer information.
This bill, titled the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2026, establishes uniform accessibility standards for web content and applications used by employers, public entities, public accommodations, testing entities, and commercial providers. It requires these covered entities to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to individuals with disabilities, meaning the content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with various disabilities. The bill directs the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to develop and update specific technical standards within 24 months of enactment, with staggered compliance deadlines for small entities. It also creates enforcement mechanisms allowing for civil penalties and damages, establishes a technical assistance center to help entities comply, and provides grants to small entities for remediating inaccessible digital content.
The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act reforms the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which transfers surplus military equipment to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The bill prohibits the transfer of specific military-grade items, including controlled firearms (like automatic weapons), ammunition, grenades, mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, and silencers. For any permitted transfers, non-federal agencies must notify their local community, get approval from their local governing body, and certify the equipment's necessity for specific public safety or emergency purposes. The bill also mandates increased accountability for all transferred property, prohibits agencies from taking ownership, and requires the return of equipment if an agency is involved in widespread civil liberties abuses using that property.
The MINT Act modifies rules for federal home loan banks backing tax-exempt bonds used in community development projects. It removes a 2010 deadline for certain bond issuances and shifts safety requirements to be set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, rather than fixed standards. This directly affects community development organizations and local governments using tax-exempt bonds for housing or neighborhood revitalization. The changes apply to guarantees issued after the bill's enactment, streamlining how these bonds are secured.
The Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act introduces a 5% annual wealth tax on individuals and trusts with net assets exceeding $1 billion, which is adjusted for inflation after 2026. The bill also expands Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision services, establishes a $60,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers, and creates a birth-through-five child care entitlement program for working families. Additional provisions include increased eligibility for health insurance premium tax credits, expanded home and community-based services under Medicaid, and funding for various education and healthcare initiatives.
