This bill expands housing benefits for volunteer firefighters and other first responders by allowing them to receive a $18,000 income deduction when applying for USDA single-family housing loans. It also grants these volunteers eligibility to purchase discounted homes through the Good Neighbor Next Door program and similar federal housing sales initiatives. To qualify, individuals must provide a verification letter from their volunteer organization confirming at least two years of service, meeting specific hour or membership requirements, and holding valid state or tribal certification. The legislation defines "qualified volunteer first responders" based on existing Internal Revenue Code standards and requires proof of a commitment to continue volunteering for at least one year after buying a home.
The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 directs that money collected from the 9/11 Security Fee must be used exclusively for aviation security improvements rather than other government purposes. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the law creates two separate funds: one to cover general security operations and another specifically for purchasing and installing new checkpoint technology at airports. The Transportation Security Administration will manage these funds to pay for screening upgrades, security equipment, and related personnel support, ensuring the fee directly benefits aviation safety.
The Enhanced Small Business Growth Act of 2026 increases tax benefits for domestic manufacturers by raising the qualified business income deduction rate from 20 percent to 30 percent. To qualify, a business must derive at least 85 percent of its income from manufacturing tangible property, with at least 20 percent of production costs incurred within the United States. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and modify how the deduction is calculated to ensure it is applied correctly.
The SLUSH FUND Act of 226 introduces a new federal tax on settlement payments made to former U.S. presidents, their immediate families, and entities they control. Under this legislation, any money received by these individuals from civil lawsuits against the government would be taxed at a rate of 100 percent, effectively doubling the cost to the recipient. The bill also mandates that financial institutions report these payments to the IRS and publicly disclose the details of such transactions. Failure to pay the tax or file the required reports would result in significant penalties, including a 50 percent surcharge on the unpaid tax and a flat $10,000 fee per instance of non-compliance. These rules would apply to payments received on or after May 20, 2026.
This bill allows states to charge fees to boat owners when issuing vessel registration numbers. The collected funds can be used for specific purposes such as search and rescue, boater safety programs, and efforts to control aquatic invasive species. States are permitted to collect these fees alongside other standard registration charges. The legislation also restricts how the money can be spent, ensuring it is only used for activities that directly benefit recreational boating and waterway safety.
The Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.
The Protecting America's Small Oil and Gas Producers and Rural Jobs Act modifies federal tax rules to provide financial incentives for small oil and gas producers. It increases the percentage of income that can be deducted for taxes on marginal oil properties and removes a specific income limit that restricts these deductions. Additionally, the bill raises the threshold for counting oil as depletable from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels per well. These tax changes are designed to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
This bill, the Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2026, allows workers who are on strike or lockout to receive tax-free strike benefits from their labor unions. These benefits are intended to replace wages lost due to the labor dispute and will not be counted as taxable income for the recipient. The law applies to compensation received after December 31, 2026, and specifically covers members of tax-exempt labor organizations. By excluding these payments from gross income, the bill aims to provide financial relief to striking employees without increasing their tax liability.
The Moms Matter Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create two main grant programs aimed at improving maternal mental health and reducing health disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The first program provides funding to community organizations and healthcare providers to expand services that integrate mental health care into prenatal and postpartum settings, with a specific focus on groups facing higher risks of mortality and morbidity. The second program offers grants to educational institutions to train and recruit a diverse workforce of mental health professionals who specialize in caring for pregnant and postpartum patients. Both initiatives require recipients to submit annual reports on their activities and outcomes, while the legislation authorizes $25 million and $15 million respectively for each program from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The Stop CHEATERS Act directs the Internal Revenue Service to increase its enforcement efforts against high-income individuals and large corporations while also expanding taxpayer support services. To achieve this, the bill appropriates billions of dollars over several years to fund IRS investigations, hire additional staff, purchase vehicles, and modernize outdated technology systems. Additionally, the legislation requires the IRS Commissioner to submit regular reports to Congress detailing plans to shift auditing resources toward wealthy taxpayers and analyzing collection gaps across different income levels.
