The Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the environmental and public health effects of data centers. This assessment will specifically examine issues such as noise and air pollution, water usage, carbon emissions, and electronic waste. Within 180 days of enactment, the National Academies must submit a report with their findings and mitigation recommendations to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The Freedom to Build Act creates a voluntary designation for local governments that adopt specific reforms to reduce barriers to housing construction. To qualify, a locality must either implement at least three reforms in each of three categories - such as allowing modern building methods, setting strict permit timelines, and eliminating rent control - or demonstrate sustained growth in its housing supply relative to local affordability. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will maintain a public list of these designated areas and review the required reforms every five years. Localities that lose their designation due to reversing reforms or failing supply targets receive a 180-day grace period to correct the issue before revocation. Additionally, the bill directs the Department to prioritize these designated communities when awarding competitive federal grants for housing and community development projects.
The People-First Chatbot Act imposes strict privacy and safety regulations on companies that create or distribute AI chatbots, requiring them to obtain explicit user consent before using personal data for training or advertising purposes. The bill mandates that providers clearly disclose when users are interacting with an AI rather than a human, prohibit the sale of chat logs, and limit data retention to five years unless required by law. Additionally, companies must conduct monthly risk assessments for potential harms such as emotional dependence or compulsive usage, with specific safeguards required to protect minors from features that could cause significant injury. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission, while state attorneys general and private individuals are granted the right to file lawsuits against providers who violate these provisions.
The Find Our Families Act of 2026 requires the Department of Homeland Security to create a public online system that allows families to locate individuals detained by Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This system must provide search results within eight hours of detention, display information in multiple languages, and include specific details such as names, dates of birth, and facility locations, while excluding data for minors. The bill also mandates that families be notified within five hours if a detainee is transferred for medical care and establishes new reporting requirements for CBP arrests, including details on the circumstances of the arrest and the number of agents involved. Additionally, the legislation creates a process for families to report errors in detainee information and imposes penalties on employees or contractors who fail to comply with these data-sharing and reporting obligations.
The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act grants owners and operators of designated high-risk facilities, such as nuclear power plants and key electrical substations, the legal authority to detect, track, and disable unauthorized drones threatening their security. To exercise this power, personnel must complete a federally mandated training and certification program that establishes standards for legal and technical proficiency before they can use approved counter-drone technologies. The legislation also creates a $250 million grant program to help these facilities purchase and install the necessary equipment while providing liability protection for authorized actions taken to mitigate threats. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue implementing regulations within 180 days and mandates regular reports on the program's activities to Congress.
The Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. For educational institutions receiving federal funds, the bill mandates the creation of specific coordinators to handle discrimination complaints, requires annual training on handling antisemitism, and establishes a new federal clearinghouse to share best practices for campus safety. To support physical security, the legislation expands grant funding for nonprofit organizations and directs the Attorney General to provide resources for law enforcement agencies protecting houses of worship. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms with over 50 million monthly users to submit detailed reports to the Federal Trade Commission on how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content.
The Secure the Border Act of 2026 mandates the immediate resumption of border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to build at least 900 miles of physical barriers and deploy advanced surveillance technology. The bill significantly restricts asylum eligibility by barring applicants who transit through third countries without seeking protection there, tightening definitions for "particular social group" claims, and imposing new fees on applications. It also directs federal agencies to reopen specific immigration detention facilities that were closed after January 2021 and requires the mandatory return of certain non-citizens to contiguous foreign territories if they cannot be detained or removed. Additionally, the legislation expands penalties for visa overstays, mandates monthly public reporting of border encounter statistics, and prohibits the use of federal funds for processing individuals entering between ports of entry.
This bill, titled the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, aims to strengthen border security and reform immigration enforcement by directing the Department of Homeland Security to resume and complete the construction of a physical border wall, expand the use of surveillance technology, and increase staffing levels for Border Patrol agents. It also imposes stricter rules on asylum eligibility and employment authorization for applicants, mandates the reopening of specific immigration detention facilities, and requires the return of individuals arriving from contiguous foreign countries to those nations while their claims are processed. Additionally, the legislation expands penalties for visa overstays, limits the use of certain digital tools like the CBP One app, and includes provisions to reduce funding for organizations that facilitate illegal entry or provide services to inadmissible aliens.
The Department of Homeland Security Accountability Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report any serious injury or death occurring in DHS custody or resulting from DHS actions within 72 hours to Congress and local representatives. These notifications must include detailed information such as the date and location of the incident, the nationality of the individual involved, specific use of force tactics, and whether medical assistance was provided. The bill also mandates that the Department conduct independent investigations for these incidents, which must include reviewing video footage, placing involved employees on administrative leave, and ensuring autopsies and medical reviews are performed. All investigation reports must be submitted to Congress within seven days of completion, and video recordings of the individuals involved must be preserved for at least five years.
The DHS Release Transparency Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to inform a designated contact person when a detained individual is released from Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, provided the person was held for more than 12 hours. Under this bill, individuals in custody can choose to name a contact and provide their information, with the government obligated to attempt notification at least twice. The law also mandates that translation services be available in the detainee's preferred language for both selecting a contact and receiving release notifications. Additionally, the act specifies that any information gathered under this process cannot be used for law enforcement purposes.
The SECURE 340B Act strengthens oversight of the drug discount program for safety-net health care providers by establishing clearer definitions for patients and prescribing providers, requiring detailed record-keeping to prove a legitimate patient relationship. The bill introduces strict rules for contract pharmacies, mandating that manufacturers cannot restrict discounts based on their use and requiring full transparency on where these drugs are dispensed. It also expands eligibility for child sites of covered entities while imposing a new community need standard based on geographic vulnerability scores to prevent abuse. To improve program integrity, the legislation creates a centralized data clearinghouse to track claims and prevent duplicate discounts, while simultaneously prohibiting discriminatory practices by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers against covered entities. Finally, the Act authorizes new user fees and additional funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration to support expanded audits and enforcement activities.
The Federal Jobs for STARs Act of 2026 aims to increase hiring opportunities for individuals in the federal workforce who have gained skills through alternative routes like military service, apprenticeships, or community colleges rather than traditional four-year degrees. It requires the Office of Personnel Management to restrict agencies from mandating bachelor's degrees unless absolutely necessary and to create a specific section on federal job websites dedicated to these candidates. Additionally, the bill mandates a study to explore funding options, such as scholarships and tuition assistance, to help current federal employees with these backgrounds pursue further education.
