HR 7608, the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026, prevents the deportation of eligible Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese nationals who entered the U.S. before January 1, 2008, and have continuously resided here since. The bill halts removals for these individuals, grants them permanent work authorization with 5-year permits renewable indefinitely, and eliminates in-person check-ins for immigration supervision. It also requires immigration authorities to reopen past deportation cases for eligible individuals, allowing them to seek relief under the Act’s provisions without retroactive penalties. This directly affects approximately 15,000 long-term Southeast Asian residents, many of whom arrived as child refugees following conflicts the U.S. was involved in.
This bill requires the U.S. government to modernize how it measures energy productivity - the efficiency of using energy to create economic value. It mandates a national baseline assessment within 18 months, quarterly "Energy Productivity-IQ" reports tracking energy use against economic output (aligned with existing labor productivity data), and triennial assessments analyzing impacts on competitiveness, environmental health, and economic well-being. The bill also establishes a 3-year Energy Productivity Task Force with federal agencies and external experts to advise on these metrics. These requirements directly affect federal agencies like the Department of Energy and Energy Information Administration, providing standardized data for public and policy decision-making.
The METRIC Act requires the U.S. Department of Energy to study current energy measurement methods and develop improved metrics for national energy accounting. It mandates a study evaluating how primary energy is measured - particularly its limitations in tracking noncombustion energy sources like solar and wind - and recommends alternatives within 18 months. The bill also directs the Energy Information Administration to collect and publish "incident energy" data (total energy entering systems before conversion, such as sunlight or wind) alongside existing statistics, using surveys and models where direct data isn’t feasible. This aims to create clearer, more comparable energy data for policymakers, researchers, and the public, without changing current energy definitions or policies.
HR 1320, the Modern Worker Security Act, changes how federal law determines if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. It prohibits considering whether a worker has access to "portable benefits" (like health insurance, retirement savings, or paid leave that they can keep after leaving a job) when making this classification. This directly affects workers who might currently be misclassified as independent contractors, denying them employee benefits. The key mechanism is removing portable benefits from the employee status determination process, aiming to ensure workers who perform regular work for an employer qualify for standard employee protections.
This bill specifies a legal standard for determining whether an individual is considered an independent contractor rather than an employee for the purposes of federal labor laws that address issues such as the federal minimum wage, overtime compensation, and collective bargaining. The rights and protections provided by these laws exclusively apply to employees. Under the bill, an individual is considered an independent contractor if (1) another individual or entity does not exercise significant control over the details of how the individual's work is performed, without regard to any control the other individual or entity may exercise over the final result of the work performed; and (2) while performing such work, the individual has opportunities and risks inherent with entrepreneurship (for example, the discretion to exercise professional judgment). The bill also sets forth factors that may not be used to determine whether an individual is an employee. Specifically, factors such as whether another individual or entity requires the individual to meet certain legal, health and safety, insurance, or performance requirements may not be used to make such a determination.
HR 7591 requires the U.S. Department of Education to develop and distribute annual firearm safety best practices to schools, focusing on secure storage methods and suicide prevention resources. The bill mandates that local school districts create community-specific guidance incorporating these best practices, to be shared with students, parents, and staff annually before the start of each school year. It specifies that materials must include practical storage solutions (like locks and safes), mental health resources, and neutral information about firearm safety without promoting or discouraging gun ownership. The law directly affects schools receiving federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, aiming to reduce firearm-related injuries and suicides through education, not by changing gun ownership laws.
HR 7599 creates a federal framework for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), allowing family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily prohibit individuals from possessing firearms when they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill establishes a process for issuing ex parte orders (up to 14 days) followed by a hearing within 72 hours to determine if a longer-term order (up to 180 days) should be issued, requiring respondents to surrender firearms to U.S. Marshals or designated law enforcement. Courts must consider specific factors like recent threats, violence, substance abuse, or cruelty to animals before issuing orders, with no fees for petitioners. The law requires law enforcement training to address bias, includes annual reporting requirements, and ensures firearms are returned once the order expires and the individual is eligible to own firearms under federal law.
Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act This bill requires certified national governing bodies (NGBs) of amateur sports (e.g., USA Gymnastics) to prohibit a person whose sex is male from participating in an amateur athletic competition that is designated for females, women, or girls. Under the bill, male means an individual who has, had, will have—or would have, but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident—the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization.
This bill modifies tax rules for public school bonds to make certain financing more accessible. It allows school districts to issue bonds for building, repairing, or acquiring school facilities (with 100% of funds used for these purposes) and treat them as tax-exempt, reverting to the pre-December 2017 tax treatment. The key provision reopens a prior tax rule that had expired, enabling districts to use advance refunding bonds for school construction without triggering tax penalties. It directly affects public school districts seeking to finance physical school infrastructure through bond financing. The change applies to bonds issued after the bill's enactment date.
The Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act (HR 7525) authorizes state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to use approved counter-drone technology to detect, track, and mitigate drone threats at "covered facilities or assets" identified as high-risk by jurisdiction leaders. The bill establishes two pilot programs: a general 3-year program for law enforcement agencies and a special program for security around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, requiring FAA approval of equipment and training. It mandates privacy protections for communications, requires written policies and reporting to Congress about drone mitigation activities, and creates a permanent authorization framework after the pilot programs conclude. The law aims to strengthen security against drone threats while incorporating oversight mechanisms and privacy safeguards for law enforcement operations.
This resolution (HRES 1063) is a symbolic measure designating February 2026 as "Career and Technical Education Month" to recognize the importance of career and technical education (CTE) programs. It does not create new policies or funding but formally supports CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand jobs by encouraging educators and parents to promote CTE as a valid educational pathway. The resolution references CTE's alignment with workforce needs and cites bipartisan support from past legislation like the 2018 Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act. It affects no specific individuals or programs, serving only as a non-binding statement of support.
The SAT Streamlining Act establishes new processing timelines for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review satellite and telecommunications licenses and market access applications. It sets specific deadlines for the FCC to act (e.g., 1 year for license applications, 90 days for minor modifications) and creates a "deemed granted" provision if deadlines are missed. The bill also includes provisions for emergency grants during national security or safety concerns, requires national security reviews for certain foreign-owned entities, and prohibits state and local governments from regulating rates for satellite services. This legislation directly affects satellite operators, telecommunications companies, and the FCC, aiming to streamline processes while maintaining national security oversight.
