This bill, known as the Military VOTE Act, aims to improve how military personnel and overseas citizens can register to vote and receive absentee ballots. It requires states to accept official postcard forms submitted electronically via email or online portals and provides $40 million in grants to help states implement this capability. The legislation also allows voters to request absentee ballots for multiple future elections using a single application and prohibits states from rejecting valid applications submitted early. Additionally, the bill mandates an evaluation of voter registration information accuracy when military members transfer duty stations and directs the Department of Defense to study the feasibility of automatic voter registration for service members.
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Elections
The American Leadership in AI Act establishes a new Center for AI Standards and Innovation at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop voluntary guidelines and testing methods for ensuring artificial intelligence systems are safe, secure, and reliable. It creates a large National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource to provide researchers and students with access to advanced computing power and data, while also launching prize competitions to solve specific challenges in areas like national security and health care. The bill mandates that every federal agency appoint a full-time Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer to oversee responsible AI use and requires the development of federal standards for AI procurement and security. Additionally, the legislation strengthens penalties for financial crimes committed using AI, protects workers who report AI safety violations from retaliation, and expands educational programs to improve AI literacy among K-12 students and the broader workforce.
The CHARGE Act prohibits the sale, import, or distribution of electric vehicles and related equipment manufactured by foreign entities of concern, specifically targeting Chinese companies. To enforce this, the bill adds new definitions to U.S. law that classify vehicles using specific Chinese-made power control components as noncompliant. The legislation aims to protect the national electrical grid from potential disruptions caused by unregulated remote software updates and coordinated attacks from adversarial manufacturers. By restricting these imports, the bill seeks to prevent vulnerabilities that could lead to power outages or damage to connected devices.
The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to provide long-term funding for infrastructure improvements at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These grants are intended to support projects such as modernizing campus facilities, upgrading technology and broadband systems, enhancing safety measures, and acquiring research equipment, with a specific focus on addressing deferred maintenance and health risks. Priority for funding is given to institutions that demonstrate the greatest need due to facility conditions or financial limitations, as well as those serving high percentages of low-income students. The legislation also includes requirements for recipients to submit detailed plans, engage in community partnerships, and use a portion of funds for administrative costs, while prohibiting the use of money for routine maintenance or athletic facilities.
The FEC Administrative Improvements Act updates federal election laws to modernize how political committees report and make payments. It requires that filings for electioneering communications be submitted electronically, streamlining the reporting process for these groups. Additionally, the bill permits political committees to make financial disbursements using methods other than traditional checks, such as electronic transfers. These provisions adjust administrative requirements under the Federal Election Campaign Act without changing spending limits or campaign rules.
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Elections
The Guidelines for Use, Access, and Responsible Disclosure of Financial Data Act strengthens privacy protections for consumers by amending the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require financial institutions to limit data collection to what is necessary, provide clearer privacy notices, and offer new rights for customers to access or delete their personal information. Key provisions include requiring explicit opt-in consent for sensitive data like biometric information, restricting how third parties can use consumer login credentials, and mandating that institutions disclose how they use artificial intelligence in processing financial data. The bill also establishes a right for former customers to request deletion of their data within 45 days and requires regulators to consider the impact of rules on smaller financial institutions with $15 billion or less in assets.
This bill establishes a federal registration system for payment service providers, allowing companies that meet specific state licensing and charter requirements to register with the Comptroller of the Currency and operate across state lines. Once registered, these providers must maintain customer funds in segregated reserve accounts backed by highly liquid assets like U.S. currency, Treasury securities, and insured deposits, and they are prohibited from reusing customer funds for their own purposes. The legislation also requires registered providers to follow fair access rules that prevent discrimination based on political views or beliefs, undergo regular federal examinations, and submit financial reports to regulators. Additionally, the bill grants the Comptroller authority to act as a conservator or receiver for insolvent nonbank payment providers and ensures that customer balances held with these providers are not classified as securities under federal law.
The Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act prohibits federally funded researchers and institutions from collaborating with entities on specific government restricted lists, such as those maintained by the Department of Commerce and the Treasury. This ban covers various activities including joint projects, co-authoring publications, sharing data, and exchanging research materials with individuals or organizations linked to these restricted parties. While the law generally forbids such partnerships, it allows federal agency heads to grant case-by-case waivers if the collaboration is deemed essential for national security or critical scientific purposes. Agencies must report any approved waivers to Congress within 30 days, detailing the recipient, justification, and any protective measures taken.
The Secure America Act appropriates billions of dollars to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fiscal year 2026 to expand staffing and operations. These funds are specifically designated for hiring agents to conduct functions other than immigration enforcement and customs duties, as well as for purchasing new technology to combat drug trafficking and improve border surveillance. The legislation includes restrictions that prohibit using the money to recruit processing coordinators after October 2028 and bans the deployment of untested autonomous surveillance towers. A portion of the funding is also set aside to hire investigators and analysts dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of child sexual exploitation.
The Securing Local Communities Input in Broadband Development Act aims to nullify two specific actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding broadband infrastructure deployment. The bill declares that the FCC's 2018 ruling titled "Accelerating Wireless and Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment" and its related "Third Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling" will no longer have legal force. This change directly affects the FCC's ability to streamline broadband development by limiting local regulatory authority, effectively restoring or preserving the regulatory rights of state and local governments over broadband infrastructure projects.
