This bill, known as the Geo POWER Act, creates a new government program to fund geothermal energy projects in areas where such power has not been previously generated. It directs the Department of Energy to provide milestone-based financing to projects in low-permeability rock formations and regions with limited geothermal activity, including areas on or near Indian lands. The program requires projects to achieve specific technical and financial goals to receive funding, with a minimum of three projects awarded across at least three different states. Each funded project must have the potential to generate at least 30 megawatts of electricity or advance innovative drilling technologies that could enable larger-scale commercial geothermal power.
This bill, titled the Railway Safety Act of 2026, establishes new safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials and strengthens emergency response capabilities. It directly affects Class I railroads, emergency response agencies, and communities near rail lines by mandating stricter tank car standards, limiting train speeds in urban areas, and requiring railroads to provide real-time information about hazardous materials shipments to first responders. Key provisions include phasing out older tank cars for flammable liquids by 2027, requiring two-person crews on freight trains, increasing penalties for safety violations, and creating a new emergency response assistance fund to help communities respond to hazardous materials incidents.
This bill, titled the Agricultural Management Assistance Act of 2026, amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management support for agricultural producers and crop insurance providers. It requires the inclusion of language translation services in educational programs and adds specific conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water sources, and agroforestry to the list of eligible activities. The legislation also increases funding limits, raising the five-year payment cap to $200,000 and authorizing $20 million annually to support these expanded assistance programs.
This bill, known as the SAFE Pathways Act, requires federal agencies to consider invasive species when designing fishways for dams and other water structures. It directly affects the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, who would need to consult with state officials to address potential invasive species threats during fishway planning. The law mandates that these federal officials evaluate how invasive species could impact aquatic ecosystems before approving fishway designs. This change aims to integrate invasive species prevention into existing water management infrastructure projects.
This bill reauthorizes the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998, which provides funding to protect tropical forests and coral reefs around the world. It directly affects the U.S. government agencies responsible for implementing conservation programs, primarily through the Department of State. The key provision allocates $20 million annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to support ongoing conservation efforts. This legislation extends existing funding authority without changing the underlying conservation goals or program structure.
This bill, known as the DROUGHT Act of 2026, increases the maximum federal funding level for certain water infrastructure projects from the standard cap to 90 percent of project costs. It directly affects states and counties experiencing severe drought conditions, as well as projects serving low-income communities or those designated as regionally or nationally significant. The legislation defines covered projects as those located in areas with severe drought designations or declared drought emergencies, those serving low-income populations, or those that improve water supply, reuse, or reduce water usage. The bill requires federal officials to prioritize financing for these specific projects under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014.
This bill authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to join as an advisory member of state watershed management teams, including Maryland's Whole Watershed Program and similar programs in other states. The legislation allows the office to coordinate with state and local governments and federal agencies while providing technical assistance and financial resources for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. By formalizing this advisory role, the bill enables the federal office to participate more directly in state-level watershed planning and implementation efforts.
This bill creates a federal tax credit for businesses that purchase electric lawn, garden, and landscaping equipment that produces zero emissions. The credit allows eligible businesses to claim 40 percent of the equipment's cost as a tax reduction, with annual limits of $25,000 and a 10-year aggregate cap of $100,000. Covered equipment includes electric-powered mowers, trimmers, and other landscaping tools powered by electricity, batteries, or solar energy, as well as batteries and generators used to charge them. The credit applies to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2024, and expires five years after the bill is enacted.
The Access to Consumer Energy Information Act requires electric and gas utilities to provide customers with easy access to their energy usage data and billing information in a standardized, machine-readable format. The bill directs the Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create guidelines ensuring consumers can securely share this data with third-party apps and services to help manage energy consumption and costs. Utilities must allow customers to install software on their energy meters and cannot discriminate against third-party developers seeking access to this data. The legislation also authorizes funding to help states implement these data-sharing programs and requires a report on using meter data for wholesale electricity market settlements.
Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act This act reauthorizes through FY2030 research and monitoring conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in support of binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin. This research is completed through the Great Lakes Science Center and may involve invasive species science, studies on fishery resources, and the use of biological assessment tools and other capabilities to support fishery management decisions.
