The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to officially recognize prescribed fires and cultural burning as "exceptional events," meaning air quality issues caused by these deliberate, managed burns will no longer be counted as violations of pollution standards. The bill requires the EPA to update its regulations within a year to clarify how these fires are defined and to streamline the process for states to petition for exemptions when wildfires or prescribed fires impact air quality. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new "Smoke Ready Communities" grant program that provides up to 90 percent federal funding to states, tribes, and local entities to help communities prepare for and mitigate wildfire smoke hazards in public buildings like schools.
The No Racketeers on our Shores Act makes foreign government officials inadmissible to the United States and subject to deportation if they engage in economic discrimination against U.S. persons. This discrimination is defined as imposing investigations, fines, licensing restrictions, or other legal burdens that are more severe, frequent, or procedurally unfair compared to those applied to non-U.S. citizens in similar situations. The law directly affects foreign officials who initiate or direct these unequal enforcement actions and impacts U.S. individuals and entities facing such biased treatment. By adding these specific grounds to immigration laws, the bill aims to prevent foreign officials from using regulatory power to target Americans unfairly.
The Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2026 updates the official legal description of the park's size and location. It changes the name from Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to Gateway Arch National Park and increases the designated acreage from 100 to 102.18 acres. The bill also replaces an outdated map with a new one dated August 2023 to reflect the revised boundary lines. These changes affect the National Park Service by formally adjusting the park's legal footprint and official title.
The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act formally establishes the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) as a test center within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This new entity will serve as a laboratory for the executive branch to study radio frequency emissions, analyze spectrum sharing between federal and non-federal users, and test technologies that enhance electromagnetic spectrum access. Additionally, the bill requires the ITS to launch an initiative focused on developing emergency communication and tracking technologies for locating individuals in confined or shielded environments where standard radio signals fail. To support this goal, the institute will collaborate with private sector partners and other federal agencies to assess needs and create technical standards, with a requirement to submit a progress report to Congress within 18 months of the law's enactment.
The Reshoring American Manufacturing Act of 2026 directs the Small Business Administration to create a dedicated website helping small businesses bring their manufacturing operations back to the United States. This online resource will provide contact details for relevant government offices and partner organizations, along with other useful information determined by the agency. The law requires the website to be launched within 60 days of enactment and mandates annual reviews to ensure the content remains current and helpful.
This bill establishes the Bycatch Reduction Act to lower the accidental catch of marine species and protect seafloor habitats in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. It requires fishing vessels using trawl nets to install specific technologies, such as seafloor contact detection systems and salmon excluders, to minimize damage to the ocean bottom and reduce the capture of salmon and other important species. The legislation also creates new research task forces and funding programs to study marine ecosystems and develop innovative gear, while mandating greater transparency in how fishery management councils make decisions. Additionally, the bill prohibits the import of seafood from foreign vessels that do not meet U.S. conservation standards and sets up a new fund to help fishermen purchase or modify equipment that reduces environmental impact.
The Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends funding for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative through 2031. This program will continue to map critical minerals, geothermal energy, and natural hydrogen resources using advanced technologies like digital geochemistry and real-time data systems. The bill also updates the initiative to include data from the 3D Hydrography Program, ensuring a broader range of subsurface information is collected and analyzed.
This bill officially changes the title of the U.S. Secret Service's uniformed officers from "Uniformed Division" to "Police" across multiple federal laws. The legislation directly affects the personnel and legal references within the U.S. Code by updating specific sections in Titles 2, 5, 10, 18, 28, and 31. By making these text replacements, the bill ensures that the agency's officers are consistently referred to as police in official statutes and regulations.
The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program Act extends the funding and authority for a federal program that studies shared underground water sources between the United States and Mexico. This legislation adds Arizona to the list of states eligible for the program, while also updating the funding period to cover fiscal years 2026 through 2036. The bill directly affects the federal agencies responsible for managing water resources and the states of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona by ensuring continued support for their cross-border aquifer assessments.
The PROTECT USA Act of 2026 prohibits U.S. companies from complying with foreign sustainability laws, such as the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, to protect American businesses from extraterritorial regulations. This law defines "entities integral to the national interests of the United States" as domestic corporations operating in key sectors like energy, mining, and manufacturing, and it bans these companies from taking actions required by foreign due diligence rules unless they face specific hardships. The bill includes a process where the President can grant exemptions if a company demonstrates that compliance would cause particular hardship, while also protecting these entities from legal penalties or adverse actions taken by foreign governments for non-compliance. Additionally, the Act prevents U.S. courts from recognizing judgments against American companies based on violations of these foreign sustainability regulations.
The FEAT Act allows individuals involved in specific Department of Interior administrative proceedings to move their cases to a federal district court instead of having them heard solely by internal agency tribunals. This change applies to parties who either seek approval for certain conduct or are appealing sanctions and penalties imposed by the Department. Under the new rules, these parties must file for removal within 60 days of starting the action, and the federal court will review the case from scratch rather than relying on the agency's initial decision.
The JAWBONE Act prohibits federal agencies and employees from coercing private platforms like social media sites, broadcasters, or artificial intelligence providers into removing or altering content. To enforce this rule, the bill creates a new legal cause of action that allows these platforms to sue for damages if they are pressured into taking content actions, with specific exceptions for lawful investigations and court-ordered warrants. The legislation also mandates the creation of a public portal where agencies must log and disclose communications sent to these platforms regarding content moderation, including metadata and requests for action. Additionally, the bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop guidelines for logging these communications and establishes a formal complaint process for platforms to report potential violations.
