This bill, the 287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026, requires state and local law enforcement agencies to sign a formal agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to remain eligible for federal Community Oriented Policing Services grants. The law mandates that agencies must have this written memorandum of agreement in place within 180 days of the bill's enactment, or they will be ineligible to receive funding for the program. The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security must establish procedures to verify that agencies have completed this agreement before approving any grant awards. The changes apply to grant applications starting with fiscal year 2027 and all subsequent years.
The Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 aims to expand access to voting and modernize voter registration systems across the United States. It requires states to make voter registration available online, implement automatic voter registration through agencies like motor vehicle departments and universities, and allow same-day registration at polling places. The bill also mandates accessible voting options for individuals with disabilities, prohibits voter intimidation and deceptive practices, and restores voting rights to citizens with criminal convictions who have completed their sentences. Additional provisions include requiring paper ballots for verification, extending early voting periods, improving mail-in voting access, and establishing uniform standards for provisional ballot counting.
This bill creates a Federal Clearinghouse to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities find and access federal research funding opportunities. The Clearinghouse will be established within the Department of Education and will include representatives from multiple federal agencies to provide information on grants for research and building research capacity. It will also offer best practices and recommendations to help HBCUs strengthen their research programs and compete for federal funding. The bill requires federal agencies to review their grant programs and report annually to Congress on how they can better support HBCU research capacity through the Clearinghouse.
The No Mercy for Terrorists Act of 2026 increases federal penalties for individuals who provide material support to terrorists or designated foreign terrorist organizations. This bill directly affects people charged with these crimes by raising the minimum prison sentence from 15 or 20 years to at least 20 years or life imprisonment, and adding the possibility of the death penalty. The changes apply to both domestic and foreign terrorist support cases under existing federal statutes.
The Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026 establishes a new interagency committee to coordinate federal efforts for protecting undersea cables and pipelines, which carry global data and energy supplies. The bill requires the State Department to hire additional staff focused on cable security and mandates regular reports on sabotage incidents, particularly those involving China and Russia. It authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign entities that sabotage or support sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure, including blocking their assets and revoking their visas. The legislation also creates formal procedures for sharing classified and unclassified information between government agencies and private cable operators to improve threat detection and response.
This bill proposes adding a new article to the U.S. Constitution to explicitly state that only citizens can vote in federal elections. The amendment would apply to all federal elections, including those for President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. It gives state legislatures the authority to create enforcement rules while reserving the power for Congress to make or alter regulations and enforce the rule in Washington, D.C. The measure would require ratification by conventions in three-fourths of the states before becoming part of the Constitution.
This bill requires all states to submit detailed data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud to the Department of Agriculture. The data must include information on fraud cases, enforcement actions, recoveries, and specific instances involving deceased individuals or false social security numbers. States must provide this information within 180 days of enactment for historical data and annually thereafter, with funds withheld if they fail to comply. The Secretary of Agriculture will compile and publish annual reports to Congress based on the submitted data.
The ISLET Act amends federal regulations to allow the use of human cadaveric islets for transplantation without classifying them as drugs or biological products. This change directly affects patients with diabetes who may receive islet cell transplants and the healthcare providers who administer these procedures. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update existing regulations within one year and submit a progress report to Congress within six months. By removing islets from drug and biological product categories, the legislation aims to streamline regulatory oversight for this specific type of medical treatment.
This bill modifies federal grant eligibility rules to prioritize states or local jurisdictions that have formal agreements with the Department of Homeland Security under the 287(g) program. The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials on immigration enforcement activities. By changing the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the legislation ensures that states or political subdivisions with these written agreements receive priority consideration when applying for certain crime control grants. The change does not mandate participation but creates a preference for jurisdictions already engaged in this type of cooperation.
This bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.
This bill creates a 75% federal tax credit for individuals donating cash or securities to approved nonprofit charter school organizations. The credit is limited to 10% of adjusted gross income or $5,000 annually, and applies only to organizations meeting strict criteria (like 501(c)(3) status, performance-based state selection, and annual audits). It requires these organizations to spend 100% of donations on charter school creation/expansion within five years and caps total annual tax credits at $5 billion, allocated by state. The credit is designed to incentivize private funding for charter schools while ensuring accountability through spending rules and oversight.
Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act or the BOWOW Act This bill establishes that a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) convicted of, or who admits to having committed, an offense related to harming animals used in law enforcement is inadmissible and deportable.
