The Protecting American Energy Production Act (HR 26) states that Congress believes states should have primary authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for oil and natural gas on state and private lands. It prohibits the President from imposing a moratorium on fracking without a new law passed by Congress. This bill directly affects federal executive authority by preventing unilateral federal bans and reinforces state regulatory roles. The key provision ensures any federal restriction on fracking would require a specific act of Congress, rather than executive action.
The HALT Fentanyl Act (HR 27) creates a new category of Schedule I controlled substances for "fentanyl-related substances" defined by specific chemical modifications to fentanyl. This law directly affects researchers, medical professionals, and law enforcement by expanding the legal definition of fentanyl-related substances to include many structurally similar compounds. Key provisions include streamlined registration processes for research on these substances, allowing researchers to conduct studies with expedited procedures if related to FDA-approved drug development or government-funded research. The bill requires the Attorney General to issue implementing rules within six months and includes penalties for violations involving these substances.
This bill would abolish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by ending all federal funding for its operations. Starting on the bill's enactment date, no funds may be used for USAID's functions under the Foreign Assistance Act or other laws, and any unused funds as of the day before enactment would be rescinded. All remaining USAID assets and liabilities would be transferred to the Secretary of State. The bill directly affects USAID's ability to carry out international development and humanitarian assistance programs.
The Race Horse Cost Recovery Act of 2025 would amend the tax code to allow owners of race horses to deduct the full cost of their horses over a three-year period for tax purposes, instead of the standard longer depreciation schedule. This change would directly affect race horse owners, breeders, and trainers in the horse racing industry by accelerating their tax deductions for horse purchases. The bill specifically adds "race horse" to the list of property eligible for this accelerated depreciation under the Internal Revenue Code. The provision applies to race horses placed in service after December 31, 2022.
HR 1137, the "No Kill Switches in Cars Act," repeals Section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), which previously required vehicle manufacturers to implement advanced impaired driving technology. This bill directly affects car manufacturers by removing a mandate to integrate specific safety technology designed to detect driver impairment. The key provision is the repeal itself, eliminating the requirement without creating new obligations or altering existing vehicle safety standards.
HR 1138, the Payment Choice Act of 2025, requires most retail businesses to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 per transaction and prohibits charging higher prices for cash payments compared to other methods. Businesses may temporarily refuse cash only due to system failures, insufficient change, or if they offer a prepaid card conversion device meeting strict conditions (no fees, no minimum deposit, no expiration). The bill allows businesses a 5-year period to phase in accepting $50 bills or larger, after which the Treasury Secretary must mandate acceptance of $1-$20 bills. Consumers can send a 45-day notice to businesses for violations before pursuing legal action, with potential damages of at least $250 per violation. The law does not override stricter state cash acceptance protections.
This bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.
The Racehorse Tax Parity Act (HR 1112) changes tax rules for racehorses by reducing the required holding period from 24 months to 12 months for horses to qualify as "section 1231 assets" under federal tax law. This directly affects racehorse owners, breeders, and businesses that buy/sell horses, as it allows them to treat horses as business assets sooner for tax purposes. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove horses from the list of assets requiring a longer holding period, aligning their tax treatment with other livestock. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
HR 1121, the "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act," prohibits U.S. federal executive agencies from using the DeepSeek application (or any successor by High Flyer) on government information technology devices. It requires the Office of Management and Budget to develop removal standards within 60 days, directing agencies to remove the application while complying with existing security rules. Exceptions are permitted for national security, law enforcement, and security research activities, but agencies must document risk mitigation plans for any authorized use under these exceptions. The bill directly affects all executive agencies covered under federal information technology policies.
HJRES 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how U.S. Representatives are apportioned among states. It would require counting only U.S. citizens in each state when determining representation, rather than the current total population (including non-citizens). This would directly affect states with large non-citizen populations, potentially reducing their number of House seats. The amendment, if ratified, would replace the current constitutional standard for apportionment. It is a procedural proposal seeking constitutional change, not an enacted law.
This resolution supports the designation of Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.
This bill establishes the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition to coordinate federal, state, and private efforts for restoring white oak forests across the U.S. It directs the Agriculture and Interior Departments to launch 5 pilot projects on public lands (including national forests and wildlife refuges) to improve white oak regeneration and health, and creates a voluntary grant program to help private landowners restore white oak forests through partnerships with organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The bill also requires developing a national strategy to address white oak seedling shortages in nurseries and funds research at land-grant universities on white oak genetics, disease resistance, and reforestation techniques. These provisions directly affect federal agencies, land-grant universities, forest landowners, and conservation groups working on white oak ecosystem restoration.
