The HCBS Relief Act of 2025 increases federal funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) by 10 percentage points (capped at 95%) for participating states during fiscal years 2026-2027. It directly affects states that submit approved applications, Medicaid beneficiaries receiving HCBS, and home health workers by requiring states to use funds to raise wages/benefits for HCBS workers, reduce waiting lists, support family caregivers, and improve service quality. Key provisions mandate that states detail specific activities (like wage increases, paid leave, and equipment purchases) in applications, ensure funds supplement rather than replace state spending, and report on outcomes by 2029. The bill aims to strengthen HCBS access and workforce stability without changing Medicaid eligibility rules.
The Crow Revenue Act transfers specific mineral rights in Montana to the Crow Tribe. It requires the federal government to accept the relinquishment of the Bull Mountains Lease, convey mineral interests to the Hope Family Trust, and then transfer those rights to the Crow Tribe. The bill mandates a revenue-sharing agreement between the Tribe and Hope Family Trust for future development, and exempts these lands from Montana state taxation. This policy change directly affects the Crow Tribe’s land holdings and revenue streams on designated tracts in Musselshell and Big Horn Counties.
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Tribal Nations
This bill creates a new federal tax deduction for cash tips received by workers in occupations that traditionally accept tips (like servers, barbers, and nail technicians) on or before December 31, 2023. It allows a deduction of up to $25,000 per year for tips reported to employers, excluding employees earning over $250,000 from the same employer in the prior year. The Treasury must publish a list of qualifying occupations within 90 days, and the deduction applies to all taxpayers (not just itemizers). The changes take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
The Revitalizing America's Housing Act proposes multiple measures to increase housing supply and affordability through tax incentives, zoning reforms, and improved safety standards. Key provisions include a new Neighborhood Homes Credit to incentivize building or rehabilitating homes in affordable areas, zoning reform incentives to encourage municipalities to adopt more housing-friendly policies, and expanded tax benefits for homeowners selling primary residences. The bill also includes specific protections for veterans' housing, improved lead and mold safety standards for public housing, and requirements for better oversight of housing programs. These changes directly affect homeowners, renters, housing developers, public housing agencies, and local governments across the country.
The AIMM Act (S 559) permanently extends a tax rule allowing businesses to include depreciation, amortization, or depletion when calculating the limit on business interest deductions. This change removes a previous expiration date (for taxable years after 2021), making the provision applicable indefinitely for all future tax years. The bill directly affects businesses subject to the business interest deduction rules under the Internal Revenue Code. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to the tax code that eliminates the sunset clause, ensuring consistent treatment without altering other tax provisions.
This bill establishes a federal program to improve cybersecurity for rural water and wastewater systems. It directly affects rural water associations by providing technical assistance through "circuit riders" who assess security risks, develop protection protocols, and document cyber readiness. Key mechanisms include rapid threat assessments, developing security plans, and requiring annual reports on program activities. The program is funded at $10 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2029, with circuit riders needing specific cybersecurity certifications. This is a concrete policy change focused on strengthening infrastructure protection for rural communities.
This bill modifies tax code provisions to benefit energy producers. It allows oil and gas companies to deduct intangible drilling and development costs more favorably when calculating taxable income, by disregarding depreciation and depletion expenses already reflected on their financial statements. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. This directly affects domestic energy producers who incur these specific drilling costs.
Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2025 This bill provides continuing FY2025 appropriations for federal agencies through April 11, 2025. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities, including several public health programs. Specifically, the bill provides continuing FY2025 appropriations to federal agencies through the earlier of April 11, 2025, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations act. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2025 appropriations bills have not been enacted when the existing CR expires on March 14, 2025. The CR funds most programs and activities at the FY2024 levels with some exceptions that provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations for various programs. For example, the CR provides additional emergency funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, permits the Navy to apportion funds at the rate necessary to fund the Columbia-class submarine program and cost increases for certain shipbuilding programs, and provides additional funding for the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation. In addition, the bill extends several expiring programs and authorities, including several public health, Medicare, and Medicaid authorities and programs; authorities related to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission whistleblower program; authorities for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to take actions to mitigate a credible threat from an unmanned aircraft system; the special assessment on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human trafficking; and the National Cybersecurity Protection System.
The Social Security Expansion Act (S 770) increases benefits for Social Security recipients by raising the first bend point percentage from 90% to 95% and adding an 18% increase for those eligible after 2025. It establishes a new Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments and increases minimum benefits for lifetime low earners based on years worked, with benefits ranging from 16.25% to 125% of poverty guidelines. The bill also extends benefit eligibility for children who are full-time students until age 22 (instead of 19) and introduces new taxes on high earners, including a payroll tax on income between the contribution base and $250,000, a tax on self-employment income above $250,000, and raises the investment gains tax from 3.8% to 16.2%. The legislation consolidates Social Security's trust funds into a single Social Security Trust Fund.
This bill establishes an independent Office of the Special Inspector General to oversee U.S. military, economic, and humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine. The Special Inspector General will conduct audits and investigations of all aid programs, monitor fund usage, and report quarterly to Congress with detailed financial information on contracts, projects, and expenditures. The Office will have authority to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in aid programs while coordinating with other federal inspectors general. It is authorized $20 million for fiscal year 2026 and will terminate when unexpended aid funds fall below $250 million. The bill requires transparent reporting in English, Ukrainian, and Russian to ensure accountability in how U.S. aid is used for Ukraine's military, economic, and humanitarian needs.
