This bill, known as the OHH SNAP Act of 2026, would expand eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to include more college students. It directly affects students who are working while attending college or have no financial aid available. The key changes allow students with zero financial aid and those classified as independent to qualify for SNAP benefits, while also broadening the definition of eligible work activities to include attending school. These provisions would take effect 180 days after the bill is signed into law, but would not apply to certification periods that began before that date.
The GRACIE Act of 2026 provides federal grants to state child welfare agencies to help them record and keep all interviews related to child abuse and neglect investigations. Under this bill, states receiving funding must create or update rules requiring electronic recording of these interviews and store the recordings securely for at least five years. The funds can only be used for costs directly tied to conducting and retaining these recordings, including audio or video capture. States must also establish access controls that limit who can view the recordings while allowing caregivers to request copies in certain legal situations. The program is authorized for six years, with up to $30 million available annually from 2026 through 2031.
The Power for the People Act of 2026 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create a special approval process for data centers, which are defined as facilities using more than 50 megawatts of electricity. Under this system, data centers must offset their energy consumption by bringing their own clean power sources to the grid or agreeing to flexible power usage that can be reduced when needed. The bill also directs states to establish separate electricity rates for data centers so these facilities pay their full share of grid upgrade costs rather than spreading those expenses across all customers. Additionally, the legislation mandates that data center construction use prevailing wages and registered apprenticeship programs, while requiring greater transparency in how data center energy demands are forecasted and approved.
The SAFER Act of 2026 prohibits U.S. immigration officials from granting asylum to individuals who have returned to their country of nationality or last habitual residence after applying for asylum. The bill also allows for the termination of existing asylum status, denaturalization, and deportation for those who return to their country of concern. Exceptions to these restrictions may be made on a case-by-case basis if the President certifies national security needs or the Secretary of State certifies a legitimate transfer of power in the country. This legislation directly affects asylum seekers and those already granted asylum who travel back to their home countries.
The SACRED Act adds a new federal crime to protect access to places of religious worship by prohibiting intimidating or harassing conduct within 100 feet of religious buildings. It directly affects individuals who engage in disruptive behavior near religious sites and those seeking to enter or exit them. The law defines prohibited actions as conduct that causes reasonable fear for physical safety or intentionally harasses people within 8 feet, with penalties ranging from fines up to $10,000 for nonviolent first offenses to potential life imprisonment if death results. The bill also establishes civil remedies allowing aggrieved individuals or religious organizations to sue for damages and injunctive relief, while permitting state and federal attorneys general to bring civil actions on behalf of affected persons. Importantly, the legislation explicitly preserves the right to peaceful expressive conduct like picketing and does not override existing state or local laws.
This bill directs the U.S. Treasury Department to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, which would block all U.S. assets belonging to CAIR and its affiliates and prohibit Americans from engaging in any financial transactions with the organization. The legislation also requires the Treasury Secretary to suspend CAIR's tax-exempt status under federal law. These actions are based on provisions in Executive Order 13224 that allow the government to restrict support for designated terrorist organizations. The bill includes a requirement for federal agencies to submit a detailed report to Congress within 30 days explaining the legal criteria used to justify the designation.
This bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the 1-800-MEDICARE hotline within one year of enactment. The study will examine customer wait times, satisfaction levels, staffing competency, contractor performance, and any changes in service quality since previous reports. It also requires the report to include recommendations for improving the hotline and describe actions taken in response to past recommendations. The bill affects Medicare beneficiaries who use the hotline and the contractors and government officials responsible for managing it.
This bill requires the Attorney General to publish the second volume of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on the Department of Justice website within seven days of the law's enactment. The legislation allows for the redaction of witness and victim names, as well as national security information, though redacted national security details can be released if deemed in the public interest. The measure directly impacts the Department of Justice by mandating the public release of previously classified investigation materials while maintaining protections for sensitive information.
This bill amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to clarify that protections against sex discrimination do not extend to gender identity. It directly affects employers, employees, and individuals involved in workplace discrimination claims by explicitly excluding gender identity from the definition of sex-based discrimination. The key provision is a rule of construction that interprets existing federal law in a specific way, rather than creating new protections or restrictions. This change would limit the scope of federal sex discrimination claims to biological sex rather than including gender identity as a protected category.
The EQUALS Act of 2025 extends the probation period for most federal employees in the competitive service from one year to two years, while setting a one-year probation for preference-eligible employees (such as veterans). It also establishes a two-year "trial period" for employees in the excepted service (e.g., certain security roles), with a one-year period for preference eligibles. The bill requires federal agencies to formally evaluate employees during this period and certify in writing whether continued employment serves the public interest before the probation ends, with specific notice deadlines for employees and supervisors. Exceptions include supervisors, the U.S. Postal Service, and Congress.
HR 1071, the "No Censors on our Shores Act," amends U.S. immigration law to make certain foreign government officials inadmissible or deportable if they censor U.S. citizens within the United States. Specifically, it targets officials who directly carried out censorship against U.S. citizens in the U.S. that would violate the First Amendment if done by a U.S. official. The bill adds new grounds for inadmissibility (under Section 212(a)(2)(J)) and deportability (under Section 237(a)(2)(G)) based on this censorship. It directly affects foreign government officials whose actions meet this standard, not the general public or U.S. citizens. The law focuses on immigration consequences for foreign officials engaging in speech suppression that would breach First Amendment protections domestically.
This bill, titled the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security and extends certain continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2026. It allocates money for various DHS components including border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster relief, and law enforcement training. The bill also includes the SAVE America Act, which requires states to verify voter citizenship through documentary proof and mandates photo identification for voting in federal elections. Additionally, it establishes reporting requirements for DHS budgeting and oversight, and prohibits certain border crossing fees.
