The Nuclear Regulatory Modernization Act of 2026 updates how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission handles public hearings and licensing for nuclear facilities. It allows the Commission to issue permits without holding a formal hearing if no one requests one, provided they give at least 30 days of notice and publish their intent in the Federal Register. The bill also permits the construction of uranium enrichment facilities to begin before a final operating license is granted, though the NRC retains the authority to stop construction if regulatory requirements are not met. Additionally, the legislation states that these changes must be implemented in a way that respects existing bans on importing uranium from Russia.
The KIDS Act (HR 7757) requires online platforms to implement age verification measures and safety features to protect minors from harmful content and interactions. It mandates platforms to provide parental control tools, limit design features that encourage compulsive use, and prevent access to illegal products like drugs or alcohol. The bill also requires platforms to establish reporting mechanisms for harms to minors and disclose when chatbots are artificial intelligence systems. The law applies to social media platforms, video games, and chatbot providers that meet the definition of a "covered platform" under the bill.
HR 915, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands the use of Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that handle payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. It directly affects small businesses seeking loans for operational technology upgrades, allowing them to use SBA funds for these specific tech services without changing existing loan purposes. The bill amends the Small Business Act to explicitly permit these uses under Section 7(a), clarifying that existing loans for similar purposes before the law's enactment remain valid. It does not expand loan use for research, development, or working capital beyond current definitions.
The Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026 makes standard time permanent across the United States by repealing the requirement to observe daylight saving time. It allows individual states to choose whether to adopt standard time year-round or to continue observing daylight saving time, provided the entire state observes the same time. This change would eliminate the biannual clock shifts that currently occur in spring and fall.
The Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. For educational institutions receiving federal funds, the bill mandates the creation of specific coordinators to handle discrimination complaints, requires annual training on handling antisemitism, and establishes a new federal clearinghouse to share best practices for campus safety. To support physical security, the legislation expands grant funding for nonprofit organizations and directs the Attorney General to provide resources for law enforcement agencies protecting houses of worship. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms with over 50 million monthly users to submit detailed reports to the Federal Trade Commission on how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content.
This resolution honors the crew of the USS Liberty and calls for the release of all government records regarding the 1967 attack on the ship. It specifically urges the President to make declassified documents from agencies like the Department of Defense and the CIA available to the public. The measure also affirms that the safety of American citizens and military personnel must be the top priority in U.S. foreign policy. As a non-binding sense of the House, the bill does not change laws but expresses official support for transparency and the recognition of the crew's sacrifice.
The Support Our Miners Act updates the monthly disability payments for coal miners suffering from black lung disease to better reflect current living costs. It establishes a new base payment of $1,252.50 per month starting in 2026, which will then increase annually based on inflation data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This legislation directly affects thousands of miners and their families who rely on these benefits for healthcare and financial support, aiming to close the gap between the original 1969 benefit amount and today's economic reality.
The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program by transferring administrative authority to the Department of Homeland Security and introducing a unified online platform to streamline applications for employers and workers. Key provisions include establishing new housing standards with mandatory inspections, creating a system for staggered worker entry and exit, and allowing workers to transfer between employers without losing their status. The bill also defines specific job classifications for wage calculations, expands the scope of covered agricultural activities, and provides legal protections for employers who document the employment of workers seeking visa status. Additionally, it requires agencies to develop a heat illness prevention plan and allows for contract termination due to natural disasters.
This bill establishes a National Task Force on Caregiving Youth of Veterans to address the needs of individuals under 26 who provide unpaid care to veterans or active-duty service members with disabilities or illnesses. The task force will include representatives from federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense, along with nonprofit advocates. Its primary duties involve conducting a national study on the prevalence and impacts of caregiving, consulting with stakeholders, and developing policy recommendations to improve access to education, mental health support, and financial assistance. Additionally, the group aims to create a standardized database to track these youths and coordinate better support across federal, state, and local resources before the task force concludes its work five years after enactment.
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to raise disability compensation and survivor benefits starting December 1, 2026. The increases will match the percentage adjustment applied to Social Security benefits for that same period. Specifically, the law covers payments for wartime disabilities, clothing allowances, and financial support for surviving spouses and children. The Department must publish the new dollar amounts in the Federal Register once the Social Security adjustments are finalized.
HR 4398, the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act, requires Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians or nurse practitioners to certify the death of a veteran who dies of natural causes within 48 hours of learning of the death. This directly affects veterans' families, who previously faced delays of up to eight weeks in burial and access to survivor benefits due to slow death certifications. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on VA compliance with the 48-hour rule, including statistics on delays and their causes. The key change is establishing a strict timeline for death certification to prevent unnecessary delays in honoring veterans' final arrangements.
The People Over Poison Act amends federal pesticide law to ensure that state tort claims regarding pesticide labeling and packaging are not blocked. Specifically, it clarifies that federal regulations do not prevent individuals from suing under state laws if they believe pesticide labels or packaging are misleading or harmful. This change directly affects consumers and plaintiffs who might otherwise be barred from seeking damages in state courts due to conflicting federal interpretations. By preserving state legal avenues, the bill allows for lawsuits to proceed based on local tort laws rather than limiting them solely to federal standards.
