This bill, known as the Improving Home Dialysis Act of 2026, expands Medicare coverage to include two new types of support services for patients performing dialysis at home. Starting in 2028, it will cover respite care provided by trained medical staff when a patient is temporarily unable to manage their own dialysis, as well as mental health services specifically for kidney disease during the first 60 days of home treatment. The legislation also adjusts Medicare payments to cover these services, setting specific limits on the number of sessions allowed per year and ensuring the costs are not offset by reducing payments elsewhere. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries who use home dialysis and the healthcare providers who deliver these specialized services.
Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years. The program tests the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement under Medicare for small rural hospitals that are too large to qualify for special payment as critical access hospitals. The bill specifies that hospitals that participate in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027, may continue to participate during the five-year extension period.
HR 3234, the "Keeping Deposits Local Act," amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to adjust how banks calculate reciprocal deposits that don't count as "funds obtained through a deposit broker." It establishes tiered percentage thresholds based on a bank's total liabilities: 50% for banks under $1 billion, decreasing to 40% for $1-10 billion, 30% for $10-250 billion, 20% for $250 billion-$1 trillion, and 2% for banks over $1 trillion. This change directly affects commercial banks, particularly smaller institutions, by allowing them to hold a larger share of deposits without triggering stricter broker-related regulations. The bill aims to simplify compliance for community banks while maintaining oversight for larger financial institutions.
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.
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 Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.
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 Stop the Doxx Act makes it a federal crime to publicly share personal information, such as home addresses or phone numbers, about law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, or their immediate family members with the intent to threaten or intimidate them. Under this law, individuals found guilty face prison sentences of up to 10 years for a first offense, with penalties increasing to 20 years for repeat offenses or up to 40 years if the act results in injury or death. The bill also allows victims to sue for damages and requires the Attorney General to create a free, annual training program to help these public servants protect their personal data online.
This bill directs the Department of Defense to connect military recruits who cannot enlist with the Job Corps program for training in skilled industrial jobs within the defense industry. It expands specific workforce incentives to include Job Corps centers and gives local operators more flexibility to hire staff, partner with educational institutions, and manage their programs without waiting for federal approval. The legislation also updates rules to allow Job Corps centers to accept cash donations and grants more easily while streamlining enrollment for veterans and active-duty service members. Overall, the act aims to reduce shortages of skilled workers in defense manufacturing by aligning Job Corps training with the needs of the defense industrial base.
The Freedom from Taxes Act of 2026 eliminates federal transfer and making taxes on firearms, which directly affects individuals buying or manufacturing guns. By setting these specific taxes to zero, the bill removes the $200 fee previously required when transferring or making certain firearms. The law also adds a time limit to a special tax, ensuring it no longer applies to years beginning after the bill takes effect. These changes would become active on the first day of the first calendar quarter starting more than 90 days after the legislation is signed into law.
The CHIERS Act of 2026 authorizes federal grants to help individuals with substance use disorders reach treatment and supportive services by covering transportation costs. Eligible recipients include nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and health centers that will use the funds to provide rides, purchase vehicles, or pay for taxi services for these individuals. The program specifically targets people experiencing homelessness or living in low-income areas where travel barriers limit access to care, while explicitly excluding involuntary treatment transport and law enforcement use. To ensure effectiveness, grant recipients must submit detailed plans and performance reports focused on reducing missed appointments, and the funding is designed to supplement rather than replace existing local resources.
The VA TRUST Act (HR 6740) updates pay rules for senior executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires the VA to report specific details about performance awards and bonuses, including the funding source and each recipient’s annual pay rate. The bill aligns VA senior executive pay with the standard pay structure for the Senior Executive Service (SES) used across federal agencies. This directly affects VA senior executives and standardizes their compensation practices while increasing transparency in how pay decisions are made.
