HR 1990, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025, amends tax rules for businesses to make research and development (R&D) costs more flexible. It allows companies to deduct R&D expenses immediately as business costs (instead of capitalizing them) or to spread these costs over a minimum 60-month period. The bill clarifies which R&D expenses qualify, excludes land improvements and mineral exploration costs, and ensures companies can claim R&D tax credits without conflict with expense treatment. This directly affects businesses that conduct R&D, changing how they account for these costs on tax returns starting for 2022 taxable years.
HR 4894, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025, prohibits the intentional spread of false information about voting procedures, eligibility, or penalties within 60 days of an election. The bill specifically targets deceptive communications through social media, text messages, and AI-generated content designed to prevent voters from casting ballots, including false claims about voting locations, registration status, or legal consequences. It creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by these deceptive practices and authorizes the Attorney General to issue corrective information to counter false claims. The law directly affects voters, election officials, social media platforms, and anyone spreading false voting information, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for violations.
The Romance Scam Prevention Act requires online dating platforms to send immediate notifications to users who message someone banned for scamming. These warnings must include the banned user's profile details, a fraud alert, safety tips to avoid financial scams, and contact information, delivered within 24 hours (with limited exceptions for law enforcement investigations). It directly affects dating apps like Tinder or Bumble and their users by mandating clear, timely fraud alerts to prevent financial exploitation. The law takes effect one year after enactment and shields platforms from liability for following these notification rules.
HR 2971, the YOUNG Act of 2025, creates a new federal grant program to fund youth biodiversity monitoring projects using modern tools like drones, AI, and environmental DNA analysis. It directly supports schools, nonprofits, tribal governments, and local governments that run projects educating young people about wildlife science and conservation. The program allocates $1 million annually (2026-2032) to cover project costs such as supplies, transportation, and permits, with priority given to projects serving underserved communities facing systemic barriers. Grantees must report on participation and grant usage to Congress within two years of enactment.
The Telehealth Coverage Act of 2025 makes permanent Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were temporarily expanded during the pandemic. It eliminates in-person visit requirements for mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, home dialysis visits, and stroke care, allowing these to be provided via telehealth. The bill also expands who can provide telehealth services, extends coverage for rural health clinics and community health centers, and requires new billing modifiers for certain telehealth claims by January 2026. Additionally, it includes guidance to help providers serve patients with limited English proficiency through telehealth and expands access to virtual diabetes prevention programs. These changes primarily affect Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology companies.
HR 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, restricts how consumer reporting agencies share credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents agencies from sending these reports to third parties unless the request is tied to a firm credit offer and the recipient has either the homebuyer’s explicit written consent or is directly involved in the mortgage (like the lender, loan servicer, or the homebuyer’s bank holding an active account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by limiting unsolicited sharing of their credit information. The law amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to strengthen privacy protections around mortgage-related credit data.
H.J.Res. 74 disapproves a rule by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) that would have prohibited creditors and consumer reporting agencies from using medical information - such as unpaid medical bills - in credit reports and credit scoring. The rule, published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2025, aimed to prevent medical debt from affecting credit scores. If enacted, this resolution would block the rule from taking effect, maintaining the current practice where medical debt can influence credit decisions. This disapproval follows standard Congressional Review Act procedures for overturning agency rules.
HR 2165, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025, amends the Clean Air Act to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from writing future tailpipe emissions regulations that mandate specific vehicle technologies (like electric or hydrogen systems) or limit the availability of new vehicles based on engine type (e.g., gasoline vs. electric). The bill requires the EPA to update its regulations within 24 months to ensure new rules comply with these restrictions. This directly affects the EPA’s regulatory authority and automakers, as it limits how emissions standards can be structured. The law aims to preserve consumer choice in vehicle types by preventing regulations from favoring one engine technology over others.
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to advance its computing capabilities for weather forecasting. It requires NOAA to establish centers of excellence focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and next-generation computing, while developing a 10-year strategic plan for high-performance computing needs. The plan must address infrastructure, workforce, and technology requirements across NOAA’s operations, including improving forecasts for hazardous weather events like hurricanes and flash floods. NOAA must also report biennially to Congress on progress and collaborate with the Department of Energy on computing needs. The bill affects NOAA directly and aims to enhance forecast accuracy for public safety and weather-related decision-making.
The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs through 2032, requiring federal agencies to dedicate increasing percentages of their budgets to these programs (starting at 4% through 2025, rising to 7% by 2032). The bill introduces new provisions including fellowships for researchers, enhanced outreach to increase participation from women and disadvantaged groups, and improved technical assistance for small businesses. It also establishes new reporting requirements on commercialization outcomes and adds safeguards to ensure small business concerns owned by venture capital or private equity firms meet specific criteria. The bill extends several pilot programs, including those related to direct Phase II awards and commercialization readiness, through 2030.
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