The CAL Repayment Act requires states to immediately use any federal funds received for unemployment insurance to repay outstanding advances before spending them on other purposes. This rule applies to all states and mandates that they make these repayments within five business days of the funds becoming available. If a state fails to follow this order and uses the money elsewhere first, it must return the full amount to the federal government within five days of being notified. The law takes effect for any unemployment insurance funds awarded after the bill is enacted.
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, known as the STOP TRUMP ACT, prohibits the use of federal funds to pay claims or establish compensation programs for the President, their family, political appointees, or individuals designated for preferential treatment regarding alleged government retaliation. It specifically bars the Department of Justice from representing the United States in lawsuits where the President seeks financial or political benefits and mandates the repayment of any funds already disbursed in violation of these rules. The legislation declares any agreements or settlements made in breach of these provisions to be legally void and empowers the Treasury to recover illicit payments through asset seizures and offsets against other federal benefits.
The Incentivizing Local Solutions to Homelessness Act allows local organizations receiving federal homeless assistance funds to request an exemption from spending limits for the years 2027 through 2030. To qualify, these organizations must demonstrate local needs, submit a detailed spending plan, and gather public input before asking the Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval. The Department must publish all requests and decisions online and will deny any waiver if the organization plans to move people without first offering emergency or permanent housing options. If a local group later wants to cancel its waiver, it must inform the Department and share public feedback with subrecipients before the change takes effect.
This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a study on the effects of work requirements for families living in public housing. The study will examine how these rules impact various outcomes, such as employment stability, poverty levels, and homelessness, by gathering data and interviewing residents. The department must submit its findings to Congress within one year, provided there are enough agencies to evaluate the rules rigorously and the study will not harm low-income families.
The Federal Agents Secure Travel Act allows federal law enforcement officers and their young children to use expedited security screening at no cost. This change expands the existing PreCheck Program, which is typically paid for, to include these specific individuals without requiring them to pay a fee. The law defines eligible officers according to existing federal standards and gives the Transportation Security Administration authority to set the necessary rules for implementation.
H.R. 1295 is a non-binding resolution that expresses support for designating May 17, 2026, as DIPG Awareness Day to highlight diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor affecting children. The bill aims to increase public awareness of this condition and encourage research into treatments and cures for pediatric cancers. It calls on the public to learn more about DIPG and urges both government and private funding sources to consider the high mortality rates and lost life years associated with the disease when allocating research grants.
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 Next GEN Act of 2026 modifies the Drug Price Negotiation Program to include a specific category of medications called engineered cyclic peptides. This change extends the time before these drugs can be negotiated for lower prices from seven years to eleven years. The bill defines these peptides as synthetic, amino acid-based drugs that are self-administered and created using genetic library screening methods. By adjusting the timeline, the legislation directly affects pharmaceutical companies and the government agencies responsible for setting drug prices under the program.
The Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction Act expands the legal definition of domestic terrorism to include acts that obstruct law enforcement officers or individuals seeking medical attention. By amending existing federal statutes, the bill ensures that property damage occurring during such obstructions is counted as part of the terrorist classification. This change directly affects individuals who engage in violent resistance against police or emergency responders, potentially increasing the severity of charges they face. The legislation focuses on tightening the criteria for what constitutes domestic terrorism rather than altering the underlying penalties for the acts themselves.
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.
This non-binding resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it is U.S. policy to officially recognize the ongoing displacement of Palestinians known as the Nakba and to support their right of return. The measure calls for the commemoration of this event, the denunciation of current displacement efforts, and increased funding for United Nations social services for Palestinian refugees. Additionally, it urges the U.S. government to stop providing weapons and diplomatic support to Israel for actions that contribute to the displacement of Palestinians.
