HR 5173, the "No Social Media at School Act," requires social media companies to block access to their platforms on K-12 school campuses during regular school hours using geofencing technology. This applies to companies operating platforms that collect personal data for advertising or data sales, excluding educational tools, email services, and emergency alerts. The bill prohibits social media companies from needing to collect age data or implement age verification to comply. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, who can sue to block violations or seek damages.
This bill increases federal funding for Impact Aid, which supports school districts that serve students on federal property (like military bases) or have high numbers of children with disabilities. It authorizes specific annual funding amounts for four key areas: payments for federal property acquisition, basic support for heavily impacted districts, aid for children with disabilities, and school construction. The funding grows incrementally each year from 2026 through 2031, with total annual amounts rising from $85 million to $250 million for property payments, and from $1.49 billion to $2.35 billion for basic district support. This directly affects school districts in communities with significant federal land or federal facility presence.
The BABIES Act (HR 5202) provides federal grants and Medicaid demonstration programs to expand access to freestanding birth centers, primarily benefiting low-risk pregnant women in underserved areas who rely on Medicaid. It allocates $5 million (2026-2030) for grants up to $500,000 per birth center to cover facility upgrades, equipment, and accreditation costs, with priority for centers in maternity care deserts or areas with poor outcomes. Additionally, it creates a 4-year Medicaid demonstration program testing new payment models for birth centers that meet strict standards (like accreditation, licensure, and emergency capabilities), requiring states to develop prospective payment systems covering services from pregnancy through postpartum care. The program aims to improve access and quality of low-risk maternity care while collecting data on clinical outcomes and costs compared to traditional hospital services.
The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 would expand unemployment insurance eligibility to workers unable to work due to labor disputes, including strikes or lockouts. It sets a 14-day waiting period (or earlier if replacements are hired, a lockout starts, or the dispute ends) before benefits begin, treating these workers as "unemployed" under federal law. The bill also removes the standard requirement for these workers to actively seek other employment to qualify for benefits. This directly affects workers involved in labor disputes, such as those on strike or unable to work due to employer lockouts.
HR 5180 amends a required annual report on China's military and security activities, directly affecting the Department of Defense which produces the report. It adds specific new requirements, including reporting on nuclear/drones cooperation, Chinese overseas farmland acquisitions, cyber capabilities in potential U.S. conflicts, biotechnology development, and China's strategic plans for Taiwan (including cyber warfare, invasion, or blockade scenarios). The bill also extends the report's deadline from January 31, 2027, to January 31, 2030. These changes mandate more detailed annual assessments of China's military activities and strategic intentions.
HR 1510, the Due Process Continuity of Care Act, expands Medicaid eligibility to cover individuals in jail or custody while awaiting trial or disposition of charges, at a state's option. This allows states to provide Medicaid benefits to this population without requiring them to be convicted first. The bill provides $50 million in planning grants to states to develop implementation plans, including assessing healthcare needs, recruiting providers (especially for behavioral health and substance use treatment), and creating electronic billing systems for correctional facilities and outpatient providers. States must also consult with stakeholders like jails, providers, and Medicaid advocates before finalizing their plans.
HR 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, restricts how consumer reporting agencies share credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents agencies from sending these reports to third parties unless the request is tied to a firm credit offer and the recipient has either the homebuyer’s explicit written consent or is directly involved in the mortgage (like the lender, loan servicer, or the homebuyer’s bank holding an active account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by limiting unsolicited sharing of their credit information. The law amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to strengthen privacy protections around mortgage-related credit data.
SRES 374 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lacks the confidence of the Senate and American people to serve in his role. The resolution cites specific actions including the termination of $11 billion in public health funding, mass firings of scientists (notably eliminating 8 Offices of Minority Health), replacing all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee (ACIP) with critics of vaccines, and dismantling programs supporting maternal health, disability services, and chronic disease research. It alleges these actions violated federal law, undermined scientific integrity, and endangered public health during a measles outbreak. The resolution calls for the Secretary’s removal but has no legal effect, as it is a symbolic statement of disapproval.
This resolution (HRES 677) is a formal statement by the House of Representatives affirming the Federal Reserve's independence from political influence. It specifically supports Chairman Jerome Powell and the Board of Governors in making monetary policy decisions based on economic data, not political pressure. The resolution urges the President and executive branch to respect the Fed's statutory independence and avoid actions or rhetoric that could undermine its credibility. It emphasizes that maintaining this independence is critical for economic stability, price control, and global confidence in U.S. financial markets.
The Safe at Home Act requires federal agencies and courts to accept a designated address from state address confidentiality programs instead of an individual's actual home address. It directly affects participants in these programs - such as victims of domestic violence, witnesses, or others needing safety protections - who use the designated address for all federal interactions. Key provisions include prohibiting federal penalties for using the designated address, mandating agencies to update regulations within one year, and establishing strict procedures for disclosing physical addresses only in limited circumstances (e.g., court-ordered disclosure for criminal investigations). The law ensures physical addresses acquired through these procedures remain confidential under the Freedom of Information Act, with specific safeguards for how they can be used.
S 2718 amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to expand liquidity support for community development financial institutions (CDFIs). The bill increases annual funding from $5 million to $20 million and allows the Fund to purchase CDFI loans, provide guarantees, or offer other support to boost CDFI liquidity. It also broadens eligibility to include non-CDFI organizations focused on community development, with priority given to those with experience in loan structures or serving underserved areas. The bill requires annual reports to Congress detailing how funds are used, including loan purchases, housing support, and impacts on CDFI competitiveness and liquidity.
The Nationwide Right To Unionize Act (S 2729) would repeal a federal law provision allowing states to enact "right-to-work" laws, which typically prevent unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of employment. By removing this state-level exception, the bill would make it illegal for any state to have right-to-work laws, meaning workers in unionized workplaces across all 50 states could be required to pay union dues if their union and employer agree. This directly affects workers, unions, and employers in every state, particularly in the 27 states currently with right-to-work laws. The bill does not change existing union security agreements but eliminates state-level alternatives that restrict union dues collection.
