This bill amends Title 36 of the United States Code to formally rename the Reserve Officers Association of the United States as the Reserve Organization of America and updates its federal charter accordingly. The legislation establishes that the organization is a federally chartered, non-profit corporation with perpetual existence, dedicated to supporting military policy and national security. Key provisions prohibit the group from issuing stock, engaging in political activities, or distributing income to members, while also requiring it to maintain specific financial records and designate a registered agent in Washington D.C.
The Water Authority Cybersecurity Protection Act extends the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program through fiscal years 2028 and 2029, replacing the previous expiration dates of 2020 and 2021. The bill doubles the authorized funding for technical assistance to $10 million and for grants to small water systems to $20 million. Additionally, it increases the total annual authorization of appropriations for the program from $25 million to $50 million. These changes directly affect public water utilities by providing continued financial support for cybersecurity improvements and risk management.
The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to create a competitive grant program that funds innovative employment and training services. The bill directs federal resources toward initiatives that have demonstrated improvements in participant earnings and job placement, with specific attention to individuals facing barriers to employment and underserved communities such as rural areas. Eligible recipients include state and local workforce boards, tribal organizations, colleges, and nonprofit groups that design or implement these field-initiated programs.
The legislation establishes a tiered funding structure based on the strength of existing evidence, offering early-phase grants for new pilots, mid-phase grants for refinement, and expansion grants for proven models. Grantees are required to partner with independent researchers to conduct rigorous impact evaluations, ensuring that at least 60 percent of each award is spent directly on program implementation rather than administrative costs. The bill authorizes appropriations for this initiative through fiscal year 2031.
The Advancing Botanical Drug Development Act of 2026 extends the market exclusivity period for new FDA-approved botanical drugs from five years to twelve years. This change directly affects pharmaceutical companies and other sponsors that develop plant-based medicines, providing them with a longer window of protection against generic competitors. The bill aims to offset the high costs and unique manufacturing challenges associated with developing these complex therapies by offering stronger financial incentives. By securing this extended exclusivity, the legislation seeks to encourage private investment in research for multi-target treatments of chronic and age-related diseases.
The Foreign Funding Transparency Act requires certain large tax-exempt organizations to publicly report the total amount of money they receive from foreign nationals. Specifically, organizations with annual gross receipts of at least $200,000 or assets of at least $500,000 must disclose these contributions on their annual tax returns. The report must break down the funds by the specific foreign country of the donor, based on the donor's citizenship or the country where the donor was created or organized. This reporting obligation applies to returns filed for taxable years beginning one year after the law is enacted.
The Stopping Foreign Influence in Elections Act of 2026 imposes new financial penalties on specific tax-exempt organizations that accept money from foreign nationals and subsequently donate to political committees. This law directly affects larger non-profits with significant assets or revenue, requiring them to pay fines ranging from 100% to 200% of the donation amount if they fail to screen donors properly. The bill also mandates that organizations making repeated violations lose their tax-exempt status for two years. These rules apply to contributions made after one year following the bill's enactment.
The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 changes how the IRS determines if a group qualifies for tax-exempt status based on its religious beliefs. Specifically, it ensures that beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, or gender identity are not automatically considered illegal or against public policy when evaluating a religious organization's purpose. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a belief does not need to be central to a religion to be recognized as a valid religious belief for tax purposes. These rules will apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, affecting how various faith-based groups are assessed under the Internal Revenue Code.
HR 7487, the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act, expands hydropower development opportunities on Bureau of Reclamation water projects. It removes restrictions that previously limited hydropower to "small conduit" systems or pumped storage, now allowing all types of hydropower projects using Bureau facilities. The bill clarifies definitions for "transferred works facilities" (operated by non-federal entities) and "reserved works facilities," and updates rules for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorizations to remain active until expired or renewed. This directly affects developers seeking to build hydropower projects on federal water infrastructure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.
This bill streamlines geothermal exploration on federal lands by defining small-scale "geothermal exploration projects" (e.g., limited drilling with <8 acres disturbance, <180 days duration, and 3-year land restoration). It exempts such projects from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA, requires leaseholders to provide 30-day notice before drilling, and establishes "geothermal leasing priority areas" on eligible federal land. The Secretary must designate these priority areas within 3 years (considering economic viability and transmission access), review them every 5 years, and use programmatic environmental reviews for future leasing. The bill directly affects geothermal leaseholders and federal agencies managing public lands, reducing regulatory hurdles for initial exploration while creating a structured framework for future leasing.
HR 2555, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, protects students who join or form single-sex social organizations (like fraternities or sororities) at colleges. It prohibits colleges receiving federal funds from taking negative actions against these students or organizations solely because they limit membership to one sex - such as denying housing, financial aid, leadership roles, or recognition. The bill ensures students can join such groups without coercion and stops colleges from imposing unfair recruitment rules on single-sex organizations compared to others. It does not require colleges to recognize single-sex groups, allow organizations to set their own membership rules, or override Title IX protections.
This bill renames the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center located in Casper, Wyoming, as the Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.
This bill amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to update funding mechanisms for water infrastructure projects on the Crow Tribe reservation. It creates two new accounts: the MR&I Projects Account for water infrastructure (like treatment plants and pipelines) and the Crow CIP Implementation Account for other settlement expenses. The bill replaces "System" with "Projects" throughout the law and extends the timeframe for Yellowtail Dam from 15 to 20 years. These changes affect how funds are managed for the Crow Tribe's water rights settlement, primarily impacting the Crow Tribe of Montana and federal management of settlement funds.
