Immigration

HR 3608, "Connor’s Law," requires commercial motor vehicle operators (like truck and bus drivers) to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand English traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete reports. The bill adds this language requirement to existing federal safety rules for commercial drivers. Drivers found noncompliant with this rule would face an "out of service" order, meaning they cannot operate their vehicle until they meet the requirement. This directly affects commercial drivers operating in the U.S. under federal safety regulations.

This bill requires all commercial driver's license (CDL) testing - including knowledge tests, entry-level training, and third-party assessments - to be conducted solely in English. It also mandates that new CDL applicants must hold a standard driver's license for at least one year before applying for a CDL, though current CDL holders are exempt. States issuing non-domiciled CDLs (licenses to non-residents) risk losing that authority if they fail to comply with these rules or federal standards. The law directly affects new commercial drivers seeking CDLs and states managing non-domiciled license programs.

The FARMLAND Act of 2025 strengthens oversight of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by requiring foreign persons to report land acquisitions and mandating due diligence for entities involved in agricultural land transactions. It creates civil penalties for noncompliance, establishes a database to track foreign ownership, and prohibits foreign persons from participating in Farm Service Agency programs. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on national security risks related to foreign ownership by countries like China, Russia, and state sponsors of terrorism, focusing particularly on strategic competitors. Key provisions include enhanced reporting requirements, public disclosure of noncompliant entities, and new requirements for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

This bill proposes adding a new article to the U.S. Constitution to explicitly state that only citizens can vote in federal elections. The amendment would apply to all federal elections, including those for President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. It gives state legislatures the authority to create enforcement rules while reserving the power for Congress to make or alter regulations and enforce the rule in Washington, D.C. The measure would require ratification by conventions in three-fourths of the states before becoming part of the Constitution.

This bill prevents U.S. federal courts from issuing orders (such as injunctions, stays, or declarations) that stop enforcement of laws against people or entities not directly involved in a lawsuit (non-parties). It requires that such orders only apply if a non-party is represented through a party acting under standard legal rules. The law applies to all federal courts, including those in U.S. territories, and modifies related procedures for temporary restraining orders and declaratory judgments to enforce this restriction. Its core change limits court authority to affect non-parties regarding statutes, regulations, or government actions.

HR 3894, the SAFE Cities Act, requires the Attorney General to publish and update every 180 days a list of jurisdictions (states or local governments) that refuse to stop violence and property destruction, based on specific criteria like blocking police intervention or defunding law enforcement. The bill directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance restricting federal grant eligibility for these jurisdictions, to the extent permitted by law. It would directly affect local or state governments meeting the defined criteria, potentially limiting their access to federal funding. The law focuses on creating a federal mechanism to identify and financially disfavor jurisdictions with policies deemed insufficient for public safety.

HR 7200, the VERIFY CDL Act, requires states to verify an applicant's U.S. employment authorization through the E-Verify system before issuing or renewing a commercial driver's license (CDL). This applies directly to individuals seeking a CDL or its renewal, mandating that their work authorization be confirmed via E-Verify at the time of application. The bill amends federal law to make E-Verify verification a condition for CDL issuance or renewal, replacing any existing state-level requirements for this check. It does not alter E-Verify's operation but integrates it into the CDL process for all states adopting the requirement.

Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025 This bill allows certain individuals with health savings accounts (HSAs) to receive federal payments. It also restricts payments under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) regarding certain noncitizens and restricts coverage of gender-transition procedures. Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Department of Health and Human Services to deposit payments into an individual’s HSA during 2026-2027 if the individual has a bronze or catastrophic plan through a health insurance exchange, is between the ages of 18 and 64, and has income up to 700% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Individuals may receive $1,000 or $1,500 annually, depending on age.  The bill also provides funds, beginning in 2027, for cost-sharing reductions for certain individuals who have a silver plan and income up to 250% of the FPL. Beginning in 2027, the bill allows any individual to enroll in a catastrophic plan. Currently, these plans are limited to those under the age of 30 or who have certain exemptions. The bill also reduces the enhanced federal matching rate for the Medicaid expansion population in states that provide any health benefits for individuals who are not qualified aliens under federal law. The bill makes Medicaid and CHIP coverage of individuals while their status is being verified optional and conditions federal payment during this period on verification.  Finally, the bill prohibits exchange plans from covering gender-transition procedures as an essential health benefit and prohibits federal payment under Medicaid and CHIP for these procedures.

HR 6487, the SECURE STEM Act, prohibits U.S. visa issuance and admission for nationals of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba seeking certain STEM-related visas (including H-1B, J-1, and student visas). It also bans these individuals from working at federal national research laboratories. The law allows limited national interest waivers for specific cases, requiring joint approval from the State and Homeland Security Secretaries. It mandates biannual reports to Congress detailing waiver approvals, justifications, and recipient information. The bill directly affects foreign nationals from the specified countries pursuing STEM education or research roles in the U.S. federal labs.

This bill establishes a "Secure the Southern Border Fund" to finance border wall construction and related security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border. It creates a 5% fee on remittance transfers to foreign countries and increases Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) fees, with portions of these fees directed to the fund. The bill requires annual reporting on illegal border crossings and sets a deadline of December 31, 2025, for completing border barriers. The fund will finance physical barriers, roads, technology, and equipment for U.S. Border Patrol agents, while also including provisions to increase overtime pay for Border Patrol agents.