The Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a National Chronic Pain Information System to better understand and track chronic pain in the United States. This system will use existing federal data and collect new information on pain causes, demographics, treatment effectiveness, and associated costs to identify gaps in current research. The bill also requires the establishment of a public website called the Chronic Pain Information Hub to share these findings and provide updated clinical tools for researchers and medical professionals. Additionally, the legislation mandates that any experts collaborating on this research must disclose potential financial conflicts of interest related to drug or device manufacturers. To fund these efforts, the act authorizes appropriations for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
The MediKids Act expands Medicaid eligibility to cover children and young adults up to age 26, regardless of their immigration status, and establishes a system for automatic enrollment of newborns that allows parents to opt out if other qualifying health coverage is available. The bill ensures that states provide full federal funding for these expanded groups and extends specific pediatric health services, such as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT), to individuals up to age 26. Additionally, the legislation modifies tax rules to prevent this new Medicaid coverage from counting as minimum essential coverage for the purpose of individual health insurance tax penalties.
The Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals in the criminal justice system by restricting financial incentives for states that use restraints on pregnant inmates. Under the bill, states receiving federal justice grants would face a 25 percent funding penalty if they fail to implement laws limiting the use of shackles on pregnant individuals, with those withheld funds redirected to compliant states. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to create and fund programs in at least six federal facilities and across various state and local prisons that provide specialized prenatal care, mental health support, and reentry assistance. These programs are designed to address specific health disparities, particularly for racial and ethnic minority groups, by offering culturally competent care, nutrition counseling, and opportunities to maintain contact with newborn children. Additionally, the act requires an independent oversight organization to monitor program implementation and mandates a Government Accountability Office report to analyze maternal and infant health data within the correctional system.
The MOMMIES Act expands Medicaid and CHIP coverage for low-income pregnant and postpartum individuals by extending continuous benefits for one year after childbirth and mandating full coverage of oral health services. To support these changes, the bill includes maintenance of effort provisions that prevent states from restricting eligibility or reducing benefits for this population, alongside a temporary 100 percent federal funding match for states that increase spending on these services. Additionally, the legislation establishes a five-year demonstration project to fund maternity care home models that integrate medical and social support services, while also requiring studies and guidance on improving access to doula services and telehealth for maternity care.
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 directs the Federal Communications Commission to study how to require callers to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to send their precise location information to emergency responders. This requirement would primarily affect telecommunications companies, 911 service providers, and crisis centers that currently handle calls from users who may not be able to verbally state their address. The bill also asks the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on the legal, technical, and financial challenges of implementing such a system, including considerations for privacy and accessibility for users with hearing loss. By mandating these studies, the legislation aims to gather necessary data before deciding on a policy to ensure callers can be routed to local help more effectively.
The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026 updates the rules and funding for federal programs that help small business owners, such as Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, and SCORE. The bill requires the Small Business Administration to report more detailed information on how these programs operate and spend money, while also establishing a working group to improve how data is collected from these organizations. It allows centers to use a small portion of their grants for marketing, permits them to charge fees for private partnerships, and sets a limit on new funding for centers that have not previously received federal grants. Additionally, the legislation increases annual funding for state grants, simplifies contract approval timelines, and mandates annual reports detailing the number of businesses started, jobs created, and participants served.
The Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act updates the tax credit available to small businesses that make their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. It allows these businesses to claim the credit for a broader range of expenses, including equipment and services that go beyond the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act or are needed even if the business is not currently subject to those rules. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definitions of disability and reasonable accommodation within the tax code. The legislation also requires the Treasury Department to issue guidance and conduct public outreach to help eligible businesses understand the updated credit, with a report to Congress due two years after enactment. These changes will take effect for expenses incurred after December 31, 2026.
The Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2026 aims to combat fraud by increasing criminal penalties for individuals who falsely represent themselves as immigration lawyers or provide fraudulent services. It requires non-lawyer immigration service providers to identify themselves on applications and allows victims of unauthorized practice of law to withdraw and resubmit their immigration forms without penalty. The bill also empowers the Attorney General to issue civil injunctions against fraudulent providers and mandates that convicted fraudsters reimburse their clients for services rendered. To support legitimate legal aid, the legislation authorizes funding for outreach programs and grants to nonprofit organizations that provide direct legal assistance to immigrants.
This bill establishes a temporary funding mechanism for the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund by requiring the Treasury Department to loan $3 billion annually to the fund for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029. The borrowed money must be distributed immediately to victims as part of the annual payment and cannot be saved for future use. Interest on these loans will be set by the Treasury based on market rates and will be repaid only from future fines and penalties collected from state sponsors of terrorism after the fund ends. The authority to make these loans expires on September 30, 2029, and the funds are treated as direct spending rather than new appropriations.
The AIR CARE for Vets Act of 2026 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a five-year pilot program using specialized software to detect respiratory disorders and lung diseases in veterans receiving care at VA facilities. To implement this, the VA will lease FDA-approved four-dimensional functional lung imaging software from eligible developers to analyze lung function data. The program is funded with up to $25 million over five years, and the VA must submit a report to Congress two years after the pilot ends to evaluate its effectiveness.
This bill requires hospitals, clinical laboratories, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly post detailed price information for their services starting in 2028. It mandates that these facilities display standard charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates in a uniform, machine-readable format that is free to access and includes plain-language descriptions of services. Additionally, the legislation expands cost-sharing transparency for group health plans and insurers by requiring them to provide real-time estimates of patient out-of-pocket costs and publish rate and payment data for providers. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, while providing waivers for hospitals in rural or underserved areas facing immediate threats to access to care.
This bill directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to study the Mullica River watershed in New Jersey to determine if it should be officially designated as a Wild and Scenic River. The study will focus on specific segments of the Mullica River and its tributaries, including the Wading River and Batsto River, to assess their suitability for protection. If the study concludes that these waters meet the necessary criteria, the area could receive federal protections to preserve its natural character and recreational values. The final results of this evaluation must be reported to Congress within three years of funding becoming available.
