The Empowering App-Based Workers Act requires digital labor platforms (like ride-hail and delivery services) to disclose how they use algorithms and electronic monitoring tools to determine worker pay and assignments. It caps the percentage of consumer payments that platforms can keep (take rate) at 25% for ride-hail services and mandates detailed weekly pay statements showing compensation, take rate, and other work metrics. The bill prohibits platforms from using algorithms to set different pay rates for similar work based on protected characteristics like race or gender. These provisions directly affect app-based workers, platform companies, and consumers, aiming to create more transparent and fair working conditions in the gig economy. The bill does not override existing state or local laws that provide greater protections for workers.
HR 6670 creates a new nonimmigrant visa category ("family purpose visas") allowing relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to visit temporarily for family events. It requires applicants to provide proof of financial support, short-term medical insurance covering U.S. travel, and a sworn statement to depart within 90 days per calendar year. The bill restricts petitioners from previously sponsoring relatives who overstayed their visas, and explicitly states that these visits do not count toward permanent residency eligibility. This directly affects extended family members (including grandparents, siblings, and nieces/nephews) seeking short-term U.S. visits for social or major life events.
The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.
HR 6651 requires federal agencies (including the FBI, Homeland Security, and USPS) to develop a coordination strategy within 180 days to improve information sharing on organized retail crime networks. The strategy must help state/local law enforcement gather evidence for prosecutions and boost collaboration between agencies, retailers, and crime task forces. Agencies must submit a joint report within 180 days, and the Comptroller General will publish a separate report on private-sector law enforcement cooperation within one year. The bill defines "organized retail crime" as coordinated theft or fraud for interstate distribution of stolen goods, directly affecting federal agencies, law enforcement, and the retail industry.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to extend the loan limits for graduate and professional students indefinitely. It removes the previous expiration date (June 30, 2026) for these limits, meaning graduate and professional students will continue to have access to the same federal loan amounts without a set end date. The key change modifies Section 455(a) by eliminating the sunset provision and updating the effective date language in the law. This directly affects students pursuing advanced degrees who rely on federal loans for tuition and living expenses. The bill makes a technical adjustment to existing student loan policy without creating new benefits or altering eligibility criteria.
HR 6659, the Critical Minerals Trade Security Act, creates a new "Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator" within the U.S. Trade Representative's office to address supply chain risks. This position will negotiate trade deals on critical minerals (like rare earth elements vital for defense and energy technologies), enforce relevant trade agreements, and monitor foreign practices that disrupt U.S. supply chains. The bill requires the negotiator to submit annual reports starting in 2026 detailing supply chain risks from specific countries and violations of trade agreements, followed by a 30-day plan for responding to identified threats. These reports and plans will be shared with Congress and made public, focusing on protecting U.S. defense, energy, and infrastructure sectors from foreign supply chain vulnerabilities.
The Opportunities for Success Act of 2025 amends the Higher Education Act to increase funding for work-based learning programs, authorizing $1.5 billion in 2027 and rising to $2.5 billion annually by 2031. The bill requires institutions to allocate at least 7% of work-study funds to compensate students in work-based learning positions and at least 3% to students with "exceptional need" during periods of nonenrollment. It defines "work-based learning" to include internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships, and establishes new metrics for determining which institutions qualify as "improved institutions" for funding allocation. The legislation also mandates new surveys to evaluate program effectiveness and requires institutions to prioritize students with Federal Pell Grants and exceptional need.
HR 6638 requires NASA and the Commerce Secretary to submit a report within 180 days of enactment on creating a U.S. institute focused on space resources (like minerals and energy in space). The report must evaluate options for studying how to responsibly identify, develop, and use space resources to support U.S. space leadership, including reducing business risks and partnering with universities and industry. It will assess whether a physical or virtual institute would be most effective and how to maximize information sharing. This bill does not establish the institute but mandates a study to inform future decisions.
The Safer Schools Act of 2025 establishes a 5-year federal pilot program providing grants to public schools for security risk assessments and physical security upgrades. Public schools that have experienced violent incidents involving multiple people are prioritized for both types of grants. Schools receiving assessment grants must first identify vulnerabilities, while improvement grants fund specific security measures like panic alarms linked to local police, with federal funds covering up to 50% of costs. The program allocates $600 million total ($100M-$300M annually), requiring schools to submit financial reports and post-implementation safety surveys, with annual congressional reports tracking outcomes.
HR 6648, the FAIR Vets Act, increases the dollar thresholds for sole-source federal contracts awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. It raises the limit from $7 million to $10 million for certain contracts and from $3 million to $8 million for others under the Small Business Act. This change directly affects service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses by allowing them to secure more contracts without competitive bidding. The bill requires federal agencies to update their regulations within 180 days of enactment, with the changes applying to solicitations issued 180 days after that.
This bill prohibits social media platforms from offering disappearing messages (like Snapchat's ephemeral chats) to users under 17. It requires platforms to provide parents with easily accessible tools to approve or block private messaging for minors, with direct messaging disabled by default for users under 13. App stores must also display clear warnings to parents when minors attempt to download apps with private messaging features. These requirements apply to all social media platforms defined under the bill, with enforcement handled by the Federal Trade Commission.
Sammy's Law requires large social media platforms (those with over 100 million monthly users or $1 billion in annual revenue) to create real-time tools allowing parents or third-party safety software providers to help protect children under 17 from online harms. Platforms must provide secure access to children's account data for safety software providers that register with the Federal Trade Commission and meet strict security and privacy requirements. Third-party providers can only use the data to address specific risks like cyberbullying, trafficking, or abuse, and must delete data after 14 days unless needed for a safety concern. The law creates a federal standard that prevents states from making their own rules about this type of platform access.
