This bill restricts approximately 8.6 acres of trust land in San Diego County, California, to be used exclusively for providing health and social services to members of the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians. The legislation explicitly prohibits the use of this property for class II or class III gaming operations or any other commercial activities. These specific usage restrictions will remain in effect for 50 years from the date the bill is enacted.
The GUARDIAN Act requires social media platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting or processing the personal data of users under the age of 16. It defines "covered platforms" as internet services that use design features like infinite scrolling, push notifications, and personalized recommendation algorithms to promote user engagement. The bill mandates that these platforms delete a minor's data when they turn 16 unless a parent explicitly requests retention, and it grants parents the right to withdraw consent at any time, which forces the platform to terminate the account within ten days. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission, with state attorneys general also permitted to bring civil actions for violations, while the law preempts conflicting state regulations but allows states to enact stricter protections for minors.
The Restoring Opportunity for Advanced Education Act amends the Higher Education Act to permanently restore access to Federal Direct PLUS Loans for graduate and professional students. By removing specific time limits and expiration dates from the law, the bill ensures that these loans remain available without a set end date. This change directly affects graduate and professional students who rely on this funding source for their advanced education.
The REACH Our Tribes Act requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a formal annual consultation process with Tribal Governments regarding budget requests and program reauthorizations, including major farm bills. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture publicly report on funding provided to Tribal entities through various programs and identify ways to improve outreach for underutilized assistance. Additionally, it directs the creation of an interagency task force involving the Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Commerce to streamline application requirements and reduce administrative burdens for economic development applicants. Finally, the legislation requires the Department of Commerce to build a comprehensive public repository listing all Federal economic development programs available to Tribal entities to improve awareness and access.
The Improving Access to Higher Education Act requires all institutions of higher education to establish an Office of Accessibility responsible for informing students about their rights, providing accommodations, and accepting specific documentation like Individualized Education Programs to verify disability status. The bill authorizes competitive grants for colleges to train faculty in accessible teaching methods and to create inclusive programs that lead to degrees or credentials for students with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, it establishes an independent commission to develop guidelines for accessible electronic instructional materials and creates a National Technical Assistance Center to provide resources and technical support to both students and educational institutions.
This bill, titled the STOP Payments Fraud Act of 2026, amends federal laws to give banks more flexibility in delaying the availability of funds when they suspect fraud. It allows depository institutions to hold checks and wire transfers for up to 60 days if there is reasonable suspicion that the transaction is false, unauthorized, or fraudulent, rather than following standard expedited release rules. The legislation requires banks to notify customers of these delays and prohibits overdraft fees if the delay is caused by the bank's fraud investigation. Additionally, it permits banks to share information about suspected fraud with other financial institutions to help prevent future issues.
This bill establishes federal rules to protect workers who use earned wage access services, which allow employees to receive a portion of their pay before their regular paycheck date. It requires providers to always offer a free option for accessing wages alongside any paid options and mandates clear, upfront disclosures about fees, access limits, and the voluntary nature of any tips. The legislation also prohibits providers from sharing fees with employers, using debt collection tactics to recover unpaid amounts, or discriminating against consumers based on protected characteristics. Additionally, the bill prevents providers from treating these services as credit or loans under federal law and gives the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau authority to create specific regulations within 180 days of enactment.
The GUARD Act of 2026 requires U.S. national security agencies to evaluate whether humanoid or quadruped robots made by foreign entities pose a risk to national security. If a robot is determined to be unsafe or comes from a country of concern, the Federal Communications Commission will add it to a banned list, preventing its use in U.S. communications networks. The law mandates that agencies report their findings to Congress within specific timeframes, ensuring transparency about these security assessments. Importantly, the rule does not apply to allies such as NATO members or designated Major Non-NATO Allies.
This bill requires credit reporting resellers to use reasonable procedures to ensure the accuracy of consumer information they transmit to other agencies or end users. It limits reseller liability when they accurately pass on data obtained from another consumer reporting agency without making changes. The law defines resellers according to existing Fair Credit Reporting Act definitions and focuses on maintaining data integrity during the transfer process. These changes directly affect companies that sell consumer credit reports to other businesses or individuals.
This bill clarifies that certain personal services entities owned by registered stockbrokers are not automatically considered "brokers" under securities law, if specific conditions are met. It directly affects registered representatives who own personal services entities (like independent contractor firms) and their brokers. Key provisions require brokers to control payment details, prevent entities from advertising as brokers, maintain written agreements, restrict ownership to the representative or immediate family, and preserve required records for oversight. The change aims to eliminate regulatory confusion for small, representative-owned entities without altering core broker-dealer rules.
The RESET Act prohibits social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to create or maintain accounts. Platforms must identify existing minor accounts within 60 days of enactment, notify users within 180 days, and terminate accounts within 30 days of notification. Upon termination, platforms must delete all personal data collected from minors and provide a readable, portable copy of that data for 90 days after termination. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and allows states to pursue legal action for violations.
HR 5402, the Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025, allows utility and telecommunications companies to report consumers' on-time payment history for services like electricity, gas, and internet to credit bureaus. This directly affects consumers who lack traditional credit histories (e.g., renters or those without credit cards), potentially helping them build credit through consistent utility payments. The bill permits reporting only for payment activity (not usage data), requires companies to honor payment plans without reporting late payments, and gives consumers the right to opt out. It also mandates a GAO study within two years to assess the impact of this reporting on consumer credit scores and access to credit.
