This resolution expresses the sense of the House that communities impacted by artificial intelligence data centers should have the right to transparency and local control over their development. It outlines a proposed set of guidelines that would allow local governments to ban data centers near homes and schools, require public impact reports on water and energy use, and mandate that operators pay their fair share in taxes. The bill also suggests mechanisms for communities to pause construction until protections against higher electricity bills and water shortages are established, while ensuring developers provide affordable housing and environmental safeguards. Ultimately, the measure aims to empower local authorities to regulate data center operations without being overruled by state laws, focusing on health, environmental, and economic concerns.
The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 requires tax-exempt organizations to publicly disclose details about their fiscal sponsorship arrangements, including the names of involved parties, financial amounts, and the specific activities funded. This new reporting rule applies to organizations that receive donations on behalf of non-exempt entities or specific projects, while explicitly excluding private foundations and donor-advised funds. The legislation also introduces penalties for "improper conduit arrangements," where funds are transferred to non-exempt individuals without the organization maintaining control over how the money is used. Under these provisions, organizations and their managers could face significant taxes if they knowingly facilitate such improper transfers and fail to correct them within the required timeframe. These changes are designed to increase transparency and accountability in charitable giving and will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.
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Government Transparency
This bill requires large multinational corporations to publicly disclose detailed financial information for each country where they operate. Specifically, companies with significant annual revenues must submit reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission showing revenues, profits, taxes paid, and employee counts by location. The law mandates that this data be provided in a machine-readable format and made available online for public access. Additionally, the bill directs the Commission to create specific regulations within one year of the law's enactment to establish the exact reporting standards and deadlines.
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Government Transparency
The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 requires tax-exempt organizations to publicly report details about their fiscal sponsorship agreements, including the names of involved parties, financial amounts, and the specific activities funded. This law defines fiscal sponsorship as arrangements where a nonprofit receives and manages donations on behalf of another person or project while retaining control over how the funds are used. To prevent abuse, the bill also introduces penalties for "improper conduit arrangements," where charities fail to exercise control over funds intended for non-charitable individuals, imposing taxes on both the organization and its managers. These new reporting and penalty provisions will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.
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Government Transparency
The Tax Dollar Accountability Act requires states and local governments that receive federal funds to provide the Comptroller General with access to their financial records, budgets, and contracts for audits and evaluations. Under this bill, these entities must submit such documents annually within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year. If a state fails to comply with this request, the Office of Management and Budget is authorized to withhold, suspend, or condition future federal funding until access is granted.
This bill requires Members of Congress and congressional candidates to submit their federal tax returns to congressional clerks within two days of filing. The law mandates that these officials create a public database to display the tax documents and immediately post them online within five business days. If a candidate or member fails to comply, their name will be listed on the website until they submit the required documents or six years pass after they leave office. The provisions apply to tax years beginning in 2025 and later, ensuring transparency for elected officials and those seeking election.
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Government Transparency
The Cost Estimate Clarity Act requires the Congressional Budget Office to explain how its cost estimates are influenced by specific baseline assumptions. Under this bill, the CBO must provide a quantitative comparison showing the difference between its current estimates and what costs would be if those assumptions were not used. The report must also identify which specific baseline assumptions caused these differences and clarify when the baseline might underestimate actual federal spending. This change directly affects how budgetary data is presented to Congress, aiming to improve transparency in fiscal analysis.
This bill requires federal agencies and recipients of taxpayer money to clearly state the percentage and dollar amount of federal funding used for any project in public communications like press releases and bid solicitations. It applies to all programs, projects, or activities supported by federal funds, with the exception of very short messages under 280 characters. The law also mandates annual compliance reviews by the Office of Management and Budget and establishes a public reporting system for anonymous complaints about noncompliance. These requirements aim to increase transparency about how taxpayer dollars are allocated across government initiatives.
HR 1963, the Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act of 2025, requires federal agencies to assess costs before issuing major rules. Specifically, agencies must estimate the public cost of a major rule, identify and repeal existing rules to offset that cost, and state in the Federal Register whether the new rule is "budget neutral" (costs equal to savings from repealed rules). This applies to rules with significant economic impact, such as those costing $100 million or more annually or affecting prices, competition, or industry. The bill directly affects how federal agencies develop and publish rules, aiming to ensure new regulations do not increase net costs to the public.
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Government Transparency
HR 1387, the COST Act, requires federal agencies and recipients of federal funds (including states, local governments, and research grantees) to publicly disclose the percentage and dollar amount of federal funding versus non-federal funding for any program, project, or activity. This disclosure must appear in all public communications describing the initiative (except short social media posts), detailing both the federal share and the non-federal share of costs. Recipients must also certify compliance in progress reports, and the Office of Management and Budget must annually review a sample of communications for adherence and publish findings. The bill establishes a public system for anonymously reporting non-compliant communications, with reports requiring specific details about the program and the noncompliant material.
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Government Transparency
