The Rural MOMS Act of 2026 modifies how Medicare counts hospital beds, specifically excluding labor and delivery rooms from the total number of acute care inpatient beds used to determine if a facility qualifies as a Critical Access Hospital. This change directly affects rural hospitals that provide maternity services by altering the financial thresholds required to maintain their special status under the Medicare program. By removing delivery rooms from the bed count calculation, the bill aims to prevent these facilities from losing their designation solely because they offer childbirth care. The legislation does not change how these hospitals are funded or operated, but rather adjusts the metric used to evaluate their eligibility for critical access benefits.
This bill, titled the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, prohibits Amtrak from requiring customers to use mandatory arbitration for disputes regarding consumer rights or civil rights violations. Under the new rules, any pre-existing agreements that force passengers to settle such claims through arbitration instead of court would be considered invalid and unenforceable. Additionally, the legislation ensures that passengers retain the right to join class-action lawsuits against Amtrak, preventing the company from using contracts to block these collective legal actions. Courts, rather than arbitrators, will be responsible for deciding whether these arbitration clauses are valid, with the exception of disputes covered under the Railway Labor Act. These changes apply immediately upon the bill's enactment and cover any disputes arising on or after that date.
Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance, livestock and other animals, and foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land.
The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to adjust leverage rules for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), which provide capital to small businesses. It lowers the maximum allowable leverage ratio from 300% to 200% and expands eligible investments to include companies in rural areas, critical technology sectors, and small manufacturers. The bill caps excluded leverage at $125 million or 50% of a company’s private capital, whichever is lower, and requires annual inflation adjustments to these dollar amounts. These changes directly affect SBICs, private investment firms that support small business growth nationwide.
This bill, titled the Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026, raises the minimum salary required for employees to be exempt from federal overtime pay rules, directly affecting workers classified as executive, administrative, or professional staff. It establishes a specific salary schedule that starts at $45,000 per week and increases annually to $75,000 by 2029, after which the threshold will automatically adjust to match the 55th percentile of national earnings for full-time salaried workers. Additionally, the legislation modifies the criteria for determining job duties, requiring that at least 20 percent of an employee's time be spent on executive or administrative tasks rather than the previous 40 percent standard. The law also mandates that the Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publish earnings data and requires the Department of Labor to provide public notice before implementing any updated salary thresholds.
The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 raises the minimum salary required for certain employees to be exempt from federal overtime pay rules, starting at $45,000 per year and increasing annually until it reaches $75,000 by 2029. The bill also mandates that this threshold automatically updates each year to match the 55th percentile of weekly earnings for full-time salaried workers nationwide, with adjustments taking effect based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Additionally, the law modifies the duties test for exemption, requiring that at least 20 percent of an employee's time be spent on executive or administrative tasks rather than the current 40 percent standard. These changes directly affect employers and workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act by redefining eligibility for overtime exemptions and establishing a new mechanism for adjusting salary requirements over time.
The Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends funding and updates rules for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, which supports economic development in specific geographic areas. The bill defines eligible organizations as state or nonprofit groups that provide direct financing, commercialization services, and entrepreneurial support to local businesses. It mandates that the federal government cover up to 90 percent of project costs and requires outreach to rural communities and areas facing economic hardship. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 to 2030 and allows the use of previously unspent funds to continue the program.
This bill removes federal immunity protections for federal immigration law enforcement officers who cause death or serious bodily injury while performing their duties. Under the new provision, these officers could be prosecuted under state laws if they commit such acts, allowing state courts to assert jurisdiction over the offenses. The legislation directly affects federal agents involved in immigration enforcement and state legal systems that might seek to try them for violent crimes. By amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code, the bill creates a specific legal pathway for states to pursue charges against federal officers in cases of severe harm.
The Department of Justice Integrity Act of 2026 expands rules on when former government lawyers can work for private clients. It specifically targets attorneys who previously led federal prosecutions against businesses or negotiated settlements with them. Under this new provision, such lawyers are prohibited from representing those same businesses in related federal cases within one year of leaving their government job. If they violate this restriction, they face criminal penalties outlined in existing federal law.
The Corporate Prosecution Reform Act establishes a new Office of Corporate Enforcement within the Department of Justice to oversee agreements with companies accused of federal crimes. It restricts the use of deferred and non-prosecution agreements by banning them for offenses involving loss of life, serious injury, or specific crimes like terrorism and human trafficking, while requiring courts to ensure these deals adequately compensate victims and prevent future misconduct. To increase transparency, the bill mandates that the Attorney General publish the full text of all such agreements on a public website and submit annual reports to Congress detailing their terms and compliance. Additionally, the legislation creates standardized guidance for prosecutors to ensure consistent penalties for similar corporate offenses and updates federal crime categories to include cyber and financial crimes.
The Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act allows Amtrak to use certain federal funds to meet the non-federal share requirements for three specific types of rail infrastructure grants. Under this bill, Amtrak can apply these funds toward projects where its role goes beyond simply providing money, and the funds will not be counted as federal assistance for those specific purposes. Additionally, the legislation permits Amtrak to use its own ticket sales and other operational revenues to satisfy non-federal share limits for intercity passenger rail grants. These changes aim to provide Amtrak with more flexibility in how it finances and participates in federal rail improvement programs.
The Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act directs the Attorney General to develop and publish voluntary guidelines for securely storing firearms in homes, vehicles, businesses, and other locations. To encourage compliance, the bill requires manufacturers and importers to include a "SAFE STORAGE SAVES LIVES" notice on every handgun, rifle, or shotgun starting in 2029. Additionally, the legislation creates a federal grant program to help states and tribes distribute locking devices that prevent unauthorized access to guns and ammunition. The act also introduces a tax credit of up to $400 for consumers who purchase these specific safe storage devices.
