The Insurrection Act of 2025 establishes specific conditions under which the President may deploy military forces domestically to address insurrections, rebellions, or widespread violence that overwhelm state and local authorities. It requires the President to consult Congress, issue a proclamation ordering lawbreakers to disperse, and submit a detailed report before deployment, with congressional approval needed within 7 days. The bill specifically protects voting rights by requiring that military deployment to address voting rights violations must comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It also prohibits using National Guard members on training or other duty for domestic deployments. This legislation directly affects the President, Congress, state authorities, and military operations.
The HCBS Relief Act of 2025 increases federal funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) by 10 percentage points (capped at 95%) for participating states during fiscal years 2026-2027. It directly affects states that submit approved applications, Medicaid beneficiaries receiving HCBS, and home health workers by requiring states to use funds to raise wages/benefits for HCBS workers, reduce waiting lists, support family caregivers, and improve service quality. Key provisions mandate that states detail specific activities (like wage increases, paid leave, and equipment purchases) in applications, ensure funds supplement rather than replace state spending, and report on outcomes by 2029. The bill aims to strengthen HCBS access and workforce stability without changing Medicaid eligibility rules.
The ASSIST Act (S 2050) increases federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools and school-based health centers. It raises the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for these services to 90% for states, starting one year after enactment, while ensuring this doesn’t reduce existing federal payments or count against territorial spending limits. The bill also creates a new grant program administered by the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund entities like school districts and universities in hiring more licensed mental health providers, requiring culturally competent care and annual reporting on provider numbers and service effectiveness. It prohibits using grant funds for threat assessment teams and mandates a report to Congress on the program’s effectiveness within 18 months.
The State Public Option Act creates a new Medicaid buy-in option for state residents who are not enrolled in other health insurance plans, beginning January 1, 2026. It establishes limits on premiums (capped at 8.5% of family income) and cost-sharing, while allowing participants to enroll through state health insurance exchanges and access premium tax credits similar to those for private insurance. The bill also requires coverage of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services, including abortion services, starting in 2026. Additionally, it includes provisions to improve payment rates for primary care services provided under Medicaid.
This bill removes an age limit that previously restricted continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage to children under 19. It changes the rules to apply 12-month continuous enrollment protections to all enrollees, regardless of age, by replacing "child" and age-specific language with "individual" throughout the program rules. The key mechanism is amending federal law to eliminate the requirement that beneficiaries must be under 19 to qualify for uninterrupted coverage. This directly affects all current and future Medicaid and CHIP participants, including adults and older children. The changes take effect in 2026.
S 2068, the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act, would ban all direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs by pharmaceutical companies. It prohibits ads targeting consumers through any media - including TV, radio, print, digital, and social media - for drugs approved by the FDA under standard review processes. The ban applies immediately to all such drugs, regardless of when they were approved, and takes effect 30 days after the bill becomes law. This policy change directly affects drug manufacturers who currently run consumer ads and would eliminate these advertisements for the public.
HR 3968, the School Violence Prevention Act, creates a federal grant program to fund school-based violence prevention programs in communities with severe gun violence. It authorizes $25 million annually (2025-2031) for grants to partnerships between state/local education agencies and community nonprofits in areas experiencing high homicide rates (e.g., 35+ homicides annually) or double the national violent crime arrest rate for youth. Grants must support evidence-based programs for K-12 students - including trauma-informed counseling, conflict resolution skills, mental health access, and community engagement - while requiring annual data collection on outcomes like graduation rates. All programs must be evaluated by grantees and independent researchers, with reports shared publicly and submitted to Congress every three years.
HR 3946, the FIGHT Act of 2025, amends the Animal Welfare Act to specifically prohibit gambling on animal fighting events and restrict the interstate transport of roosters used in such ventures. It defines "rooster" as male chickens over six months old and makes it unlawful to sponsor, exhibit, attend (for those under 16), or gamble on animal fighting events - whether in-person or broadcast. The bill creates a civil enforcement mechanism allowing any person to file a lawsuit to stop violations after providing 60 days' notice to authorities, with potential fines up to $5,000 per violation. It also establishes seizure of property used to facilitate violations and clarifies that state laws on animal fighting remain in effect unless directly conflicting with federal provisions.
This bill requires colleges receiving federal work-study funds to notify eligible students about potential eligibility for the SNAP food assistance program. It specifically targets students participating in federal work-study or receiving Pell Grants, mandating that institutions send email notifications with state-specific SNAP eligibility details and a document confirming their work-study status to overcome a key ineligibility barrier. The notifications, developed jointly by the Education and Agriculture Departments, include application contacts and guidance for schools on identifying eligible students. The policy change directly enables more college students to access nutrition assistance by clarifying their SNAP eligibility through institutional outreach.
The RISE Act (HR 3939) streamlines documentation for college students with disabilities by requiring institutions to accept multiple forms of proof, including past Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, or licensed professional evaluations, instead of demanding current documentation. It mandates that colleges establish transparent, accessible processes for determining accommodation eligibility and share these policies with students, parents, and faculty. The bill also requires institutions to report specific data on students with disabilities (like enrollment numbers and accommodations used) to federal databases, while authorizing $10 million for a national support center. These changes directly affect colleges receiving federal aid and students seeking disability accommodations in higher education.
The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act aims to improve access to maternity care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, by requiring states to study the costs of obstetric services and ensuring hospitals receive adequate Medicaid payments. It establishes "anchor payments" for low-volume obstetric hospitals to prevent closures, mandates 12-month continuous coverage for pregnant individuals under Medicaid and CHIP, and creates health homes for coordinated maternal care. The bill also requires hospitals to notify communities 180 days before closing obstetric units and collect detailed data on labor and delivery services. This legislation directly affects rural and safety net hospitals, pregnant individuals, and maternal health providers across the country.
The Protecting Children Act increases penalties for employers violating child labor laws, raising civil penalties to as much as $700,000 for serious violations involving children and doubling or tripling penalties for violations that cause harm to young workers. It establishes a National Advisory Committee on Child Labor to advise federal agencies and creates a fund using penalty collections to support enforcement, research, and education about child labor. The bill updates processes for reviewing hazardous occupations for children and requires annual reports on child labor enforcement activities, statistics, and the effectiveness of protections. These provisions directly affect employers who hire children, children working in hazardous conditions, and federal agencies responsible for labor and safety enforcement.
