HR 7184, the PRESS Act, targets equipment used to manufacture illegal drugs by making it unlawful to sell specific items like tableting machines, gelatin capsules, or related chemicals when the seller knows the equipment will be used to produce controlled substances for unlawful U.S. importation. It directly affects manufacturers and distributors of these drug-making tools who have knowledge or reasonable cause to believe their products will facilitate illegal drug trafficking. The bill adds new prohibitions to the Controlled Substances Act and increases potential prison sentences for violations, with penalties reaching up to 20 years for major offenses involving large quantities of equipment or chemicals. These changes aim to disrupt the supply chain for illicit synthetic drugs by holding equipment sellers accountable for their intended use.
This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
HR 3108, the RPM Access Act, increases Medicare reimbursement for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in rural areas by setting a minimum reimbursement floor of 100% for practice expenses and malpractice costs starting in 2026. It requires that RPM services include real-time physician availability to address health issues, use data systems compatible with electronic health records, and mandates providers to report data on cost savings and adherence to medications. The bill directly affects rural Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes, as well as healthcare providers delivering RPM services in underserved rural communities. It also requires a 5-year report to Congress analyzing cost savings from RPM use, including reduced hospitalizations and medication adherence. The law aims to improve access to RPM in rural areas where healthcare shortages are most severe.
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, ending the current practice of changing clocks twice yearly. It repeals the 1966 law requiring seasonal time changes and adjusts time zone offsets to reflect permanent daylight saving time (e.g., shifting from "4 hours" to "3 hours" in historical references). States that currently opt out of daylight saving time (like Arizona and Hawaii) would retain their existing arrangements, while all other states would adopt permanent daylight saving time unless they choose to stay on standard time. This change would directly affect all U.S. residents by eliminating the need to reset clocks in spring and fall.
This resolution expresses support for the Trump administration's efforts to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It highlights specific findings from 29 states that shared data, noting issues such as deceased individuals receiving benefits and people using incorrect Social Security numbers. The bill aims to increase transparency and ensure taxpayer dollars are redirected to eligible low-income families rather than being lost to criminal actors.
The PROMISE Act of 2026 establishes a mandatory process for Congress to address Social Security solvency by requiring the Social Security Advisory Board to develop and submit specific legislative recommendations by September 2026. This legislation mandates that Congress convene and consider a Social Security bill by November 2026, with strict rules limiting debate to 100 hours and prohibiting amendments that would not achieve long-term solvency or alter the program's funding. To pass the bill, the Senate requires a three-fifths majority vote while the House requires a simple majority, and the process restricts the inclusion of unrelated provisions to ensure the focus remains on the financial stability of the Social Security Trust Funds.
The Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 restricts federal agencies from entering into settlement agreements that require payments to third parties unless those funds directly remedy actual harm or compensate for services rendered. This law prohibits officials from directing settlement money to entities other than the United States for purposes such as slush funds or unrelated projects. To ensure compliance, the bill mandates annual reports to the Congressional Budget Office detailing the distribution of settlement funds and requires federal Inspectors General to publicly report any violations to congressional committees. These reporting requirements are set to expire seven years after the bill is enacted.
The TOTAL Screen Time Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a voluntary technical standard that allows parents and guardians to set screen time limits across various devices like phones, tablets, and computers. This standard must protect the privacy of minors by avoiding centralized data collection and unnecessary data sharing between devices while maintaining device cybersecurity. The bill requires the NIST Director to consult with government agencies, device developers, medical professionals, and advocacy groups before establishing the standard. Additionally, the Director must submit regular reports to Congress and the public detailing the progress of developing and adopting this standard until 2032.
The High Court Gift Ban Act prohibits federal judicial officers from accepting gifts from sources likely to appear before them, unless the gift is under $50, the total annual value from that source remains $100 or less, or it falls under specific exceptions like gifts from relatives or public events. The law defines a "gift" broadly to include items, services, and reimbursements, while allowing exceptions for personal hospitality within IRS limits and certain professional benefits available to the general public. Enforcement mechanisms include referrals to the Attorney General for violations, which can result in civil or criminal penalties similar to those for other federal ethics breaches. The bill requires the Supreme Court and the Judicial Conference to create implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment to ensure compliance.
The FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize artificial intelligence in its research, extension programs, and workforce training initiatives. This legislation requires the department to update its funding categories to include AI projects that enhance precision farming, resource management, and cybersecurity while adding specific training for implementing computing systems and maintaining agricultural machinery. To oversee these efforts, the bill establishes a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will coordinate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop national standards and promote the adoption of digital tools among farmers and rural communities.
The FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act requires the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the law's enactment. This report will detail the turnover rate and employment duration for FEMA's case management staff, along with any steps the agency is taking to reduce staff turnover. Additionally, the report must analyze how often disaster recovery workers are rotated back to their regular duties, breaking down these numbers by full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract employees. The bill does not change how FEMA operates directly but instead mandates a review of its staffing stability to inform future policy.
