This bill, titled the No Presidential Self-Serving Lawsuits Act of 2026, prevents the current or former President of the United States from filing civil lawsuits against the federal government. It specifically invalidates an existing settlement agreement between a former President and the Internal Revenue Service and bars the use of federal funds to create compensation for such lawsuits. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Treasury Secretary to recover any money already spent in violation of these new restrictions. The primary goal is to stop a President from using taxpayer money to settle legal disputes with the government they lead.
The Student Suicide Prevention Awareness Act of 2026 requires schools to display clear and visible signage promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in various locations such as entrances, common areas, restrooms, and digital bulletin boards. This legislation mandates that the signage include the lifeline phone number, instructions on how to access support via call, text, or chat, and information stating that the service is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate a public awareness campaign involving schools and to update existing signage to meet these new requirements by 2027. These changes directly affect educational institutions by establishing specific standards for how and where suicide prevention resources must be communicated to students.
This bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.
The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025 establishes a competitive federal grant program to fund projects improving recycling access in underserved communities. It authorizes $30 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, or public-private partnerships to build infrastructure like transfer stations, expand curbside collection, or reduce transport costs. Grants must be $500,000-$15 million, with 70% reserved for projects in communities lacking a materials recovery facility within 75 miles. The program requires grantees to report on implementation and outcomes, excluding funding for recycling education.
This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.
The Protecting America's Small Oil and Gas Producers and Rural Jobs Act modifies federal tax rules to provide financial incentives for small oil and gas producers. It increases the percentage of income that can be deducted for taxes on marginal oil properties and removes a specific income limit that restricts these deductions. Additionally, the bill raises the threshold for counting oil as depletable from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels per well. These tax changes are designed to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The Discount Window Preparedness Act requires banks and credit unions to prove they can quickly borrow emergency funds from the Federal Reserve by conducting regular operational tests and maintaining sufficient collateral. To support this, the bill mandates that regulators create new rules for testing frequency based on bank size, such as quarterly checks for the largest institutions, and integrates these readiness assessments into routine safety examinations. The legislation also directs the Federal Reserve to upgrade its systems by extending borrowing hours to 8 p.m., launching an online platform for faster access, and simplifying the process for using small business loans as collateral. Additionally, the act calls for a review of how the Federal Reserve reports its borrowing data to prevent market speculation and requires a study on ways to reduce the stigma banks feel when seeking these funds.
This bill modifies tax rules to help low-income communities invest in new businesses by adjusting how they calculate eligible population density. It specifically targets rural counties where the federal government owns at least 30% of the land, allowing these areas to use a lower density threshold for tax credit purposes. The law excludes military installations and tribal trust lands from the federal land count to ensure accurate assessments. These changes take effect for investments made after the bill is enacted or after December 31, 2025, depending on the specific section.
The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition of the death penalty for any federal crime committed after the law takes effect. It also requires that individuals currently sentenced to death under federal law be resentenced to a different punishment. This legislation directly affects the federal criminal justice system by eliminating capital punishment as a sentencing option.
The Closing the HPV Testing Gap Act directs the National Institutes of Health to conduct a comprehensive study on developing a standardized, noninvasive test for human papillomavirus in men. This research must be completed within 24 months and will involve coordination with federal agencies like the CDC and the FDA, as well as scientific experts and community stakeholders. The study aims to evaluate various testing methods, assess feasibility across diverse populations, and provide recommendations for future implementation and regulatory approval. Additionally, the bill requires an interagency working group to oversee the process and mandates a final report to Congress within 30 months outlining findings and strategies for improving cancer prevention and health equity.
Hemp Planting Predictability Act This bill extends by two years the implementation of changes to the regulation of hemp products, which reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products. Specifically, Congress enacted the FY2026 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 119-37) on November 12, 2025. Effective November 12, 2026, the act modifies the statutory definition of hemp products that are considered to be lawful. This bill extends the effective date to November 12, 2028. As background, the 2018 farm bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana and defined hemp . As a result, hemp and hemp-derived products at or below the 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) concentration threshold were no longer regulated as Schedule I controlled substances and registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration was no longer required to cultivate or handle hemp and hemp-derived products. However, hemp remained subject to Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulation. The 2025 changes to the definition of hemp, include changing the limit to a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC, explicitly including industrial hemp, excluding seeds from a cannabis plant that exceed a certain THC concentration, and excluding various types of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Cannabinoids refer to unique chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana (e.g., THC) and are known to exhibit a range of psychological and physiological effects.
This bill reauthorizes and strengthens the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection program. It establishes that all federal, state, and local government records related to historical civil rights cases must carry a presumption of immediate public disclosure, with full access intended for public understanding. Key provisions include allowing the Review Board to reimburse state/local governments for digitizing or copying records to add to the national collection, removing an exception that previously blocked state records from being included, and extending the Review Board's term from 7 to 11 years. The bill directly affects government agencies holding these records and the public seeking historical transparency about civil rights cases.
