This bill authorizes a feasibility study to assess expanding the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, which serves communities in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior must coordinate with the water system's nonprofit operator to evaluate the project's viability, including cost-sharing (requiring at least 25% non-Federal contribution for construction) and financial feasibility. The study will produce a report for Congress and the public, with the federal government covering up to 50% of the study costs ($10 million authorized). The bill does not fund construction but sets the process for determining whether expansion should proceed. The study authorization expires 10 years after enactment.
The ACCESS Rural America Act exempts small rural telephone companies from specific federal registration requirements for selling securities. To qualify for this exemption, the companies must provide broadband internet access and submit a financial summary to investors that includes subscriber data and key financial statements. The bill applies only to issuers with fewer than 100,000 broadband subscribers and securities held by more than 500 non-accredited investors but fewer than 2,000 total holders. This change aims to simplify the process for these rural providers to raise capital by reducing regulatory burdens.
The Patients First Act of 2026 modifies how Medicare reimburses physicians and primary care providers to improve access and stabilize payments. It establishes a new hybrid payment model for primary care services from 2027 to 2031, which pays a monthly fee per patient to eligible independent practices while covering specific services like care management and telehealth without cost-sharing for patients. The bill also updates the formula for calculating reimbursement rates to account for high inflation years and requires more frequent updates to the costs used in calculating payments. Additionally, the legislation reforms the performance-based payment system by adding care efficiency measures, creating a task force to recommend new quality metrics, and adjusting penalties for providers who fail to report on certain data.
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.
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 FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize artificial intelligence in its research, extension programs, and workforce training initiatives. This legislation requires the department to update its funding categories to include AI projects that enhance precision farming, resource management, and cybersecurity while adding specific training for implementing computing systems and maintaining agricultural machinery. To oversee these efforts, the bill establishes a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will coordinate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop national standards and promote the adoption of digital tools among farmers and rural communities.
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.
The STOP Senior Fraud Act empowers financial institutions to temporarily delay or refuse transactions for accounts held by older adults, vulnerable individuals, or those with a history of financial exploitation if there is a reasonable suspicion of fraud. Under this bill, these delays can last up to 55 days, with a possible extension to 85 days if an internal review confirms the risk, and must be accompanied by notifications to trusted contacts and relevant authorities. Financial institutions are also required to provide staff training on identifying and handling potential exploitation cases, while the law includes protections to shield banks from liability when acting in good faith. The legislation defines specific terms such as "older adult" as anyone 62 or older and "financial exploitation" as the unauthorized taking or control of assets through deception or undue influence.
The BRACE Act updates federal regulations to improve how lithium-ion batteries are managed and recycled in the United States. It requires facilities that store these batteries before recycling them to follow stricter safety and record-keeping rules similar to those for large industrial waste handlers. Additionally, the bill modernizes existing laws by replacing outdated references with current environmental protection standards. These changes directly impact businesses and organizations involved in the collection, storage, and recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
The Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act requires the Department to publicly announce specific actions regarding certain high-risk nuclear facilities within 24 hours of taking them. These announcements must be posted on the Department's website and include summaries of changes to safety standards, full safety analysis reports (with commercially sensitive details redacted), and agreements to authorize new facilities. Additionally, the law mandates an annual report to Congress detailing the Department's activities related to authorizing these nuclear facilities. This legislation directly affects the Department of Energy's management of nuclear sites and increases public access to information about safety measures and regulatory approvals.
HR 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, amends the Atomic Energy Act to exclude certain nuclear fuel reprocessing methods from the definition of a "production facility." Specifically, it exempts facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel without separating plutonium from other elements, or continue uranium enrichment. This change would directly affect nuclear fuel recycling companies and facilities seeking to process spent reactor fuel under streamlined regulations. The bill focuses on altering regulatory classification to potentially simplify licensing for specific recycling processes.
This bill creates a task force to recover unemployment benefits that were fraudulently issued and are currently held by banks or state agencies. The task force will coordinate with federal and state officials to develop guidelines for identifying these improper payments and establishing a process to return the funds to the government. Additionally, the legislation extends the time limit for prosecuting fraud related to pandemic unemployment benefits from the standard period to ten years after the violation occurred. These changes aim to ensure that misused funds are reclaimed and that authorities have sufficient time to pursue legal action against those who committed fraud during the pandemic.
