This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to visibly display license plates on all vehicles used for civil immigration enforcement activities, funded by federal money. It directly affects ICE and CBP operations by mandating that these vehicles show license plates at all times, making their presence more transparent to the public. The key provision ties federal funding for such vehicles to this transparency requirement, ensuring compliance with the rule. The bill aims to increase public awareness of enforcement vehicle locations during civil immigration activities.
HR 7429, "Miranda’s Law," creates a national system requiring automatic notifications to employers when school bus drivers (or other commercial drivers with school bus endorsements) face license issues like moving violations, suspensions, or accidents. It directly affects school districts, schools, and private transportation companies that provide student transportation, mandating their participation in the notification service. The law replaces annual employer checks of driver records by requiring states to implement the service within two years, while also ensuring drivers receive simultaneous copies of these notifications. This system aims to improve safety by ensuring employers are promptly informed of driver license changes affecting school bus operations.
The SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 establishes federal safety standards for vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS), requiring manufacturers to develop detailed "safety cases" demonstrating their systems won't present unreasonable risks to road users. It creates a National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository to collect crash data from ADS-equipped vehicles, including information about vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) and crash circumstances. The bill preempts state laws that conflict with these federal standards while allowing states to enforce identical requirements, and defines key terms related to automation levels (Level 3-5) and operational design domains. Manufacturers must demonstrate ADS capabilities for handling various driving scenarios, including detecting vulnerable road users and achieving minimal risk conditions during emergencies. The bill also establishes requirements for cybersecurity protections and reporting of crash data to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This bill prohibits car manufacturers and dealers from selling safety features (like automatic emergency braking, lane assist, or crash alert systems) as optional add-ons that require extra payment. Instead, safety features must either be offered as standard equipment on all vehicles in a trim level or clearly priced separately from non-safety features (e.g., a sunroof or premium sound system). It directly affects car buyers by ensuring safety technology is not hidden behind costly "upgrades," and applies to all new vehicles sold in the U.S. The law also requires clear cost disclosure to prevent deceptive pricing practices.
The PART Act requires new vehicles to have catalytic converters marked with a unique identification number that links directly to the vehicle's identification number, stored in a law enforcement-accessible database. It establishes a $7 million grant program to help repair shops, dealers, law enforcement, and fleet owners purchase equipment for marking converters with visible, durable identifiers (using die or pin stamping and high-visibility paint). The bill also mandates that businesses buying catalytic converters keep detailed seller records (including vehicle information) for two years and use traceable payments, banning cash or cryptocurrency transactions. Additionally, it creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking in catalytic converters, with potential sentences of up to five years in prison.
This bill mandates a study on how driver-controlled technology (like touch screen infotainment systems) affects traffic safety, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists. The U.S. Department of Transportation will commission the National Academies to examine touch screen systems versus tactile controls (e.g., knobs/switches), smartphone use while driving, and factors like weather or traffic conditions. The study must analyze how these technologies impact driver distraction, severe injuries, and fatalities, and will lead to a public report and recommendations for potential data collection improvements. The bill itself does not create new laws but sets the stage for future safety decisions based on the findings.
Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act This bill requires providers of connected vehicle services, upon the request of a domestic violence survivor, to terminate or disable an identified domestic abuser’s access to a vehicle’s connected capabilities and data. Specifically, within two business days of receiving a request from a survivor, a covered provider must, if technically feasible (1) terminate or disable the connected vehicle account associated with the identified abuser or the relevant vehicle, or the vehicle’s connected capabilities; or (2) instruct the survivor on how to terminate or disable connected services directly. Covered providers may not make the termination of connected vehicle services or accounts contingent on any requirement other than the provision of specified information by the survivor. For example, a provider may not require a survivor to pay a fee or extend their contract with the provider. Under the bill, an abuser is an individual identified by a survivor who committed or allegedly committed certain acts against the survivor, including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. A survivor is an adult against whom such an act was committed. Further, a covered provider is a vehicle manufacturer, affiliate, or entity acting on behalf of a manufacturer that provides a connected vehicle service. Connected vehicle service is any capability that enables a person to remotely access data from or send commands to a vehicle. Finally, the Federal Communications Commission must prescribe regulations governing how covered providers address survivors’ requests related to connected vehicles.
This resolution (HRES 1043) is a symbolic congressional expression of support for designating February 2026 as "American Heart Month," an annual designation previously established by presidential proclamation since 1964. It does not create new programs or funding but affirms Congress's backing for existing awareness efforts focused on cardiovascular disease (CVD), citing CVD as the leading cause of death in the U.S. and highlighting statistics about its impact, costs, and risk factors. The resolution encourages public education about CVD prevention and recognizes ongoing efforts by organizations like the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It directly affects no specific group but supports nationwide public health awareness campaigns during February.
HRES 1047 designates January 2026 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring relationships for youth development. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but encourages public awareness and support for existing mentoring programs that help young people build skills, confidence, and educational opportunities. It emphasizes mentoring's role in improving academic performance, career readiness, and mental health outcomes without imposing any new obligations on individuals or organizations.
HRES 1044 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for designating 2026 as the "National Year of the Volunteer." It aims to honor volunteers who contribute to community safety, health, education, and civic life, while encouraging nationwide efforts to boost volunteerism ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the value of volunteer service and inspire greater community engagement.
HRES 1045 is a non-binding House resolution urging the Secretary of Education to collaborate with Tribal Nations and schools to eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and names from K-12 schools, particularly those receiving federal funds. It specifically targets over 1,900 schools nationwide using such symbols, citing research showing these representations harm Native students' self-esteem and reinforce stereotypes. The resolution also calls on state schools and national sports teams to stop using these symbols without proper authorization. It emphasizes the need to support Native students' academic opportunities by removing harmful imagery, referencing the American Psychological Association’s findings on the negative impacts of stereotypical mascots.
This bill would create new federal criminal offenses for law enforcement officers and government officials who use excessive force, steal property, or obstruct investigations into misconduct. It prohibits intentionally causing bodily injury through excessive force (with penalties up to 30 years for serious cases), stealing money or property valued over $25, and destroying evidence related to misconduct (with penalties up to 20 years). The legislation defines "excessive force" as objectively unreasonable force and establishes a 7-year statute of limitations for most offenses, except for those resulting in death, which have no time limit. This directly affects government officials acting under color of law by creating new accountability mechanisms for misconduct.
