This bill, known as the Protecting Homeowners from Squatters Act, aims to stop people from illegally occupying homes by defining squatting as entering a property and staying there for at least 10 to 14 days without the owner's permission or payment of rent. It directs local law enforcement to quickly remove squatters and prosecute them according to local laws while prohibiting the use of federal benefits to support or encourage such behavior. The legislation also ties federal housing funds to local compliance by withholding Community Development Block Grant money from jurisdictions that allow squatting or grant special tenant rights to squatters, and it bars federal mortgage support for loans secured by properties in those non-compliant areas.
This bill establishes a legal framework allowing banks and credit unions to provide financial services to businesses operating marijuana or hemp industries under state laws without fear of losing federal protections. It specifically shields these institutions from penalties, insurance termination, or liability if they accept deposits or make loans to state-sanctioned marijuana or hemp companies. The legislation also clarifies that income from these businesses can be used to qualify for federally backed mortgages and requires regulators to update guidance on how to handle suspicious activity reports related to these sectors. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports and studies to assess access to banking services for minority-owned and small businesses within the industry.
This bill establishes a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting the Russian government and its affiliated entities in response to ongoing military actions. It authorizes the President to block assets, revoke visas, and prohibit financial transactions for Russian officials, military leaders, and foreign persons supporting Russia's defense industry or undermining Ukraine. The legislation also bans U.S. investments in Russian energy sectors, prohibits the purchase of Russian sovereign debt, and imposes high tariffs on Russian imports while restricting crude oil purchases by specific foreign nations. Additionally, the bill prevents Russian companies from listing on U.S. stock exchanges and includes mechanisms for terminating sanctions only if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and ceases hostilities.
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act fundamentally changes federal law by removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, effectively decriminalizing it at the federal level and allowing states to regulate their own cannabis markets without federal interference. To manage this new landscape, the bill creates a new federal agency called the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Tax and Trade Bureau to oversee licensing, collect taxes, and prevent illicit trade, while also establishing a new Center for Cannabis Products within the FDA to regulate safety and labeling. The legislation includes significant restorative justice measures, such as automatically expunging federal cannabis convictions and prohibiting discrimination against individuals with such records in areas like immigration, security clearances, and access to federal benefits. Additionally, the bill provides billions of dollars in funding to support research into the health effects of cannabis, expand access to financial services for legitimate cannabis businesses, and assist communities and individuals harmed by past prohibition enforcement.
The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act creates a federal grant program to help states establish or improve paid leave systems that offer up to six weeks of paid time off for reasons like illness, family care, or bonding. To receive funding, states must create a partnership with private entities to manage the program and agree to a national network that standardizes rules and technology across different states. The bill sets specific requirements for benefit amounts, such as providing at least 67 percent of an employee's weekly pay for low-income workers, and allows grants of up to $8 million per state to cover startup costs and ongoing operations. Additionally, the legislation authorizes funding for a national organization to build a shared technology system that helps workers apply for benefits regardless of which states they have worked in.
The Duty of Transparency Act requires Members of Congress to publicly disclose when they plan to be absent from their duties for at least 21 consecutive days. Under this bill, lawmakers must submit a statement within five days explaining the reason for their absence, whether they can still work remotely, and providing contact information for a staff member available to constituents. The law mandates that these reports be updated every 30 days and made available on official websites within two days of filing, while also protecting the privacy of any medical information involved. Failure to comply with these transparency requirements would be referred to the relevant congressional ethics committee for review.
The SWIFT Act of 2026 modifies Social Security rules to improve benefits for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses. It allows these individuals to receive full survivor benefits at any age if they have a disability, removing previous age restrictions and ensuring their benefits are not reduced if they remarry. The law also raises the age limit for children receiving benefits based on a parent's work record from 16 to 18, or 19 for full-time students. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum amount survivors can receive by offering financial incentives for delaying their claim until full retirement age. To help people understand these changes, the Social Security Administration will publish and mail a new information booklet to affected families.
The National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security Act of 2026 establishes a new Chief Resilience Officer within the National Security Council to lead federal efforts in preparing for natural hazards like wildfires, sea level rise, and drought. This official will create interagency working groups and a Partners Council on Resilience to coordinate with state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, ensuring that funding and resources prioritize the most vulnerable communities. The bill mandates the development of a National Resilience Strategy within two years, which must outline how federal agencies will reduce redundancies, improve disaster mitigation, and support infrastructure that can withstand environmental changes. Additionally, the act requires the creation of a central clearinghouse to share data and technical assistance, with all requirements set to expire after 10 years or upon the submission of a third assessment report.
The Public Service Retirement Tax Relief Act of 2026 limits the federal income tax that individuals receiving state or local government pensions must pay. Starting in 2026, the total tax on these pensions cannot exceed $10,000 for single filers or $20,000 for married couples filing jointly. This cap is calculated by first determining the tax owed on all income except the pension, then adding the maximum allowable pension tax amount to that figure. The bill directly affects public servants who rely on pensions from state or local governments for their retirement income.
The Protecting America's Food Supply Act of 2026 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate imported food products based on their health risks, safety history, import volume, and the coordination between U.S. and foreign regulators. Within one year of enactment, the agency must publish a detailed report on its findings, including specific targets and actual numbers for foreign facility inspections by the Food and Drug Administration. The report will also analyze trends by food type and country of origin to determine if current inspection methods align with existing food safety laws. This legislation aims to increase transparency and oversight of the food supply chain by making inspection data publicly available on a government website.
Orlin's Law requires immigration officials to identify detained parents and prioritize family unity by limiting detention when possible. The bill mandates that parents be allowed to make free calls and visits with their children, participate in family court proceedings, and access necessary documents to care for their dependents. It also establishes a new office within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to coordinate these protections and provides for community-based alternatives to detention. Additionally, the law creates a presumption that parental rights remain intact even if a child is separated from a detained parent and outlines specific steps to facilitate reunification upon removal.
The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act aims to break up the highly concentrated meatpacking industry by forcing major companies to divest assets and stop operating in multiple meat categories simultaneously. The Federal Trade Commission is authorized to order these divestitures if market concentration remains too high or if a single firm controls a large share of beef processing, with a specific goal of transferring assets to farmers' cooperatives and small businesses. Additionally, the bill mandates that foreign-owned meatpacking firms divest their U.S. operations and prohibits companies from acquiring new assets in lines of protein they do not already process. To support these changes, the legislation provides funding for new competitors and requires the FTC to actively enforce these rules against firms that fail to comply.
