The CLEAN Act makes permanent a 2017 House resolution that establishes stricter rules for the House Office of Congressional Ethics. It limits board members to four two-year terms, requires vacancies to be filled within 60 days, and ensures members facing investigations have the right to legal representation. The bill also mandates that the ethics board cannot take actions that would violate constitutional rights. These changes directly affect the structure and operations of the House ethics oversight body.
The SERVE Act extends various Veterans Affairs benefits to former military members who were discharged specifically due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation amends existing laws to include these individuals in access to hospital care, mental health counseling, burial in national cemeteries, post-9/11 education assistance, and VA housing loans. The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify affected service members about available benefits and mandates a report within 15 months detailing how many individuals have received these services.
This bill, known as the Know Your Labor Rights Act, requires employers to post notices about employee labor rights in both physical and digital formats where employee notices are typically displayed. It mandates that employers inform new employees about these rights and provides the National Labor Relations Board with the authority to enforce compliance through orders and civil penalties. The maximum penalty for each violation is set at $500, and the Board must publicly share the notice forms and texts at no cost to employers. These changes directly affect employers and employees by increasing transparency around labor rights and establishing clearer enforcement mechanisms.
The Small Business Tax Cut Act increases the qualified business income deduction from 20 percent to 23 percent for eligible taxpayers, directly affecting small business owners and investors. The bill modifies income thresholds that limit this deduction for higher earners and extends the phase-in rules for taxable income above certain limits. Additionally, it allows dividends from qualified business development companies to be treated similarly to qualified REIT dividends for deduction purposes. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a specific definition for "dairy product." This bill directly affects food manufacturers and consumers by regulating how certain food names can be used. It defines a "dairy product" as food that is, contains as a primary ingredient, or is derived from, the lacteal secretion of hooved mammals. The act prohibits foods that do not meet this definition, or the requirements for an imitation food, from using names for standardized dairy products (like milk, yogurt, and cheese) in interstate commerce. Additionally, it requires the FDA to issue guidance on enforcement of these provisions and report to Congress on actions taken.
The SECURE Data Act establishes a comprehensive federal privacy framework that grants consumers specific rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal data, while requiring companies to provide clear privacy notices and implement reasonable data security measures. It directly affects large businesses and data brokers that process significant amounts of consumer information, mandating that these entities obtain explicit consent for sensitive data and prohibiting discrimination against individuals who exercise their privacy rights. The legislation creates a registration system for data brokers, allows for enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, and preempts conflicting state laws to ensure a uniform national standard.
The Safe Tracks Act requires the Secretary of Transportation to update federal regulations within 30 days of enactment to apply specific safety standards to centralized computer-aided train-dispatching systems and centralized traffic control boards. This change directly affects existing and future deployments of these automated train control technologies used by railroads. The bill mandates that these systems comply with the safety requirements outlined in subpart H of part 236 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which covers critical safety protocols for train operations. By updating the regulatory framework, the legislation aims to ensure consistent safety oversight across all centralized train dispatching infrastructure.
The Railroad Retirement Fairness Act amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to remove a specific provision that allowed deductions from railroad retirement annuities. This change directly affects current and future railroad workers who receive retirement benefits through the Railroad Retirement system. By striking subdivision (6) of Section 2(f), the bill eliminates a particular type of deduction that previously reduced the amount of money some retirees received. The legislation does not alter the overall structure of railroad retirement benefits but specifically targets one existing deduction mechanism.
The 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act directs the Small Business Administration to develop and implement an entrepreneurship curriculum for students in community learning centers, primarily targeting youth from disadvantaged communities. The bill requires the SBA to work with the SCORE program, which consists of retired business executives, to create teaching materials and train volunteers to deliver this curriculum in partnership with education specialists and other business groups. Additionally, the legislation amends existing laws to formally include entrepreneurship education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and mandates that the SBA submit biennial reports to Congress on program implementation, funding usage, and student outreach.
The Civics Learning Act of 2026 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding and support for civics education in K-12 schools. The bill directs the Department of Education to distribute $70 million in grants to schools, with at least 60 percent reserved for elementary and middle schools and a preference for programs that include hands-on civic engagement, constitutional history, and civil rights education. It also requires grant recipients to submit annual reports detailing how they meet civics education goals and ensures geographic diversity in funding distribution across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
The Guidelines for Use, Access, and Responsible Disclosure of Financial Data Act strengthens privacy protections for consumers by amending the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require financial institutions to limit data collection to what is necessary, provide clearer privacy notices, and offer new rights for customers to access or delete their personal information. Key provisions include requiring explicit opt-in consent for sensitive data like biometric information, restricting how third parties can use consumer login credentials, and mandating that institutions disclose how they use artificial intelligence in processing financial data. The bill also establishes a right for former customers to request deletion of their data within 45 days and requires regulators to consider the impact of rules on smaller financial institutions with $15 billion or less in assets.
This bill establishes a grant program to help vulnerable mothers and babies in areas with high climate-related health risks, such as extreme heat and air pollution. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award up to $105 million over four years to community groups, healthcare providers, and local organizations for initiatives that provide cooling resources, health education, and support services. The program prioritizes areas with high rates of maternal and infant health disparities and requires grantees to address racial and ethnic inequities. Additionally, the bill creates a research consortium at the National Institutes of Health to study climate impacts on birth outcomes and funds training programs for health profession schools to better prepare providers for these risks.
