The TRUST Act of 2026 modifies the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to increase the asset threshold for well-managed financial institutions subject to routine examinations. It raises the current $3 billion threshold to $6 billion for determining which institutions qualify for less frequent supervisory examinations. This change directly affects larger, well-managed banks and credit unions by potentially reducing the frequency of federal regulatory reviews they undergo. The bill focuses solely on adjusting these examination thresholds without altering other regulatory requirements.
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish "employer-directed skills development" as a defined training program. It requires employers to pay a minimum portion of program costs (10% for small businesses with ≤50 employees, 25% for 50-100 employees, 50% for larger businesses) and commit to hiring participants upon successful completion. The bill updates performance metrics to track participation in these programs and revises administrative processes to prioritize employer referrals for training. These changes directly affect employers, workforce boards, and job seekers by shifting training design toward employer-specific needs with cost-sharing requirements.
This bill requires transparency in lawsuits involving many plaintiffs (like class actions or mass torts) by mandating that lawyers disclose who is funding the case. Specifically, they must reveal the identity and ownership structure of any outside investor - such as a company, foreign entity, or sovereign wealth fund - providing financial support for the lawsuit, including whether the funder is foreign-controlled. These disclosures must be submitted to the court and other parties within 10 days of funding agreements or when the case is filed, with regular public reports on the Judiciary website detailing funding sources and amounts. The law also prohibits funders from influencing legal strategy or settlement decisions and restricts access to sensitive case documents by funders.
This bill changes how U.S. Customs determines the value of imported goods for tariff purposes. It requires that for goods entering the U.S. through multiple sales, the price used for valuation must be the final sale price paid by the U.S. buyer before the goods enter the country, not earlier transactions. This directly affects importers who must now provide documentation showing this last sale price, and gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clearer authority to access business records for verification. The change aims to align customs valuation more closely with the actual transaction price paid by U.S. importers.
Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 This bill modifies the Energy Act of 2020 to expand the definition of critical minerals used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to include critical materials designated by the Department of Energy (DOE). It also directs USGS to update its list within 45 days of DOE adding a mineral, element, substance, or material to its critical materials list. Thus, the bill requires the lists to be treated consistently and makes critical materials eligible for the same benefits (e.g., financing support or clean energy tax credits) provided to critical minerals. By way of background, DOE's critical materials list contains certain materials that are essential for energy, including those on the critical minerals list of the USGS. The USGS's list, which contains certain minerals that are essential to the nation's economic or national security, is currently not required to include the materials on DOE's list.
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for various agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for the Federal Protective Service, the Office of Inspector General, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The bill does not provide appropriations for some agencies and activities that have been funded in prior DHS appropriations acts, including ICE, CBP, and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary.
HR 7497 establishes a new grant program to fund trauma-informed mental health support in schools, authorizing $50 million annually from 2027-2031. It directly affects students, teachers, school staff, and community mental health providers by requiring grantees to develop collaborative services between schools and local mental health systems. Key provisions include funding evidence-based staff training on trauma-informed practices, creating school-community partnerships, and ensuring culturally competent services for students - including those with disabilities. The bill mandates that funds supplement, not replace, existing resources and requires grantees to coordinate with agencies like child welfare and juvenile justice through formal interagency agreements.
This bill requires the military to approve leave for abortion and fertility care without commanders needing to know the specific procedure. It mandates reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, and transportation costs when care isn't available nearby, and prohibits punishment for using this leave. It directly affects active-duty service members and their dependents who face barriers to reproductive care due to military restrictions or location. The policy change removes command discretion in approving leave for time-sensitive reproductive health services.
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to modernize "one-stop centers," which provide job training and employment services. It allows states to use virtual centers (like terminals providing service access) or shared centers across adjacent areas, instead of requiring one physical center per local area. It also mandates that states with physical centers must colocate employment service offices within those centers. These changes directly affect workforce development centers and job seekers accessing services through them.
S 3805, the End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026, requires state and local government officials to provide "reasonable advance notice" to federal immigration authorities about the release of non-citizens convicted of crimes. It specifically prohibits officials from blocking such notice through policies or actions, targeting jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Violations carry criminal penalties: up to 25 years in prison for releases involving murder, rape, or sex offenses against minors, 5-10 years for serious violent felonies, and 30 days-6 months for other crimes. The bill directly affects state and local law enforcement officials who implement policies restricting immigration cooperation. It does not change existing immigration laws but adds penalties for obstructing their enforcement.
S 1369, the Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026, authorizes the U.S. government to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and entities involved in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing or the illegal trade of endangered species. The bill targets foreign persons or vessels responsible for IUU fishing or illegal wildlife trade, including those acting on behalf of governments like China’s, with sanctions such as asset blocking, travel bans, port access denial, and financial restrictions. It requires the President to submit annual reports to Congress on sanctions implementation and mandates a detailed assessment of China’s IUU fishing activities and global enforcement efforts. The law includes exceptions for humanitarian aid, safety-related vessel provisions, and compliance with international agreements.
Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act This act permanently allows the Department of the Treasury to access certain death records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help prevent and recover improper payments (e.g., payments to deceased individuals). The act also establishes evidentiary requirements the SSA must meet before identifying an individual as deceased. Current law requires the SSA to share its Death Master File with the Do Not Pay system maintained by Treasury for three years. The act makes this requirement permanent. Treasury must enter into an agreement with the SSA related to Treasury's share of the cost of state death data. The act also prohibits the SSA from recording a death in the master file unless the SSA has clear and convincing evidence that the individual should be presumed deceased. If an individual is incorrectly identified as deceased and provides the SSA with supporting documentation, the SSA may notify certain agencies that have access to the master file, including Treasury and federal or state agencies that provide or disburse federally funded benefits.
